It’s Sunday, we’re all coming down from our Thanksgiving turkey high, and tomorrow life will go back to normal.
At least for most of us.
Not everyone has the luxury of normal these days. In fact, normal comes to a screeching halt for someone every day. In late October, normal ceased to exist for many people in the northeast US – Especially New York and New Jersey. While we celebrated Thanksgiving, many residents of both great states still wondered when or if they’d ever be able to live in their homes again. While we talked about Thanksgivings past, maybe even pulled out a photo album or two, they wondered what it would be like to hold their photo albums one more time. While we shared potato salad and rolls with our Aunts and Uncles, some wondered what it would be like to see a loved one lost to Sandy just one more time.
That is their new normal – at least for now – and it sucks.
Life changed in a very hard way for a family local to me this Thanksgiving. Their 7 year old son lost his life in an ATV accident on the family’s property. His mother is a Kindergarten teacher at my daughter’s school. Our community, their church family and the school are rallying around them to support them in any way they can, but Thanksgiving will never be the same for their family.
Tragedy – death or otherwise – brings us together.
There are times where we feel like there’s nothing we can do to help someone in need, be it a physical or emotional need, but that’s where we’re wrong. Sometimes, it’s the smallest – the simplest – of acts that make all of the difference. When my best friend Lara died in May, my friend Ellen had a lovely necklace made to remind me of her. I need the necklace. Really, there was nothing I needed that anyone could give, but the heart – the love behind Ellen’s gift meant the world to me.
When someone near me is hurting, I don’t often know what to do. Those who know me well know that I’m not a touchy-feely person. The one thing I do know how to do is cook. It’s my go-to, my way to help. I know I can’t do anything to physically ease the suffering anyone is facing, but I can give them some comfort while they go through it. One of my most requested dishes is potato salad. For some reason, it seems to make everyone happy. And that makes me happy.
This potato salad is so simple, it’s silly. Maybe that’s why everyone loves it so much. I love it because most of the prep can be done a day ahead.
Simple Southern Red Potato Salad
3 lbs Baby Red Potatoes
6 eggs
1 cup diced sweet onion
1 jar dill pickle cubes, drained
1-1/2 cups mayo
4 Tablespoons yellow mustard
salt and pepper, to taste
1) Scrub and cube 3 lbs of Baby Red Potatoes. The cubes should be about 1/2 inch. Cover with water in a large pot and boil for 15-20 minutes until tender. Drain.
2) Place 6 eggs into a stock pot. Cover with water and bring to a rapid boil. Cover and cut off the heat. Allow to sit on the burner for 15 minutes. Drain. Allow to cool. Peel and chop.
3) Peel and dice a small sweet onion. It should yield approximately 1/2 cup.
***stop here***
If you want to serve a warm potato salad, continue on. If you want to serve a cold potato salad, refrigerate everything overnight and finish assembling about 30 minutes before serving.
***
Mix potatoes, egg, onion, dill cubes, mayo and mustard. Taste for seasonings. Add salt and pepper to taste.
I love my potato salad for a number of reasons. First – it’s simple and I like things that are simple. Second – It has dill cubes, not sweet relish. Third – It’s versatile enough to be served hot or cold.
My potato salad may not be able to ease the pain of a mom missing her son, or even touch the millions of people feeling a loss after Sandy, but it can give comfort to my own family any time we’re together.If you feel inclined to do so, there are organizations out there who’d love your help in aiding the victims of Sandy through your monetary donations. The #SundaySupper team is coming together this week to help spread the word! You can check two of them out below.
As always, the #SundaySupper team has churned out some great recipes this week – recipes that they cook from their heart. Stop by and check them out.
Breakfast and Brunch:
- Orange Rolls from That Skinny Chick Can Bake!!!
