Showing posts with label summer picnic recipes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label summer picnic recipes. Show all posts

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Summer Picnic Hope for Mayonnaise Haters

This month the EtsyBloggers are blogging about a book review or their favorite grilling/picnic recipe. The book I'm reading is very deserving of a positive review, but I'm not quite done reading it. My grill recipes are simple: marinate some chicken or squash in some store bought marinade sauce (preferably the 30 minute marinade variety), or toss on a veggie burger - I'm a simple girl. There is a picnic recipe I'd like to share with everyone, however.

I am the pickiest eater EVER, which makes even finding a snack at a summer barbecues difficult. I was fifteen when I realized that the three inches of mustard on my hamburger had nothing to do with mustard love, but actually the fact that I didn't like hamburgers. Well before the dislike-of-hamburg epiphany, someone told me about the contents of hot dogs, which took care of that food as well. I don't even like soy dogs if they taste like hot dogs. No, I'm not a vegetarian, though I get asked that all the time - I love chicken, turkey, sea food, I'm just obnoxiously picky. If I'm going to a barbecue, I usually bring my own Boca Burger, in case chicken isn't on the menu.

Mayonnaise is also on the long list of foods that I don't like, and for this I've been accused of being Un-American. What's a picnic or barbeque without macaroni salad, potato salad, and pasta salad (with pepperoni of course - also on my black list). Oddly enough, this year at a Fourth of July barbecue and I ate potato salad for the first time in about fifteen years - mayo free potato salad! I got the recipe but have not made it yet...

Salad of Bow Ties, Red Potatoes & Mustard Vinaigrette Dressing
(A.K.A. Mayo-Free Potato Salad)
(4 servings)

1/2 pound small red potatoes, sliced 1/4 in. thick
1/2 lb bow tie pasta
1 tbs kosher salt
1 tbs Dijon mustard
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil (or more to taste)
1 Tsp red wine vinegar
3 scallions, root ends removed and finely chopped (1/2 cup)
Freshly ground black pepper

Place sliced potatoes in a small saucepan fitted with a steamer basket
and steam over boiling water (or boil in salted water) until
tender. 7-10 minutes.Remove and allow to cool slightly.

Boil bow tie pasta in large pot of water until al dente (7-10 minutes).
Drain & transfer to a large bowl to cool slightly.

When pasta and potatoes have cooled to lukewarm, combine in serving bowl
and gently mix being careful not to break potatoes.

Combine mustard, oil & vinegar in a small bowl with a wire wisk and beat
until smooth & thick.

Season the pasta & potatoes with salt and pepper
to taste. Pour mustard dressing over them. Toss to combine. Garnish with
scallions and serve at room temp.



I have no pictures to provide, you'll just have to take my word for it. I would probably use less salt and more mustard, however.