The Candid Appetite

Where Cooking Meets Photography

Side Dish

Cucumber and Strawberry Salad

I used to frown upon salads with fruit on them. It always seemed so weird to me. “Why are there strawberry slices in my salad?” Then I’d proceed to flip the table over and throw the salad across the room. I’m not one for mixing sweet and savory into one dish. With a few exceptions of course, like fried chicken and waffles with maple syrup and honey drizzled all up on it. I’ll never say no to that. I don’t think anyone in their right mind would. I’m not (that) crazy. For the most part, though, I like to keep certain things separate on my plate. My pancakes have to be on another dish completely, far away from my eggs and potatoes and bacon. I’ve recently had a change of heart on the entire matter, and I now have a new found appreciation for sweet fruit on a savory salad. I can’t get enough of it, actually. I guess it helps to keep an open mind to new things we’re not completely used to. Now I’m trying to get you all hooked on it. Needless to say, I’ve learned a lot from the error of my ways and I’m ready to eat all of the fruit studded salad in the world. The world I tell you. THE WORLD. 

This is the second recipe in our mega Easter Brunch Bonanza celebration. It’s the perfect side dish for our Spring time meal to celebrate one of my favorite holidays. Just in case you’ve missed yesterday’s post, here’s a link to the Roasted Asparagus and Prosciutto Croissants. It’s another easy dish that you can whip up with no effort at all, taking some help from the store. I’m also going to remind you to come back each day for the rest of the week for the remaining recipes, there are three left and they’re only going to get better and better. I promise. Cross my heart and kiss my elbow. Just as a hint between you and I, Friday’s recipe is my absolute favorite. Oh, I’ve also been updating the main Easter Brunch post on the home page with the links to each individual recipe so that you guys can have one central location for the entire brunch menu. I think it makes it easier on us all. That one post will continue to live on the home page, front and center, so we can find all the recipes without hassle. Enough about all this business talk though. Let’s get to salad making and eating.

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Potato and Caramelized Onion Gratin

This is for all the last minute Thanksgivingers out there. You know who you are. The ones that are just barely planning things out. Maybe even the ones who haven’t thought about it at all, not for a second. This post is a last minute salvation to all those people out there that are experiencing a cry for help. HELP. I’m here to help, don’t worry. I can’t make your turkey for you (although I wish I could), but how’s about another side dish idea? Those always come in handy, right? Just yesterday I gave you a Sausage and Mushroom Wild Rice post that will be perfect right there on your dinner table next to your turkey. This potato dish is a nice alternative to mashed potatoes or even served with mashed potatoes. Why choose either/or when you can have both?! I’m totally okay with the idea of eating potatoes on top of potatoes because if you recall, I have an undying love for this vegetable. This side dish will go great with the rice and turkey you already have planned out for the big gathering. And if you haven’t bought your turkey yet, well then at least you’ll have rice and potatoes on the table. I wouldn’t mind that. Sounds like a perfect meal to me.

Sometimes you just need a simple recipe to keep up your sleeve for all those days when you find yourself in a cooking rut or bind. A quick and easy dish that will wow someone’s face off. Like ka-POW, there goes your face. It was just wow’d off. We all need recipes like that because life happens, even when we don’t want it to, and you don’t know what to do about it when it does. Perhaps you’ll get unexpected guests over for dinner one night (RUDE), or maybe you just need to whip up something in a hurry because you have a million other things to do and the last thing you want to do is slave away in the hot kitchen. Well, make this gratin and you’ll be good to go. Start incorporating it into your cooking repertoire because I can guarentee you that you’ll fall in love with it. You’ll be amazed on how fast and easy it is to put together, yet it’s packed with so much flavor. Make a quick sandwich and serve this alongside it. Grill up a piece of fish and eat it with a large helping, or two, of this awesome dish. I won’t tell anyone, I mean after all, what are friends for? This year, not that much different from every year really, I’m most thankful for potatoes. For being so incredibly delicious and easy to to cook with. This Thanksgiving, it’s all about you. Now let’s get cooking.

