We’ve been to a couple of picnics this summer and had really different potato salad than what I grew up with. Not bad, just different. So, I thought I’d share my Dad’s easy recipe. It’s so good and I love it so much that I’ll make a potato salad sandwich out of the leftovers. I know these descriptions of quantity might be a tad vague, but please don’t let them deter you. You’ll get the feel of it.

Per 5 lb. of peeled, chopped potatoes:

6 hard-boiled eggs
1 good squirt of mustard
3 very big serving spoons of mayonnaise
Dash of sweet pickle juice
Salt and pepper to taste
Cajun spice to taste

Boil potatoes to fork tenderness, drain and in a large bowl, mash them a little.
Give them a good sprinkle of all three seasonings. Now mash them really well. This is your chance to mix in the seasonings.

Add the mayonnaise and mustard, then stir. Dice eggs into bite-sized or smaller pieces, add and stir again. Taste for salt now. I find it usually needs a bit more salt and bit more Cajun spice. To finish, add 2 big spoonfuls of sweet pickle juice and stir for the last time.

Notes:
My dad never serves his chicken and sausage gumbo without this potato salad. His claim to fame is that he serves the potato salad warm rather than cold. The gumbo is practically done before he starts boiling the potatoes, and he whips it together with the potatoes are still hot.

This might be a good time too to plug our favorite Cajun spice. My kitchen simply isn’t complete without it. Where we’ve found that many brands of Cajun seasoning are way too salty, the Cajunland company seems to get it just right. Our staple is their Cajun seasoning with green onion. Sits right next to the salt and pepper at the table and goes in all my Cajun dishes. One Easter my grandfather mailed me an entire box of it!

Oh, and you have to try this… it’s the very first thing I ever cooked for Mecandes! Tuna fish mixed with mayonnaise on a toasted and buttered bagel, Cajun spice sprinkled over top. He’s never been the same since.

You may also be interested in these posts:

1. Red beans and Rice 1 large onion3 cloves of garlic1 bunch of green onions½...
2. Potato Tortilla This is certainly a different dish. I like it not...
3. Traditional Chicken and Sausage Gumbo From my family’s kitchen 1 chicken, cut into partsChicken stock...
4. Potato and Leek Soup from The Irish Heritage Cookbook 4 tablespoons butter2 lbs. boiling...
5. Boxty Potato pancakes a little differently…From the Irish Heritage Cookbook 1...