Tuesday, July 08, 2014

Summertime Favourites: Sour Cream Potato Salad

Sour Cream Potato Salad, (c) 2014 Brenda Leyland


Does potato salad feature in your favourite summertime celebrations?



I l-o-v-e potato salad. For me, it is one of those top summertime favourite foods. Come the first really warm day in the Springtime and we begin to hanker after potato salad. Fortunately, I also enjoy making it... chopping the potatoes, boiling the eggs, putting together the dressing and pouring it over the still warm potatoes.

I was amazed (in doing a little Google search) to see just how often potato salad plays a star role in childhood summer memories and family gatherings like picnics in the park or camping by the lake. My mom used to make a creamy dilled potato salad that I loved. Still do. It was often paired with her picnic baked chicken that often starred at our Sunday dinners at summer camp meeting.

Another recipe, Sour Cream Potato Salad, became an instant favourite many years later when a former work colleague, now dear friend, brought it once for a luncheon at the office. I was instantly smitten. I begged Sharon for the recipe which I have treasured...and used often...ever since.  

I think it's the dressing that makes it so special for me. I love the contrast of the sweet-tart from the vinegar-mustard-sugar combo, and the sour cream mixed with the mayo makes it light and creamy. Y-u-m!
 

Sour Cream Potato Salad

 Salad Dressing
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup mayonnaise
3 Tbsp white vinegar
3 Tbsp brown sugar
1 tsp prepared yellow mustard
1 tsp celery seed
1 tsp salt (I use way less these days)
1/2 tsp black pepper

Mix ingredients together.

4 hard boiled eggs

Separate cooked yolks from the whites. Mash yolks and add to the dressing. Chop the whites and add to the cooked potatoes, cucumbers and green onions.

3/4 cup diced cucumber
1/4 cup chopped green onions
6 cups diced, cooked potatoes (a teeny bit firm to the bite, so they aren't mushy)

The secret of great flavour in this salad is to dice the potatoes raw and then cook in salted water. I use red potatoes. Drain. Add salad dressing while the potatoes are still warm; they absorb the flavour from the dressing. Serves 10 - 12 (or less if you like it a lot!)


Original graphics by Chris Ritter for BuzzFeed
  

Here's wishing you lots of summertime bliss with the best people!

Hugs,
Brenda
xox






12 comments:

  1. Look delicious, Brenda :)
    Thanks for the recipe. I bet my mom love it
    xox

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  2. I love a good potato salad and yours looks great! The sour cream sounds like such a nice addition. Just as soon as the new red potatoes are available, I'll be making a batch. The red skins are so tender that I leave them on the cut bits of potato.

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  3. You have certainly whetted my appetite....hubby and I don't agree on potato salad though...I like chunky...he likes when the potatoes are shredded....so potato salad inevitably leads to discussion here...so far the kids are mostly on my side with this, poor hubby. at least every potluck we go to seems to make it his way...( and for the record I do too sometimes:)

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  4. Mmm, this sounds like a great potato salad recipe. Adding the yolks to the dressing is a new idea to me, but would make the dressing even creamier.

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  5. We have had potato salad ever since I was little! It's changed a bit over the years, sometimes I put eggs in, sometimes finely chopped Spring onions. It's always refreshing.

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  6. I am going to try this this week!

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  7. Such an unusual recipe, so thanks for sharing. I love to eat as well, and have my greatest issue in knowing when to stop eating!

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  8. I've never diced the potatoes first. I think this would be a lot easier than cutting up the hot potatoes. Your recipe looks delicious. My mother-in-law always put bacon in her potato salad and some bacon grease in the dressing! Nothing would do for my husband til I made it the same way!

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  9. Oh, my mouth is watering....Potato salad is one of the best things about summer! This recipe sounds delicious! xo Karen

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  10. I don't know how many times I've looked back at this post and thought how good this looks and sounds. I know! Why don't I get busy and actually make it?!?!?!? Thanks for the recipe :)!

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  11. This sounds wonderful! I'll have to give it a try.

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To My Beautiful Readers,

Some people come into our lives, leave footprints on our hearts, and we are never the same. ~ Franz Peter Schubert

Thank you so much for leaving your 'footprint' here in my comment box. I do appreciate you taking a moment to share your thoughts today.

Brenda xo