What do I meanby “food safety”? For a few years now, when I grill out side or conduct events under the hot sun I always consider the menu and ingredients. I know several of you do the same thing or have created alternative ways to keep your salads chilled. There are so many favorite recipes passed down through the years that require (or should require) us to keep them cold. They have mayonnaise base dressings, incorporate raw vegetables in them or have hard cooked eggs added to them, to name a few. I know I have a few of these recipes in my pack!

Even when I cater an event, clients will occasionally ask if we can make a” family recipe” that has been a staple, at similar events. Since I am so accommodating to my customers, we oblige. We always keep our salads on ice and have changed our own ingredients to follow the low fat trend, using vinaigrettes. One example is an Asian style slaw with julienne fresh granny smith apples. It last for about 4 days after you make it, but does well on a family outing. Tell us your changes to recipes and how you cope with eating under the sun?
What’s so great about this recipe is that, in today’s markets, you can quickly prepare a recipe with some premade ingredients:

Crisp Cole Slaw with Apples

Serves 8

Ingredients:

• 1 Granny smith apple – unpeeled and cut into thin julienne pieces/tossed with 1T. Lemon juice
• 1 bag Cole slaw mix (8oz.)
• 1 bag Broccoli slaw mix (8oz.)
• 1 cup thinly sliced white cabbage
• Salt and Fresh Pepper to taste
• 1 T. thinly sliced crystallized ginger +1 t. reserved for garnish

Procedure:

Toss vegetables and apples to combine, season to taste, add the 1T. of crystallized ginger

Vinaigrette:

In a blender, combine the following:

• 1 shallot, minced
• 1 tablespoon ginger, minced
• 3 tablespoons rice vinegar
• 1 tablespoon mirin
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1/4 cup canola oil

Procedure:

Toss the dressing with the slaw mix and refrigerate. Can be made a day in advanced and mix before you place in a bowl and garnish with remaining ginger.

Ciao

~Bernard