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Grilled Caesar Salad

Let’s talk about thankfulness, shall we? I’m full of it. Appreciation that is. Gratitude—that’s what I got. I’m really grateful for all of you. Each and every single one of you. Yes, you. You take time out of your day to read my blog, follow my pictures and crazy antics, try out my recipes and have stuck with me through my crazy schedule, at the moment, and lack of posts. Let’s face it, anyone who can make it through all my bad jokes and puns and still come back for more is a-okay in my book. We’re actually best friends now. Get used to it. You leave comments and share stories and give me ideas and although it seems that at times (lately especially) I don’t read them, I want you to know that I do read them. All of them. I appreciate them, even the ones full of criticism. Those make my work better. Your comments are what I look forward to the most when I’m lying in bed at 2 in the morning—okay it’s more like 10 in the evening because this old man gets really tired, but it feels like 2 in the morning. It’s hard at times to respond to everyone, throughout all the social media sites and on the blog itself. I try my best though.

Over the last few months, I’ve been working a lot, helping a friend with her second cookbook, helping said friend shoot some videos (which are incredibly awesome just you wait) playing with said friend’s cat (I’m obsessed, don’t judge me) packing, moving from home and unpacking. Being an adult is crazy to me, not because I’m getting older but because it’s so much work. It’s so much hard work. How do you fellow grown-ups do it?! I remember fourteen year old me wishing I was older so I could do all sorts of things (bad things, sorry mamma!) and now that I’m about to be twenty-five I think, “Why was I in such a hurry to grow up?” If only I can talk to my fourteen year old self, I’d say “Hey young self! Don’t grow up so fast you dummy. Enjoy your stress-free, school-only life while you can! It won’t last!” I’d also tell myself that green corduroys with a green shirt and green shoes is never acceptable. Like ever. What can I say, I went through a crayon phase. Needless to say, I’ve lacked on my work on this here ol’ blog and on the newsletters. I’ve had this post sitting on my computer for weeks now and I’m finally getting around to sharing it with you. Sure summer is now officially over and grilling season is long gone, but let’s celebrate the end of summer and go out with a bang. One last hoorah for the road. Adios sun and hello orange and yellow trees and chilly breezes. Oh I live in LA, I forgot, so I guess I should say, hello year round green trees that show no season. It’s the idea of autumn that I love so much. Plus guess what, with autumn comes so many great holidays centered around food. Warm cozy sweaters, not green I promise. And tons of cups of steaming hot chocolate, topped with mounds of whipped cream and cinnamon. Always cinnamon.

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Not Your Ordinary Potato Salad

Potatoes and I go hand in hand. I wake up every day and thank the heavens that I did not live during the potato famine. In fact, it happens to be my favorite vegetable.

Ever.

Period.

Point blank.

Hands down.

If I could I would have it in every dish, each and every day. I can’t even begin to tell you how many 10 pound bags I go through a year. With potatoes, the no two starches rule, goes flying out the window for me. Baked, fried, mashed, roasted, grilled….and I forget all about those silly rules. Its not a starch, its a vegetable of course! (Ok ok, it is a starch, but still…)

I decided to make potato salad as a side, the other day. But I wanted to upgrade the tired old recipe. I wanted to remix it and knock people out of the park. So this isn’t a plain, ordinary jello of  a potato salad. This is the crème brûlée of potato salads.

The ingredients:

Are you drooling already? I know I am.

First thing we need is hard boiled eggs. Place the uncooked eggs in a pot, and fill it with cold water. Don’t try to take shortcuts by using hot water, thinking it will boil faster. Always start with cold water when you are boiling. Why should your food suffer? What did the eggs ever do to you, beside provide you with pure deliciousness?

Bring the water to a boil.

Once boiled cover immediately with a lid (my pot doesn’t have a lid, so I’m improvising here). Leave covered for 10 minutes.

Then pour out the water and run cold water over the little eggs.

Construct a make shift water bath by throwing in a bunch of ice, to completely shock the little guys. Again, why dirty another bowl? This works fine.

Lastly, peel all the eggs under running cool water.

Boiling eggs is that easy! So now you know.

  

  

Okay, back to the potato salad. It’s bacon time because everything is better with bacon…

…Sorry vegetarians. I can’t resist.

Ahhhhhhaaahhhhhhaaahhhhhhhwhwhwhwhwhw (the heavens just parted).

The potato is the star. The potato is the star. The bacon is the star. The potato is the star. The potato is a star.

Cut the porky salty strips in half.

