Best of Mother Earth

Typical fare for 4th of July can border on ordinary – many of us have had the average, grilled hot dog or burger ( the radio quoted that something like 170,000 hot dogs will be eaten today. thanks joan for that tidbit ) In the old days I stayed away from hot dogs once I found out what was in them, in particular those with  nitrates which can really destroy your upper GI track according to the book ” Diet for a  Poisoned Planet “   Nitrates is on my top ten food additives to avoid. Truth is the alternative market has helped in this area tremendously. Hot Dogs, Bacon and Lunch Meat can all be found nitrate free fairly easily. My nutrition mentor when her kids were little would go to birthday parties and would place chewable vitamin c next to each birthday guests plate ( vitamin c offsets the nitrate issue ), true story.

Potato salad, another really great 4th of July treat is something I enjoy tremendously. If it’s the mayonnaise kind and if its sitting outside especially on a day like today it borders on dangerous. I won’t go near it.

The potato salad I make is different. You layer cooked potato slices, a bunch of raw veggies, a bit of crumbled bacon and pour over a warm balsamic dressing — it’s soooo good!! Nice break from the ordinary.


Warm Potato Salad

chop bits of  raw bacon before frying it in a skillet – remove cooked bits to paper towel to drain – save 2 T of bacon fat for warm dressing
 
Boil 15 – 20 small red potatoes until knife tender
 
chop 1 small purple onion, 1/3 C celery, 2 T  flat leaf parsley and 2 T of chive – set aside ( I added purple cabbage, you could add spinach, swiss shard – endless variations really)
 
mix together in a small glass measuring cup – 2 T red wine vinegar, 1 teas sugar, salt and pepper to taste, and 1/3 C chicken broth
 
Heat bacon fat in bacon skillet – add 1/4 C balsamic vinegar to deglaze – add ingredients from custard cup and bring to a boil.
 
drain potatoes and slice them warm… putting them back in the empty boiling pot – top with 1/2 warm dressing and stir gently to moisten potatoes – place on a plate – top with fresh chopped veggies and with the rest of the warm dressing
 
garnish with strips of fresh chive

From the William Sonoma “Salads” cookbook



Natural Fireworks Flickr image credit – Happy 4th of July

K a r e n       H a n r a h a n
Wellness Educator/Nutritional Consultant
Mentoring YOU to Health Success

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