Monthly Archives: December 2009

Warm potato salad

Here’s a recipe courtesy of Chef Erwin Pirolt, one of my cooking school instructors.  This is a close second to German potato salad, but has no bacon.  It has great flavor and I make it all the time, so trust me when I tell you you have to give it a try.  Be sure to get some high-quality beef base for this – not the cheap stuff that’s all MSG.  If you have rich beef stock, this would be a good time to dip into your supply.
 
Warm Potato Salad (variation of German recipe)
5 lbs new potatoes (do not use floury potatoes!)
2 onions, finely chopped
4 or 5 T Dijon mustard
2 or 3 T Worcestershire sauce
1 1/2 c salad oil
1/2 c cider vinegar diluted in 1/2 c water
1/2 beef bouillon cube diluted in 1 c water
4 to 5 cloves garlic, finely chopped
Fresh chives, finely chopped
Salt, to taste
Pepper, to taste

1) Boil potatoes in their jackets, peel and slice while piping hot 
2) Add onion, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, salt & pepper (do not toss until indicated)
3) Pour oil over top
4) Pour diluted vinegar over top
5) Pour bouillon over top (do not use all if it would make salad too watery; use more if too dry – use own judgement here)
6) Add garlic and gently toss
7) Top with plenty of chopped chives

NOTES: Salad is especially good when it sits awhile

Zucchini bread

Zucchini bread (baked in an oblong pan instead of loaf pans)

I wanted to be sure to post my zucchini bread recipe during the holidays – so here it is.  This was given to me when I was a teen by Martha Yanavitch, a close friend and neighbor from my Stevensville, PA days.  There is so much good food in that area!

Quick bread is a wonderful thing in that it is easy to make and fairly fool-proof.  With this recipe you can’t go wrong, and it would make a nice gift or dessert at a holiday party.  Great also with a cup of coffee before work.

Pineapple Walnut Zucchini Bread
3 eggs
2 cups sugar
2 tsp vanilla
1 cup canola oil
2 cups grated raw zucchini
3 ½ cups flour
1 ½ tsp salt
1 ½ tsp baking soda
¾ tsp baking powder
1 cup crushed pineapple
1 cup chopped nuts (walnuts or pecans work well)

1)  Mix eggs, sugar, vanilla, oil and zucchini
2)  Mix in dry ingredients
3) 
Mix in pineapple and nuts
4)  Bake in loaf pans (recipe makes two loaves) at 350 F. for one hour or until done