Then dice it up. Any size dice you’d like. Small or big, depending on your taste preference. You could also fry up the slices and then just crumble it in with your hands, for a more rustic feel.

I can’t help it, I’m drooling already and it’s not even cooked yet. Place the bacon in a hot skillet and cook until golden brown and crispy.

Stirring occasionally to ensure even cooking and browning. About 7-10 minutes.

Once cooked, strain with a slotted spoon and move onto a plate lined with napkins, to soak up the excess fat.

Set aside for later. Try not to sneak too many bacon bites. One or two is fine. You have to taste the quality. Just keep telling yourself that. It works.

  

Are you still there? Have you passed out from the crispy bacon goodness yet?

How lovely….bacon grease. You know how many people would kill for this? Is there anything better. Two words for you.

Precious.

Commodity.

Let’s get started on the veggies. Grab some potatoes.

Cut the potatoes into a medium dice. I like to keep the skin on, not only because of laziness, but because of all the nutrients in the skin….okay mom!

Start by cutting the potatoes in half, length wise.

Cut the potatoes into long strips. Depending on the size, either 1-2 strips. I did 3.

Dice them, going in the other direction, making small to medium cubes. Make sure all your cubes are relatively the same size. You don’t want some big pieces and then some tiny ones, because they wont cook evenly.

Repeat with all the potatoes until you have a pile of them. A mound. A mini mountain ready to be climbed.

Mt. Tater. Looks more like a steep hill to me.

Tater Hill.

Place them on a foil lined baking dish and drizzle with olive oil.

Season potatoes with: Salt and pepper, paprika (more for color, than anything else), garlic powder, onion powder, and fresh or dried thyme.

Toss the potatoes to fully coat eat one.

Its a flavor bath.

Now this is what separates our potato salad from the ordinary. Place in a pre-heated 425 degree oven and roast for about 20-25 minutes.

Ooooh the crispiness of it all.

Oh yes I did….I just took it there.

Try not to continuously open the oven door to check on them. Forget about the little tots, opening only once, halfway through to toss the potatoes. You don’t want to lose all that hot air.

Its the crisping mechanism.

And we’re tossing.

When completely brown and tender (check by popping a cooled one in your mouth, yum) remove from oven and allow to slightly cool.

Forget about them as we make the dressing. Er – Sauce. What do you call it?

Grab a bowl. For the dressing. Sauce.

Drop in some mayo. And please no miracle whip. Don’t you dare. There’s no place for that here.

Squirt some dijon mustard. Or Grainy mustard *Note to self, that would taste great*

A splash of apple cider vinegar. My mom’s secret ingredient. Not a secret anymore. You’re welcome.

Hot sauce.

Salt and pepper.

Onion Powder.

Garlic Powder. These are powders not salt!!!

Old Bay Seasoning. Trust me.

 

  

Its missing a little green pop. Chives. Yup. We need chives.

Give them a good run through with your knife. Small, tiny pieces.

Toss them in the bowl.

Whisk the sauce, dressing until smooth. Taste, adjust seasoning accordingly.

Set aside.

Let’s cut vegetables now. Grab a red onion.

Grab some sunglasses and place them on. It helps with the crying.

Slice off the end. Peel the onion, and cut in half. Then make uniform slices across, from root to cut. Mince but cutting in the opposite direction.

Toss in a big mixing bowl.

   

  

Grab some celery.

Don’t forget about the leafy tops. I can’t believe how many people cut the leafy tops off and throw it away. I mean calm on people!!! There’s tons of flavor in them.

They want to come to the party too.

Make long, match stick-like cuts lengthwise.

Line them all up and give a chop. Similar in size to the onion. Toss into the mixing bowl.

Grab some scallions.

Slice off the ends and the very tips. Mince through and toss in the bowl again.

Oops, forgot the mince scallion beauty shot. “Insert imaginative picture here.” Use your imagination.

Grab some pickles. Yes pickles. Any kind works. I had hamburger pickles in the fridge….why not?

Give them a rough chop. Hack away.

Its the great pickle massacre Charlie Brown.

Grab the hard boiled eggs. Remember those from earlier? Super easy.

Cut in half.                             All of them.

 

   Chop Chop.                                  Toss in Bowl.

  

Admire all the yummy food confetti.

Give them a toss with a spatula.

Grab those golden brown crunchy potatoes.

