Labor Day is fast approaching and I am already dreading the last days of summer. I realize it’s not over yet, but somehow it always seemed to be that as fast as the kids began school, summer was swiftly ending. I will miss the dinners on the deck, the balmy evenings where no one wants to go to bed, and even watering my flower boxes. It is hard to say if I will miss those things more than I will miss the fresh summer food and the aroma of grilling. (Truth be told; we tend to use our grill year round.)
Labor Day always meant spending the day at the pool and of course, it always seemed to be the best, most perfect day of summer. It meant we closed the place down and sadly waved good bye. It meant burgers and hot dogs and watermelon. And corn. Have to get the last of the fresh sweet corn. It meant clearing out the club’s freezers and standing in line to get the free frozen treats being given away. We always sent our kids up to get us one!
Labor Day means saying goodbye to summer’s bounty. I love picking fresh herbs from my herb garden. I love farmer’s markets. I love choosing fresh peppers and peaches and watermelon. Let’s not forget berries. I love grilling chicken. I love cocktails and wine coolers and beer. I love fruit desserts and ice cream sandwiches and milk shakes. Not that I have many of those!
Labor Day reminds me of all the recipes I still want to make. It still seems like I have so many more salads I want to concoct, and things I want to grill, and jams I want to make. But that’s what it’s all about, isn’t it? The ending of summer means yearning for the next one. The change of seasons gives us time to peruse garden catalogues to make next year’s bigger and better. It has us slowing down and awaiting warm vacations elsewhere. And it has me still cooking!
Here’s a new potato salad that I really enjoy. And some of my favorites that you may want to try for the last big bash of summer. But don’t labor to much.. Enjoy!
Old Bay Potato Salad
Serves 4-6
Time To Make: About 15 minutes
Ingredients:
3 medium Russets cooked (I wrap them in damp paper towels and microwave them for about 6-7 minutes)
1/3 c mayonnaise
1/3 c sour cream
1 T spicy mustard
2 T Old Bay
1 t horseradish
1/3 c sliced olives
1/3 c chopped yellow peppers or your choice
13 c chopped green onion
1 T capers and juice
1/3 c celery chopped (optional)
Directions:
When potatoes have cooled, cut them into bite sized chunks. While potatoes are cooking combine the rest of the ingredients in a medium sized bowl and mix well. Add potatoes and stir well. I like this best at room temperature, but chill if you’d like!
And a few more faves: The chicken is killer!
Red Onion, Blueberry and Pesto Tart
Old Fashioned Barbeque Chicken
Green Onion Garlic Chive Skillet Bread (These photos are just to bad to show you, but the recipe is great!)
Black Bottom Chocolate Cake or Cupcakes
And don’t forget to enter the Whole Foods Giveaway!
Lea Ann (Cooking On The Ranch)
September 5, 2015 at 8:06 pmI'm feeling a little panicked also about squeezing in some of those Summer foods. Grilled Pork Chops with peach salsa comes to mind. Abbe, I'm loving this Old Bay potato salad. That's a must try and very soon. I bought my first bushel of roasted Hatch Chile today, at Wilmore Nursery. To me that marks the beginning of Fall and many South of the Border recipes to try.
Sippity Sup
August 31, 2015 at 4:04 pmLabor Day is Los Angeles is a reminder that the hottest days of the year are fast approaching! September can be brutal here. It's my least fav month, so like you, I'll miss those summer days. But it's the temperate weather I'll be missing. GREG
PS Old Bay is a magical seasoning mix and an inspired choice in potato salad. GREG
Abbe Odenwalder
September 3, 2015 at 3:01 amWell, Greg! September is usually pretty nice here, so maybe you should do another road trip! We have vineyards, too! In Philly, they top the fries with Old Bay. So I figured it would work well in potato salad, too! It did!
SavoringTime in the Kitchen
August 30, 2015 at 3:46 pmI share all of your sentiments! I'm getting sad just thinking about the end of the bountiful produce, herbs and flowers still blooming in my garden. You can almost feel the change in the air already. Damp, earlier evenings, the crickets. It's been cool and rainy here lately, but just as sure as school starting, the weather is going to get hot again for one last blast of summer. Maybe the rest of tomatoes will even ripen 🙂 Love all of your Labor Day cookout recipes and the potato salad sounds wonderful.
Abbe Odenwalder
September 3, 2015 at 3:00 amGetting cool here, too! Should be a great weekend! But it is time to start cutting all the dead flowers down! So sad. Thanks Susan!
CQUEK
August 29, 2015 at 11:31 amOmg, girl! This looks amazing and you’re killing me with that
Abbe Odenwalder
September 3, 2015 at 2:59 amThanks Cquek!
