With all the cookouts and family gatherings going on it’s a good time to experiment with a new coleslaw. Usually I’m looking for something that’s refreshing and different, during the peak of summer. A new twist to a traditional dish that makes you want to rush home and make it!
As I’ve told my readers over the years it seems like I’ve written multitudes of Cole slaw and baked bean recipes since coming to Silver Dollar City in 2008. During the Bluegrass and BBQ festival there’s always a grilling class or a BBQ/sides session.
At first there were traditional beans and Cole slaws. Now days it’s a bit more unique with specialty sauces, grilling, smoking and interesting sides. My personal favorites for bbq sides remain baked beans and Cole slaw.
Today we are encouraged to step away from the traditional and get more ‘outside the box’. But….there are times that I also say: ‘If it’s not broke, don’t try to fix it.’
There’s will always be different audiences for different recipes. Which is no different than John likes country and Rachel likes classical. What is important in event planning is knowing when to serve which ‘style’. Again, like planning a musical program, we have to find the right selections for the listener. When a performer and an audience relate it’s because the selections have evoked an emotional connection with the listener. They have an ownership along with the performer. Foods will do the same thing. Today a guest told me how it happened to her in a very poignant fashion. She loved her Cuban mother’s beans and ham. With no recipe written down she was never able to duplicate it. One day while enjoying an order of beans and ham in a restaurant she broke into an outburst of tears. For years she had been searching for someone with Cuban descent who made beans like her mother. This was her special day, the secret ingredient; instant coffee crystals.
I firmly believe that planning a foods event means serious consideration to the styles of each guest. It’s knowing when to do traditional baked beans and Cole slaw and when to do Hawaiian Cole Slaw and Southwest Baked Beans. Bringing in too many ‘foo foo’ dishes can be overwhelming. Stick with signature dishes and add only one new dish. I’ve met folks over the years who will do an entire dinner party with 6-7 new recipes. This is a bit scary to say the least. Stay with dishes that make you comfortable and confident. If you feel this way so will the guests.
A couple of weeks back I shared my recipe for fresh peach pie. Let me add another idea for this past dish. Sometimes when I make a fresh pie I like to place a layer of cream cheese and powdered sugar across the bottom of the pie. Use about 4 ounces of softened cream cheese and about 1/4 – 1/3 cup of powdered sugar blended for each pie. Using a spatula spread evenly across the bottom of the baked crust. Fill with sauce and fruit.
Enjoy the refreshing Cole slaw. Simply yours, The Covered Dish. www.thecovereddish.com
Hawaiian Cole Slaw
2 bags (14 ounce each) classic shredded cabbage
OR 2 pounds freshly chopped
2 red gala apples, skins on, diced
1 large can pineapple tidbits, juice drained & reserved
12 small green onions, finely minced
1 1/2 cups cashew halves or macadamia nut slices
3-4 stalks celery, diced, optional
Dressing
1/2 cup canola or vegetable oil
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup white vinegar
1/2 cup pineapple juice
1 teaspoon dry mustard
1 teaspoon ground celery seed
1 teaspoon seasoning salt
Mix all the dressing ingredients together in a saucepan and bring to a gentle boil. Remove from the burner and allow to cool. Rinse the chopped apple in the pineapple or lemon juice to slow the browning process. Mix all the salad ingredients together and when the dressing is cool pour over the salad and toss. This makes a refreshing summer coleslaw. You could use sunflower seeds instead of nuts. One week I made this coleslaw and forgot about the leftovers until about five days later. Surprise, nothing had browned and it was still edible!
