A Summer Salad: Mom's Best in the World Potato Salad

Never did we have a family picnic or dinner without a bowl of my mother absolutely delicious, potato salad. I have always felt; and I still do, that my mother made the best potato salad in the world. I liked it so much in fact, when I got married, I asked her for her recipe. Since she never used a recipe, she wrote it down as best as she could. I have made mom's potato salad many times over the years, and though it was never as good as her's, it was still good.

My oldest son was not only my mom's first grandchild; he was also born on her birthday, and though she loved all of her grandchildren immensely, he always held a special place in her heart. When my son got married a few years ago, my mother wanted to do something extra special for him, but she wasn't for sure what; so she asked him what she could do to for the wedding, to help make it special. What my son asked her to do, was something that was to give her much joy for the rest of her life; he asked her to make a large bowl of her potato salad for the wedding reception. I know that potato salad isn't a dish that is normally served at a wedding reception, but their reception was held at the park, so it fit in perfectly.

I don't know how she did it, but the potato salad she made was with 50 pounds of potatoes, and that potato salad was every bit as good as the single bowls that she made for family picnics. And believe it or not, when the reception was over, there was not even a spoonful left. My mom was so proud; and of course my son was proud to brag that the world's best potato salad was made by his grandma.

This is the recipe for Potato Salad that she gave me when I got married.

6 - medium potatoes about the size of a fist

Boil these with the skins on until done. Drain, then set aside to cool. Peel, cut into cubes into a bowl.

Then add to the potatoes:

2 hard boiled eggs, diced

½ cup of finely chopped celery

1 cup of peeled and diced cucumber

¼ to ½ cup chopped onion - depending on taste (she always used ½ cup)

6 stuffed olives finely sliced

Mix well, but carefully so as not to mash the potatoes, and cover and set aside while making the dressing.

¼ cup French Dressing

1 cup Mayonnaise

2 tablespoons pickle relish - sweet or dill - I like dill and she liked sweet

1 tablespoon mustard

Blend well with a whisk, and then pour over vegetables. Make sure that all of the vegetables are well coated.

Just before serving this potato salad, sprinkle a little paprika on the top. It will add a lovely color without affecting the taste.