Joanne
August 28, 2015 at 12:15 pmI can't believe labor day is already almost here! Crazy. I'm already mourning summer foods!
Abbe Odenwalder
September 3, 2015 at 2:58 amThat's true Joanne. But now I guess we can get ready for pumpkin!
Bam's Kitchen
August 28, 2015 at 10:44 amI love old Bay Seasoning and that would be delicious in a potato salad and of course I would want a plate of those old fashion BBQ chicken too, great round up!
Abbe Odenwalder
September 3, 2015 at 2:58 amThe chicken is outstanding Bobbi, and I know you like chcken!
Tricia @ Saving room for dessert
August 28, 2015 at 12:22 amLove your stories Abbe! And the potato salad and the BBQ chicken – everything looks wonderful! Hope you have a terrific Labor Day holiday – looks like you are ready!
Abbe Odenwalder
August 28, 2015 at 3:22 amI love your comments, Tricia! I'm glad we have another week to wind down!
Amy (Savory Moments)
August 27, 2015 at 9:32 pmI love potato salads so much, especially when they contain green olives so this one is a winner for me! Perfect for a picnic.
Abbe Odenwalder
August 28, 2015 at 3:26 amThose green olives really work in this! I was happy with that decision so thanks, Amy!
Pamela @ Brooklyn Farm Girl
August 27, 2015 at 9:27 pmMy dad loves his potato salad so much so I'm passing this recipe on to him. He's going to go crazy for it! 🙂
Abbe Odenwalder
August 28, 2015 at 3:25 amI think he might, Pamela! I am really enjoying it at each and every meal!
La Table De Nana
August 27, 2015 at 7:28 pmWow if dinner wasn't in the making I would rethink it..will make this soon..boys are coming Sunday.. ribs..not sure they like potato salad but I do so will make:)
I could not find Old Bay here..but in Mtl we have a famous hole in the wall spice store and they make their own.I bought some..:)
Abbe Odenwalder
August 28, 2015 at 3:22 amOld Bay is great on a lot of things, particularly shrimp and crab. I would go for it. I think this would be perfect with ribs!
Angie Schneider
August 27, 2015 at 5:31 amI can't remember when I last had a potato salad. Yours looks so comforting and delicious that I would love to try too. What's in that old bay spice mix?
Abbe Odenwalder
August 28, 2015 at 3:20 amIt contains salt, most of it being celery salt. Red pepper, black pepper and paprika. It has zip to it and is great on seafood.That's all it says, but I've seen many copycat recipes out there so I'm sure it also includes ground bay leaves and mustard. Here is a link on Wikipedia.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Bay_Seasoning
Rebecca Subbiah
August 27, 2015 at 2:35 amwas just reading how old bay is the seasoning of summer
Abbe Odenwalder
August 28, 2015 at 3:14 amIt does seem to be appearing many places. Which is a good thing in my mind!
Karen Harris
August 27, 2015 at 2:33 amI've never met a potato salad that I didn't like and I can't wait to try this one, or any of the other delicious looking recipes you've included here.
Abbe Odenwalder
August 28, 2015 at 3:13 amToo sweet Karen!
Kitchen Riffs
August 27, 2015 at 1:14 amI'll be sorry to say goodbye to the really great tomatoes, cukes, and basil we had this year. And all the stone fruit. But do look forward to chili, stews, and other heartier foods. And some cooler weather! Although for us this summer has been pretty nice. Anyway, never used Old Bay in a potato salad — I need to get with it and try this. Looks great — thanks.
Abbe Odenwalder
August 28, 2015 at 3:13 amIt has been a cool summer here also. The trees are already starting to change. Old Bay works in potato salad. In Philly they use it on French fries so i thought, why not?
Adam J. Holland
August 26, 2015 at 11:49 pmNot only a beautiful and tasty looking tater salad, but an awesome description of why summer is so attractive. Good job, Abbe!
Abbe Odenwalder
August 27, 2015 at 2:19 amI love summer. I'm so going to miss reading the paper on the deck in my jammies! Thanks, Adam!
Liz Berg
August 26, 2015 at 11:43 pmIf you're serving up all these fabulous dishes on Labor Day, I want to be invited to the party! I love, love the idea of adding some Old Bay into potato salad—delish!
Abbe Odenwalder
August 27, 2015 at 2:18 amYou are invited! I will make them all if you come! Old Bay really rocks!
[email protected]
August 26, 2015 at 9:37 pmThis salad looks fab but the round up is what really distracted me! That grilled chicken looks incredible! I adore the idea of it being an "old fashioned" recipe 🙂 Off to check it out!
Abbe Odenwalder
August 27, 2015 at 2:18 amIt really is the bomb, Nagi! My mom made it when I was young and I added the rub. The sauce can be kept in the fridge for those last minute moments. It is always a hit!