Potato Salad

HMMM, the ice was out and the dock put in the water on Saturday 3/24/2012.   REALLY REALLY early for north central Minnesota.   Add to that the 70 degree temperature and the need for picnic food kicked in.   Thus, the first potato salad of the season.

I have made this salad for years and never had a recipe, so in order to post, I had to follow and record my steps and measurements.    Now, for those people that have asked me for the recipe, I actually have one to share.  

Start with the  usual suspects:

Ingredients:

4 lbs red potatoes

Peel and cut into thirds (or 6ths if large potatoes), making sure you have somewhat uniform sizes.  Put into pan of cold, salted water and bring to a boil until fork tender.    8-10 minutes.    Drain and let cool.

7 large eggs

Cover with water in sauce pan and bring to a boil over medium high heat.   When water reaches a boil, cover and remove from heat for 14 minutes.  Then immediately chill in cold water.  For easier peeling, slightly crack each egg while cooling in the cold water.

3 stalks celery

4 radishes

1 small sweet onion or 1/2 large one

1/2 package dried Good Seasons Italian Dressing mix (about 1 1/2 t)

1/3 cup pickle relish

1 T dijon mustard

1 t kosher or sea salt

2t freshly ground pepper.

While potatoes and eggs are boiling and cooling, cut celery and onion into approx 1/2" pieces and thinly slice the radishes.   Place in large bowl.

When potatoes are still warm but cool enough to handle, cut into 1/2" pieces and add to the vegetables.   Sprinkle the 1/2 pack italian dressing over the warm potatoes and let sit until fully cooled. 

Add the relish (Jeanne's Picadilly Relish is awesome but you need to wait until fall harvest for the recipe, therefore any pickle relish should do), mustard, mayoi and salt and pepper.  Stir to mix.

Finally chop 6 eggs and add to the mix, leaving the last egg for slicing and placing on top.

Taste for adjusting the seasonings.   The Italian dressing has salt in it, therefore check at this point to determine if the added salt is enough. 

Place in serving bowl, arrange egg slices over the top and sprinkle with paprika.   

This is pretty tasty and a good start to warmer days ahead!   Enjoy.