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Deirdre was invited to a picnic. Deirdre went to the grocery retailer and purchased a plastic tub of potato salad. Everybody else introduced do-it-yourself meals and regarded Deirdre with barely hid contempt.
Don’t be Deirdre.
It’s picnic season once more. Even people who find themselves not good cooks can take this chance to keep away from embarrassment by making their very own dishes for the event.
I’m not speaking about something fancy or troublesome. It doesn’t must impress. All of your family and friends will likely be appreciative if it simply comes from your personal palms.
Let’s keep on with the fundamentals, the straightforward staples which are welcomed at each picnic and potluck: potato salad, coleslaw, pasta salad, egg salad and hen salad.
OK, let’s get just a bit fancy. We’ll make an odd American hen salad and likewise a curried hen salad.
What all of those recipes have in frequent is mayonnaise. None of them has a whole lot of it — an excessive amount of mayo can detract from the principle ingredient of the salad — however every has simply sufficient to construct flavors from a creamy, easy base.
AMERICAN POTATO SALAD
3 lbs. crimson potatoes (10 medium), scrubbed and lower into 3/4-inch chunks
1/2 c. crimson wine vinegar
Salt and pepper
3/4 c. mayonnaise
1/2 c. minced candy pickles
1 T. Dijon mustard
2 ribs celery, chopped effective
4 hard-cooked eggs, peeled and chopped coarse
3 T. minced crimson onion
3 T. minced recent parsley
Carry the potatoes and 4 quarts water to a simmer in a big pot and cook dinner till tender, about 10 minutes. Drain. Gently toss the nice and cozy potatoes with the vinegar, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and refrigerate for 20 minutes.
In the meantime, combine collectively the mayonnaise, pickles and mustard. Toss the chilled potatoes with the mayonnaise combination, celery, eggs, onion and parsley. Season with salt and pepper to style. Makes 6 to eight servings.
(Recipe from “The America’s Check Kitchen Household Cookbook.”)
![](https://i2.wp.com/www.bostonherald.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/FOOD-POTLUCK-RECIPES-5-SL.jpg?fit=620%2C9999px&ssl=1)
CLASSIC EGG SALAD
1 rib celery, chopped effective
1/2 c. mayonnaise
3 T. minced crimson onion
2 T. minced recent parsley
1 T. Dijon mustard
1 T. recent lemon juice
Salt and pepper
12 hard-cooked eggs, peeled and chopped coarse, see be aware
Observe: Don’t chop the eggs too effective or they are going to disintegrate within the salad.
Combine the celery, mayonnaise, onion, parsley, mustard, lemon juice, 1/2 teaspoon salt and a pinch of pepper collectively in a big bowl. Gently fold within the eggs and season with salt and pepper to style. Makes 6 servings.
Will be ready as much as 1 day upfront and freshened with a spoonful of mayonnaise and a squeeze of lemon juice.
(Recipe from “The America’s Check Kitchen Cookbook.”)
![](https://i1.wp.com/www.bostonherald.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/FOOD-POTLUCK-RECIPES-4-SL.jpg?fit=620%2C9999px&ssl=1)
CREAMY NEW YORK DELI COLESLAW
1 head crimson or inexperienced cabbage (2 lbs.), cored and shredded (12 to 14 c.)
Salt
1/2 t. caraway seeds
1/2 c. mayonnaise
2 T. white vinegar
1 t. Dijon mustard
1 t. granulated sugar
Pepper
2 carrots, peeled, seeded and grated
1 small onion, minced
Toss the cabbage with 1 teaspoon salt and permit to sit down in a colander for a minimum of 1 hour and as much as 4 hours. In the meantime, toast caraway seeds in a small skillet over medium warmth till aromatic, about 3 minutes.
Rinse the cabbage, then completely pat dry with paper towels. Whisk the toasted caraway seeds, mayonnaise, vinegar, mustard, sugar and 1/4 teaspon pepper collectively in a bowl massive sufficient to carry the salad.
Add the cabbage, carrots and onions, and toss. Chill a minimum of 1 hour earlier than serving. Season with salt and pepper to style. Makes 6 to eight servings.
Will be ready as much as 1 day upfront and freshened with a spoonful of mayonnaise and a touch of vinegar. Season with salt and pepper to style.
