Good Earthkeeping, by Tasha Halpert –
While growing up, I don’t remember my dad cooking outside or grilling food. It wasn’t as popular when I was growing up as it is today. One reason may have been that the average husband usually didn’t cook anything. It is also true, at least according to my mother, that my father burnt everything he tried to cook. Having grown up in post World War I Germany when food was scarce and precious, she was rather fierce about not wasting food.
While I appreciate others barbecues, I am not one to cook out. My parents didn’t go camping, and I was never part of any organization that did, so I didn’t grow up with it. When I had one, I used to make hamburgers on the outdoor grill but then I read that charred meat wasn’t all that healthy, so I bought an indoor grill and have been perfectly satisfied to use it.
The Fourth of July and other summer celebrations are traditionally organized around salads, grilled meats or fish and fruit, baked, or frozen desserts. Central to many of these feasts are potato salad and coleslaw. While it is easy to purchase these from the deli counter, it is also quite simple to make them. I enjoy preparing my own food, and it is my pleasure to create meals for friends. Also I confess to being fond of my own cooking. Over time, I have perfected certain useful recipes.
One of these is an easy to make dressing that is a wonderful substitute for mayonnaise. Not only tasty, it is also, for those of us who are watching them, lower in calories. The recipe, adapted from my copy of the 1945 Fannie Farmer Cookbook, Boiled Dressing, is simple.
Mix these dry ingredients: 2 teaspoons sugar, 2 tablespoons flour, 1/2 teaspoon mustard powder, 1/4 teaspoon salt. Combine and beat together these liquid ingredients: 1 egg, 2 tablespoons (good) olive oil, 3/4 cup dairy or non dairy milk, 2 tablespoons vinegar or lemon juice.
Combine everything in a small pot and stir together, then whisk until well blended without lumps. Cook and stir over medium heat until it thickens nicely. This should take about 5 to 8 minutes at most. Cool before using. If stored for any length of time it may separate. Simply stir well and it will be fine.
Recipe for coleslaw: Six cups shredded cabbage, 1 ½ cups shredded carrot, 1/4 minced or shredded medium onion, and if you want a colorful salad, add 1 or 2 cups shredded red cabbage.
Mix together well, add salt, pepper. Stop there or add any of these: 2 tablespoons poppy seeds, 1/2 to 1 cup white or dark raisins, 1/2 cup dried, fresh or canned pineapple, 2 tablespoons caraway seeds, 1 tablespoon or more fresh dill, 1 tablespoon ground garlic. Mix with sufficient dressing and serve. I usually add 2 tablespoons honey mustard dressing and 1 tablespoon horseradish sauce.
This dressing also works well for potato salad, in which case combine with chopped cooked potato, freshly chopped celery and onion, and chopped parsley. Potato salad is also tasty combined warm with olive oil and vinegar and your choice of the above. Serve warm or cold. Serves 4 to 6. Bon Appetite!
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