Sunday, June 14, 2009

About Picnic's

About Picnics.. keep the hot stuff hot, and the cold stuff cold. I rarely make hot stuff, Far Guy would agree. But if I were to make something hot, which would be highly unlikely, I would put it in a crock pot... or do it the old way. My old way was this: I would boil up some hot dogs, place them in their buns and then wrap them in aluminum foil and put them in an old roaster, grab the ketchup, some chips and a beverage and we could be picnicking in no time..with warm hot dogs..cause there is nothing worse than a cold dog.

Keeping the cold stuff cold, now this requires a bit of planning. First you need two bowls and a coffee cup. Pretty ones that are mostly matchy, matchy and different sizes work great.
No, I have not taken leave of my senses..recently. I partially filled the beautiful enamel bowl with water, then I set the beautiful non crystal but a cheap imitation inside the beautiful enamel bowl, making sure that it did not overflow when I so gently added a coffee cup that reminds me of chocolate. Then I threw it into the freezer..well not exactly..but you get the idea. Actually I walked very carefully as it sloshed around. Water is heavy..it weighs 8.34 pounds per gallon. Extra info I know, but just in case you were ever on Who wants to be a Millionaire or something... Freeze it overnight.


The next morning, take it out of the freezer, remove the coffee cup weight, add your salad, away you go to your picnic! Of course you could just use a cooler, I will use a cooler partially filled with ice to nestle my bowl in for longer trips to picnics. This salad, such as it is will stay cool on any serving table for quite some time..when the ice has all melted and the water is warm it is no longer safe to eat. Hopefully by that time, your salad is all gone!

Yes, I know, I didn't actually make the potato salad..but it is a great illusion..don't you think? I will be making my famous potato salad a few times this summer. Just use your imagination to taste it, not too tart, not too sweet..I would share the exact recipe with you, but I got it from my Mom and it goes something like this. Cook potatoes and eggs..cool.. Chop green onion..these main ingredients are pleasantly joined in a well blended mixture of KRAFT Miracle Whip ( no substitutes), mustard any old cheap kind as long as it is yellow, Half and Half, salt, pepper, a dash of white vinegar and white sugar. I taste as I go, and I just know when it is right. A sunny pale yellow color, with a creamy texture. Enough should be added to the potatoes and eggs so that it is fairly moist but not soupy! This does not make me a chef, just an old lady without a real recipe:)

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

You made me smile this morning Connie! Also, kinda hungry for either a hot dog, M&M's, or potato salad!!!

Enjoy your day.

Debbie said...

What a great idea Connie! I will surely remember that one for a future barbecue as well on these hot days ahead! I am also going to try that potato salad recipe...it sounds yummy.

West Side of Straight said...

That's the way I make p salad too - taste testing. Sounds like you're getting ready for the firemens picnic! starting home Thursday, so see you next weekend= j

Rae said...

Now that's inventive. Great idea. I love the blue M&M cup. Had a mischievous smile -sort of like YOU. LOL

Ziggy Stardust said...

What a cool idea! I love it.

Anne

dad and lilly said...

I made potato salad the other day and it was really very good .My one mistake was that I put cucumber in it and that was fine the first day but on the second day it was sort of very wet and I did not care for that so no More cucumber in my potato salad.

Emma Rose said...

You are so clever! The Duchess will try this next weekend for a BBQ she is going to.

jewel said...

I love the bowl and Ice idea to keep salads cold....but I'm a mayo girl, no miracle whip for me.

Anonymous said...

Great tips but far too advanced for the likes of me! I do love the unmade potato salad - now there's something I CAN understand! ;-)

Ann, Chen Jie Xue 陈洁雪 said...

When's your next picnic? May I come.

Great idea, it would also work in a buffet party in Singapore where I lived for 16 years. I read in some women's magazine that you could make it pretty by freezing edible flowers like Nasturtion.

Thanks for visiting my site.

flydragon said...

Ha, love the pic of your potato salad!! I agree with using only Miracle Whip. Never heard about the half and half in it though. I'll have to remember that next time I make some.

Pamela said...

Ohhhhhhhh so clever.