(Recipe from “The America’s Check Kitchen Household Cookbook.”)
![](https://i0.wp.com/www.bostonherald.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/FOOD-POTLUCK-RECIPES-1-SL.jpg?fit=620%2C9999px&ssl=1)
PASTA SALAD WITH BLACK OLIVES AND FETA
1 T. plus 1/4 c. extra-virgin olive oil, divided
2 T. salt
1 lb. pasta, small tubes or shells
1 c. crumbled feta cheese
3/4 c. kalamata olives
2 medium tomatoes, peeled, seeded and diced
1 massive crimson onion, diced
3 small (pickling) cucumbers or 1 common cucumber, peeled, seeded and diced
2 bunches oregano, leaves solely, chopped
Salt and pepper to style
Fill a big bowl with ice and water, and put aside.
Carry 1 gallon water to a rolling boil in a big stockpot. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil, the two tablespoons of salt and pasta and cook dinner till al dente, based on the instructions on the bundle. Drain in a colander and instantly switch to bowl of ice water to chill. Drain nicely and switch to a different bowl, and toss with the remaining 1/4 cup of extra-virgin olive oil.
Combine all of the remaining elements in a bowl. Toss with pasta, alter seasonings and serve. Makes 8 servings.
(Tailored from “Metropolis Delicacies” by Susan Feniger and Mary Sue Milliken.)
![](https://i2.wp.com/www.bostonherald.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/FOOD-POTLUCK-RECIPES-2-SL.jpg?fit=620%2C9999px&ssl=1)
CLASSIC CHICKEN SALAD
1 3/4 lbs. boneless, skinless hen breasts
Salt and pepper
2 ribs celery, chopped effective
3/4 c. mayonnaise
2 inexperienced onions, minced
2 T. lemon juice
2 T. minced recent parsley
1/2 T. chopped recent tarragon or 1 T. chopped basil, non-obligatory
Put sufficient water in a frying pan to only cowl the hen and warmth on excessive till it simmers. Add hen and gently simmer till performed, 10 to fifteen minutes, relying on the scale of the breasts. Reduce into thickest a part of the hen to find out doneness.
Season with salt and pepper, and refrigerate till chilled, about half-hour. In the meantime, combine collectively remaining elements in a medium bowl.
Reduce the hen into 1/4-inch items and toss with mayonnaise combination. Makes 6 servings.
Will be made 1 day upfront; to freshen, add a tablespoon of mayonnaise and a squeeze of lemon juice.
(Tailored from “The America’s Check Kitchen Household Cookbook.”)
![](https://i1.wp.com/www.bostonherald.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/FOOD-POTLUCK-RECIPES-3-SL.jpg?fit=620%2C9999px&ssl=1)
CURRIED CHICKEN SALAD
1 1/2 lbs. boneless, skinless hen breast
Salt and pepper
1/2 c. sliced almonds
1/2 c. mayonnaise
2 T. recent lemon juice
2 t. Dijon mustard
1 t. curry powder
2 ribs celery, chopped effective
1 c. seedless crimson or inexperienced grapes, halved
1 c. apple, lower into 1/4-inch items
4 inexperienced onions, sliced skinny
2 T. minced recent parsley
Put sufficient water in a frying pan to only cowl the hen and warmth on excessive till it simmers. Add hen and cook dinner at a delicate simmer till performed, 10 to fifteen minutes relying on the scale of the breasts. Reduce into thickest a part of hen to find out doneness.
Season with salt and pepper, and refrigerate till chilled, about half-hour.
In the meantime, toast the almonds in a skillet over medium warmth till golden and aromatic, about 4 minutes; put aside. Combine collectively the mayonnaise, lemon juice, mustard, curry powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper, and refrigerate till wanted.
Reduce the chilled hen into 1/4-inch items and toss with the mayonnaise combination, celery, grapes, apples, inexperienced onions and parsley. If serving inside 2 hours, stir in almonds now; in any other case stir in almonds simply earlier than serving. Makes 6 servings.
Will be ready as much as 1 day upfront and freshened with a spoonful of mayonnaise and a squeeze of lemon juice.
(Tailored from “The America’s Check Kitchen Household Cookbook.”)
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