Victor’s Pea Salad…

 

If you have been with me for a while, you have heard me talk about my friends Cheryl and Victor. The salad today is something Victor threw together one year after Easter. I love this salad, it is simple to put together, easy to make, and can be made anytime of the year.

This perfect side dish or meal on a hot Spring evening.

The hardest part of this salad was trying to get the recipe from Victor. This was not because he did not want to give it to me. This was because he really didn’t know what he had put in the salad. The salad was created by throwing leftovers from Easter dinner in a bowl. I have played with the ingredients over the past few years and think I have recreated it.

Ingredients:

1 head iceberg lettuce, chopped

1 cup green peas, uncooked

½ cup ham, cubed

1 hardboiled egg (you can increase to 2 if you prefer, but I think it is too much)

¼ teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon ground black pepper

¼ cup low or non-fat mayonnaise

Directions:

Toss the first 6 ingredients in a large bowl

Add mayonnaise by gently stirring into the salad, make sure to there are no clumps of mayonnaise. Refrigerate half hour before serving. Stir the salad before serving to re-coat the mayonnaise.

Vegetable Salad...

Yesterday, we decided to check out an antique mall not too far from our house. As with any antique store, we find many goodies, some way over priced and some just the right price. I found an antique cigarette box, in the Franciscan Apple pattern for $95.00. I also found a booth of cook books, that were 40% off… not were talking!!

I bought a cook written by Russell Gardner, copyrighted in 1984.  The over 300 recipes are from famous Texan’s; it is going to take me some time to get through this cookbook since many of the recipes we want to try. There are few submitted recipes that are just a hoot; one of my favorites is from Senator Chet Edwards. The Senator writes his favorite recipe is Stouffer's Beef Teriyaki, and if he is having dinner for two he serves by candlelight.

The recipe that I am going to share with you today is from former First Lady Barbara Bush. The original recipe is for a service of 16. I have reduced to a service of 8 and would work well if you had a pot luck to attend. The reason I suggest this for a potluck is the salad has to chill for 12 hours. You make this before you went to work and it would be ready when you needed it.

Main Ingredients:

1 lb freshly chopped spinach

5 hardboiled eggs, sliced

½ lbs of bacon, cooked and crumbled

½ medium head of lettuce, shredded

½ cup shallots, sliced

1 pkg, frozen peas, thawed, uncooked

Directions:

Place in order in layers in a large salad bowl

Mix in a different bowl:

1 ¼ cup of mayonnaise

1 ¼ cup sour cream

Salt, pepper, lemon juice and worcherstshire sauce to taste

Blend and pour over the top of the peas.

Top with ¼ cup grated Swiss cheese  and chill for 12 hours. DO NO TOSS.