Toss them all in the bowl.

Yes all of them.

Put the potato cube in the bowl.

Stop sneaking some into your mouth.

Give the ingredients a toss. Grab the dressing/sauce and pour it it.

Almost done.

My heart just skipped a beat.

Get it all in. Don’t waste any. Okay, you can lick the bowl.

Give it a good toss to coat completely, every single morsel.

STOP!! Don’t forget about the bacon!

What was I thinking? Toss it in. Reserve some for the top garnish.

Mouth. Is. Watering. Give it another toss.

You have to give it a try, uhh to check the seasonings of course.

Lucky for me I have a taste tester at hand.

When you get the go ahead, put into a nice serving bowl. It’s all about presentation.

Sprinkle with reserved bacon and chives.

That’s it. Total bliss. Make this and you ever look back to your plain old humdrum recipe. Take this to BBQ’s or pot lucks. Dinner parties, or just any night of the week. Fair warning though, you’ll want to eat the whole bowl. Or if you take it to a party, be sure to serve yourself some first, because it’ll be gone in two seconds – flat.

Enjoy.

Here’s the recipe. Although it can easily be accommodated to make any portion you’d like. Super easy recipe.

Not Your Ordinary Potato Salad

Ingredients:

  • 4 Eggs
  • 4 Slices of Bacon or more if you’re a bacon lover like me
  • 5-6 Small potatoes, or 3-4 large ones
  • 1 tbs. Olive Oil
  • 1/2 tsp Paprika
  • 2 Sprigs Fresh Thyme
  • 1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
  • 1/2 tsp Onion Powder
  • Salt
  • Pepper
  • 1 Small Red Onion
  • 3 Stalks of Celery
  • 2 Whole Pickles or 1/4 cup Pickle Chips
  • 3 Scallions
  • Handful of Chives

For the Dressing:

  • 3/4 Cup Mayonaise
  • 2 tbsp Dijon Mustard or Grainy Mustard
  • 1 tsp Apple Cider Vinegar
  • 1/2 tsp Onion Powder
  • 1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
  • 2 Dashes of Hot Sauce
  • Salt
  • Pepper
  • 1/4 tsp Old Bay

Preparation:

Pre-heat oven to 425 degrees.

Bring eggs to a boil in a pot. Once the water comes up to a boil, shut off the heat, and place a lid on it. Leave alone for 10 minutes, it’ll carry over cook the eggs to perfection. After ten minutes, run cold water over the eggs and add some ice into the pot, while the water is running. This will allow the eggs to cool completely and stop the cooking process. Once cooled, peel the eggs under cool running water, and set aside.

Pre-heat a small skillet over medium heat. Cut the strips of bacon into small pieces and place in the hot pan. Cook, stirring occasionally until golden brown and crispy. About 5-7 minutes. Once finished, transfer the bacon onto a paper lined plate, using a slotted spoon. Allow to cool. Set aside.

This dish can easily be made into a vegetarian dish by omitting the bacon. Or if you are religiously against it, by all means, leave it out.

Wash and dry the potatoes, or if you’d like, peel the potatoes. Cut them into a medium dice, all the same size to ensure even cooking. Drizzle with the olive oil, and sprinkle in the spices and thyme. Place in the pre-heated oven on the middle rack and roast for 20-25 minutes, turning over once, half way through. Once fork tender and golden brown remove from the oven and allow to cool on pan, on a cooling rack or counter top.

Meanwhile cut the remaining vegetables, red onion, celery, scallions, pickles, into uniform small pieces and put in a large mixing bowl. Dice the hard boiled eggs from earlier and put them in the bowl as well. Toss the ingredients to combine well.

Pour the warm potatoes into the mixing bowl along with the cut veggies. Toss.

In a small bowl place all of the dressing ingredients and whisk to combine. Pour dressing over potato veggie mixture and toss well, to coat all of the dressing into the potato salad.

Sprinkle in the bacon from earlier and stir once again, reserving some for the garnish. Taste to make sure seasoning is spot on. Adjust accordingly.

Place in a serving dish and garnish with reserved bacon and chives. Serve as a side dish for any number of summer recipes. Eat immediately or wrap with plastic wrap. Can easily be made days in advance, stored in the fridge. Actually gets better the next day, cold. Yum. Enjoy.