- 12-Grain Buttermilk Pancake Mix from What Smells So Good
- Cranberry Bread from Home Cooking Memories
Comforting Casseroles and Entrées:
- Pork Chop Casserole from In the Kitchen with Audrey
- Basic Lasagna from Fast Food 2 Fresh Food
- Italian Sausage and White Bean Bake from Girlichef
- Spanish Chicken with Chorizo and Potatoes from Crispy Bits n Burnt Ends
- Turkey and Vegetable Pasta Bake from Gotta Get Baked
- Baked Salmon with Cucumber Salad from The Urban Mrs.
- Enchilada Pasta Casserole from Dinners Dishes and Desserts
- Spaghetti Pizza Bake from Small Wallet Big Appetite
- Gluten Free Spaghetti Squash with Pancetta from No One Likes Crumbley Cookies
- Cabbage Koftas from Soni’s Food
- Bowtie Marinara with Goat Cheese from Family Foodie
Warming Soups and Sides:
- New England Clam Chowder from The Meltaways
- Italian Wedding Soup from Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
- Soul Warming Butternut Squash Soup from Cupcakes and Kale Chips
- Creamy Tomato Soup with Grilled Cheese “Croutons” from Damn Delicious
- Corn Basil Handpies from Vintage Kitchen Notes
- Manhattan Clam Chowder from Noshing with the Nolands
- Comforting Broccoli Cheese Soup from Juanita’s Cocina
- San Antonio Chicken Tortilla Bake from The Weekend Gourmet
- Peruvian Steak and Potato Stir-fry from Hip Foodie Mom
- Simple Southern Red Potato Salad from Mama Mommy Mom
- Homemade Chicken Soup from Daddy Knows Less
- New Orleans Red Beans and Rice for Those in Need from The Catholic Foodie
- Sweet and Sassy Pineapple Stuffing from In the Kitchen with KP
Sweet Endings:
- Pound Cake Loaf from Magnolia Days
- Fall Apple Pie from Cravings of a Lunatic
- Dairy-free Marble Cake {Marmorkuchen} from Galactopdx
- Mini Dark Chocolate Cakes with Mint Chocolate Chip Icing from The Realistic Nutritionist
- Orange Pound Cake from Basic n Delicious
- Spicy Gingerbread with a Mocha Glaze from Daily Dish Recipes
As always, you’ll find us on Twitter through out the day and specifically at 7 pm EST discussing Sandy, the relief efforts and how we try to be #HelpingHands. Stop by and join the conversation.
When you feel the urge to help someone in need, what’s your favorite way to contribute?
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Great potato salad! I usually use the sweet relish and now I need to try this one with the dill cubes. I think dill and potatoes go very well together. Oh, and I like my potato salad warm. Nice to have that option with this recipe.
There’s nothing more comforting than potato salad! I like mine warm!
ummmm…. Potato Salad one of my absolute favorites!
Yes, please! I love potato salad any time of year…being from Texas, I find it very comforting too!
I will eat my potato salad cold, please
This sounds like such a delicious yet easy recipe. Thank you for sharing! ~ Bea
Such a heartfelt post. Potato salad is one of the best dishes to have at hand. I love it everyway.
This salad looks and sounds delicious!! Its easy, simple, comforting and made from the heart! So sorry about your friend.
I’ll have my potato salad cold or warm. This is a wonderful potato salad. I cook to comfort others also. A hug can do only so much. A meal made with love, feels better. That was a lovely and thoughtful gift from Ellen
Simply classic…and just the way I like it! Perfect comfort food, too
PS…I’m sorry for your losses.
I am very much like you – sometimes food is the best I can do to show people how I feel.
Loss, whether it is death or loss of property, leaves you feeling helpless when you are the one dealing with it but it can be equally as helpless for those who want to help. You don’t know what to say or what you can do to make the person feel better. For me one of the ways I show my love to people is through my cooking so I tend to lean on that during hard times. It might not fix the problems but hopefully warms the soul.
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Beautiful. There are so many for whom the holidays because bittersweet. I can’t imagine their pain, but I know I’ll be there one day. And yes, food is love sometimes. I love my potato homemade potato salads!
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