By Andy Bedwell
There’s just a hard-to-express “goodness” that everybody loves about well-made salads. Take the classic Caesar salad. The dressing is made with different ingredients, which by themselves usually are not on anyone’s list of top treats. But whip them into a sauce, and presto – you have a delicious dressing.
Andy’s Southern Chicken Salad
4 chicken breasts,cooked and chopped
4 eggs, boiled and chopped
4 tablespoons sweet pickle cubes or sweet pickle relish
½ teaspoon mustard (more for a little color)
1 cup mayonnaise
¾ cup sliced red grapes
½ cup dried cranberries
½ cup pecans, chopped
Chill chicken before you begin to chop, then add all other ingredients. More mayonnaise may be needed. Refrigerate several hours before serving.
Andy’s Note: One of the prettiest wedding receptions that I ever attended had silver trays of chicken salad, ham salad and shrimp salad served with assorted crackers. The other day, I saw chicken salad in a bread bowl.
Broccoli Salad
4 cups chopped fresh broccoli
½ onion, chopped
½ pound grated cheese
1 cup red raisins or dried cranberries
1 cup mayonnaise
½ cup sugar
2 tablespoons vinegar
½ pound bacon
Cook bacon and crumble. Mix chopped broccoli, crumbled bacon and grated cheese in a bowl. Mix onion, mayonnaise, sugar and vinegar. Pour over broccoli mixture. Refrigerate several hours before serving.
Andy’s Note: I love this salad. Purple onion rings are great in this salad.
Apple Snicker Salad
6-8 Granny Smith apples, cut into chunks
6 large snicker bars, cut into bite size pieces
1 jar marshmallow cream
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
8 ounces Cool Whip
Mix marshmallow cream, Cool Whip and cream cheese with a mixer. Add apples and snicker pieces. Mix well and refrigerate.
Andy’s Note: This is a good and fun recipe that is a little different. I always decorate the top with red cherries and a few pecans during the holidays.
Pink “Stuff” Salad
1 can cherry pie filling
1 can Eagle Brand Milk
1 medium size can crushed pineapple, drained
1 (8 ounce sour cream)
1 large Cool Whip
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 cup chopped pecans
Mix all ingredients together and chill.
Andy’s Note: This salad is delicious.
Happy Spring Cooking!
“Southern Cooking with Andy Bedwell” can be purchased at Alabama Gift Company in downtown Gadsden and The Messenger on Rainbow Drive.