I recently made a batch of potato salad, thanks to The Cookery Column Retro with Carol Taylor on Smorgasbord Blog Magazine. This cookery wizard, who shares recipes from around the world, featured coleslaw, potato salad and potato cakes.
It reminded me that I shared the recipe for Mom’s famous potato salad in the last chapter of The Immigrant and the Outlaw, along with how I got talked into making a huge batch of it when Mom couldn’t because of a hip replacement. (The story was first published in the Valley News, October 18, 1996.)
Mom would be disappointed in my recent concoction because I didn’t use any of her “musts,” thinking maybe my Favorite Guy would rave anyway. (He said it needed more relish, which he added to his serving.)
Mom’s Potato Salad, along with her tips and tricks, is in Chapter 13 of The Immigrant and the Outlaw: A Collection of Stories from America’s Heartland.
While I’m at it, I’ll share another of Mom’s famous recipes, along with a shortcut that she okayed. Here’s her Caramel-Pecan Cloverleaf Rolls.
It is getting to be potato salad season, isn’t it! I’ll have to make some.
It is your mother’s recipe?
No, not my mother’s. She did the German version with vinegar (no bacon). I prefer the mayo-laden version.
Oh, I forgot about German potato salad. I’ve tried it, but I also prefer creamy. (Mom used Miracle Whip!)
I love potato salad!
Yes!
My mom made a super potato salad as well. Try as I might, I never get it quite as good as hers!
Thank you, Darlene. I may have to try again. . .
Thanks for the recipe for the caramel-pecan rolls Joy and looking forward to reading more about the potato salad when I read the collection. ♥♥
Thanks, Sally. Mom didn’t learn to cook until after she was married. Growing up during the Depression, they had such limited resources, then she waitressed and lived where she couldn’t cook, and during the war the only places available didn’t allow cooking! But she read cookbooks and turned into a great cook!
Family recipes are such a delightful treat. I still have some of Mom’s on stained recipe cards.
Oooh, treasures, especially if they remind you of family gatherings.
I can handle the shortcut version, even though I’m not a baker. My guy doesn’t like potato salad of any description so I guess I will pass on that. Be well, my friend.
Thank you, Gail!
This post is making me hungry, Joy. Family recipes are the best. When our children moved into their own places years ago, I created binders of special recipes for each binder that are mine, my mom’s, and both of my sisters. I also included family photos, which makes them even more special. Each book is sitting on the kids’ kitchen counters for them to use when they want. As to potato salad, my mom used to make German potato salad. It was delicious, and I’ve made it, but nowadays, I buy it. 🙂
I’d forgotten about German potato salad until Liz Gauffreau mentioned it. Lauren, I love your idea of recipes and photos. Most of our family has had to give up gluten, so there went most of our special recipes! But I still have stories about them!
Recipes from your mom could be really good, Joy. I enjoyed my mom’s cooking, but I don’t cook so I never got a recipe from her.
Thanks, Tim. I ended up with Mom’s recipe box but so many are desserts and have flour (gluten) so I can’t enjoy them.
😍
My brother is the perfectionist when it comes to reproducing our mom’s potato salad.
Perfectionist make good cooks, huh!