Broccoli Salad

Here is one of my favorite recipes for broccoli. I got this from a cookbook called “Southern Celebrations” by Kathleen Howard Rambo. It’s a great salad to bring to a picnic or pot luck. I make it so often that when I pick up the book it falls open to this recipe.

Broccoli Salad
1 large broccoli head
1 cauliflower head or broccoli head
1/2 cup golden raisins
3 green onions, peeled and chopped
1 1/4 cups mayonnaise
1/4 cup sugar
4 tablespoons vinegar
1/2 cup walnuts, pecans or peanuts
1 carrot, grated
1 (6-ounce can Mandarin oranges, drained
10 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled

photo credit: CK Worley

Cut broccoli and cauliflower into tiny flowerets to measure approximately 6 cups and place in a bowl with raisins, onions and mayonnaise.
Measure out sugar and vinegar and place in microwave on high for 2 minutes, or place on medium heat on stove to dissolve sugar. Mix well and add to broccoli. Prepare nuts and carrots and place with salad. If making a day in advance, nuts and carrots should be set aside to keep from discoloring cauliflower. Before serving salad, mix prepared ingredients together and layer in bacon and oranges. (Tossing oranges might cause breakage.) Makes 8 to 10 servings.

photo credit: CK Worley

The time is fast approaching to plant winter vegetables so even if you’ve never really liked or planted broccoli, this salad may change your mind. Remember that broccoli likes sandy (not sand - sandy for drainage) slightly acidic soil and full sun. Vegetables taste so much better when you’ve grown them yourself.