Monday, May 07, 2007

My Mama's Potato Salad

It is was a hot day today. Almost as if summer had arrived, and it got this old brain a-tickin', "How about picnics?" I think it's time we started dragging out the old "Going on a picnic" recipes. So I thought about my Mama's potato salad. So simple, but simplistically good.
Peel and dice up some potatoes. We ended up with quite a few for our size of family, but you just guess for yours. I'm real specific like that...hehehe I also boiled 8 eggs right alongside the taters. You want your potato salad to be full of goodies! Some people add bacon bits to theirs too. Honestly, you should have fun with it.

Then I gathered up my ingredients. Now I didn't show you the regular mustard, which is what I ended up using the most of, or that I use the pickle juice at the end. So bare this all in mind.

I diced up my dill pickles, but it ain't tater salad without diced pickles. YUM!
You only want to cook the potatoes til they are soft not mushy, because by the time you toss them about with your ingredients they will be mashed potatoes, if you're not careful. I run mine under cold water to stop the cooking process.

I put my eggs in a bowl of iced water too. That way they are easier to peel. However, you can sure tell the difference between farm fresh and store bought eggs, but I digress.


I diced up the hard boiled eggs and tossed them into my bowl of potatoes. I added my pickles mayo, mustard, salt, pepper and onion salt. You want enough mayo to make it sort of creamy and the mustard needs to give it a kick. You will be surprised how much you need to add to make it just right. Be generous...we aren't counting calories here....lol

I also add some of the pickle juice to it. The potatoes absorb it really well and it gives it another little bite that makes it scrumptious.




Once I mixed it all up, and sampled it (over and over), I sprinkled some parsley flakes on top to make it look pretty. Then I set in the fridge to chill. It is so easy, and so good for any main dish in the summertime. Besides, what is a picnic without potato salad?
I hope you all enjoy it!







18 comments:

Nadine said...

It's always good to see how other people make their potato salad. For such a basic dish, I'm amazed at the variety of ways people make it. I love that you don't use exact measurements (I don't either). I love the pictures along the way - that always makes it fun. Thanks for sharing your yummy receipe.

momto3blessings said...

MMM, potato salad. Is there any left overs? I can stop by first thing in the morning! LOL!

Angel said...

Mmmmm! I LOVE potato salad! My grandma (dad's mom) made the best potato salad! And she was feeding a family of 12! :D

When should I expect my sample? :D

Mrs.Martin said...

Okay Trina, that looks Great! Mouth watering really. LOL

I love mom's potatoe salad and we make it here too. Funny, we never talk about the recipes we have grew up on. We really should compile them all into a Bruner/Martin Cookbook. My girls will leave home soon and it would be nice to give them a real book of recipes. For that matter, all the boys too! Let's not forget you have an all boy household. LOL
It would be fun to see how you have changed mom's recipes from the last 20 years. And then add our favorites too. Something to think about?

Anonymous said...

I tried your enchilada recipe and it was quite a hit - I think I'll have to try this one too :) We love picnic food! Broccoli salad is another favorite one too - Yum!

Michelle said...

Yummy! I love potato salad! I love it even more with eggs in it! My grandmother puts eggs in hers and it is soooo good!
I love your scrolling marquee! How neat to put it there! I have never thought about that. I have never heard of that site you listed so I am gonna have to check it out.
~hugs~
Michelle

Anonymous said...

mmmm...potatoe salad is going on the menu today!

Angel said...

To Mrs. Martin...just thought I'd mention, my mother bought a journal and hand wrote all of her recipes that were our favorites growing up and gave one to my sister and I one year for Christmas. Anytime I want to make one of mom's recipes, I just pull that out and look it up. And I love that it's in her own handwriting, too. :D Your girls would love that some day!

meNmykids said...

Yummy! We're going to start firing up the barbque grill, that should bring a lot of recipes too.

Lori said...

oh...yum! yum! yum!! Now, will someone else make 'em for me? ha!

la bellina mammina said...

yummy! gonna try it this weekend...thanks for sharing!

Steff said...

You know...this would make a great scrapbook page! Take those pictures and add the journaling...perfect way to honor mom and record a few of those girly moments. :)

Cherrie said...

That looked like so much fun. I want to help make some. And quit yummy.....

Anonymous said...

YUM! That looks absolutely delicious! And your pictures are terrific ~ you should write a cookbook and include all those pictures in it. Why don't cookbooks have more pctures? They should realize there are lots of visual learners out there - me! =)

Jack-on-the-Lake said...

I am soooo going to have to try this - can you give an approx time on boiling the potatoes??

Thanks! Yum.

Trina said...

Jack on the Lake: Suuuuuure...hehehe Well you want them soft enough that you don't feel like you are eating raw potatoes, but not so soft that they will be mushy when you stir the ingredients in...Seriously Im such a throw it together girl...that I dont have an exact time. I just check them frequently. 10-15 minutes or so.

Jack-on-the-Lake said...

See...you are obviously a cook. That is a cook's answer. I am the one whose family would say:

Honey, these noodles aren't done yet. Didn't you notice?

And I would reply: Well, the box said 9 minutes so that is what I did. Of COURSE I didn't try it - I trusted the box!

So much to learn...

Anonymous said...

I loved this reminder of potato salad. I lost my mother this year and I know that is her same recipe. Love your blog - replying to picnics..go to my daughter's for a great picnic blanket idea: lassothemoon.typepad.com She was a homeschooler - you two would have a lot to talk about. treed