Let me start of by saying that I am going to be honest here. This is Honesty Flambé. I got really busy cooking and accidentally over-cooked my potatoes for the potato salad. The one picture I have is not beautiful like it normally would be. Remember how I said that I go to town like once a week for all the things I might ever need from the grocery store, like two large jars of pimentos? Well I got one bag of potatoes. Did I have enough to make another batch since I overcooked this batch of potatoes a bit? Nope. Of course I didn’t. I only buy the things in bulk that I don’t need at all. Hello 3 packages of almond bark?!! Don’t ask!! I don’t know anyway. For this potato salad, you make a separate dressing (easy) and pour it over the warm potatoes. You might not need all of it. I did not, but I wasn’t paying attention! Also, my potatoes were a bit more mashed, so yours will look prettier, I just know it.
Here’s the thing though y’all: nobody seemed to notice that the potatoes were somewhat mashed and it got gobbled up. I did keep calling them mashed potatoes instead of potato salad, but that’s ok. People think I am crazy anyway and don’t think about what I say too much or listen for too long. Because they are smart like that. Anywho…excuse the picture but believe me when I tell you that this is the end-all potato salad. And like mother like daughters! We know marriage proposals. Between the three of us (mom and my sister and me), we have received no less than 13 marriage proposals. If you want to get engaged or married, make this potato salad! Just make sure the guy is worth it for the long-haul. That’s my advice.
Because I appreciate you, I was going to make another batch of potato salad just so that I could not overcook the potatoes or mix in too much dressing. But it’s just me at home this week, so I hope you will understand when I say that I have to wait a bit to make this again. I will make it again soon (it’s potato salad season, after all!) and post a much prettier picture. I also ran out of sweet peppers and forgot to include the hard-boiled eggs. At least I’m being honest, OK? And honestly, I will make it again soon and post a pretty picture. Trust me when I tell you that this is the best potato salad EVER! Oh yes I did! I said it! The BEST EVER! And yes, I will marry you!
Marriage Proposal Potato Salad
Ingredients
- 5 pounds potatoes
- 4 stalks celery finely diced (or chopped if you prefer)
- ½ sweet onion finely diced* see note
- 2½ cups mayonnaise I only use Duke’s®!!!
- 8 ounces soft cream cheese
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 or 2 jars sweet/hot pickled peppers I like it with about 1½ jars – to taste
- 3 – 4 hard-boiled eggs chopped
- salt and pepper
- prepared yellow mustard if desired* see note (I prefer to keep it on the side)
Instructions
- Boil potatoes. We like to peel ours and cut them into chunks, but prepare as you wish. Boil until tender and drain. Add celery and onion and toss gently to combine. If you have a food processor, this next part is much easier. You can do it by hand as well, have no fear. You’ll just have larger bits. That’s perfect! Take half of the pickled peppers out of the jar and put into food processor. Add mayonnaise, cream cheese, and sour cream, and pulse to combine. Pour over the warm potatoes. Taste and add 2 tsp. salt and 1 tsp. pepper. I like to add more peppers at this point. Add hard-boiled eggs.
- Serve cold. Adjust seasonings before serving. Sometimes you will find that it needs a bit more salt and pepper. Most people like to salt and pepper their own, so be sparing.
- First Note: about onion. My favorite is the Vidalia onion. That’s from Vidalia, Georgia. And it is pronounced “Vie- (like ‘die’ if you say it wrong) – day- uh”. Nothing makes people say “bless your heart” more than some Yankee who comes down and butchers the name and actually says Vidalia, like Vidal Sassoon or something. And yeah, y’all snicker at us, too. Why is Peabody, Massachusetts pronounced “Pibidy”. That’s just wrong! Well, right back at ya! If you do not have a sweet onion, don’t worry. Use a regular onion and let it soak for a few minutes in water to take the edge off. If you really love strong onion, then ignore this message.
- Second Note: My absolute favorite thing ever is Mustard Potato Salad. You can certainly omit this step. My Southern-born husband will not touch mustard potato salad. I really enjoy potato salad both ways, and I rarely put it into the potato salad, but usually douse my serving of potato salad with mustard if that’s how I’m feeling. If you are lucky enough to be in a household that loves mustard potato salad, can I move in? Will you marry me? If you add it, start with about 4 tablespoons and go from there. There is a point where it just tastes like mustard. It will take over the potato salad. I like adding it on the plate, because then you can have this potato salad both ways. There is NO compromise! Ha! Mustard potato salad reminds me of Piggly Wiggly. They had a delicious mustard potato salad. I’m kind of a mustard and vinegar-holic.
- Also, sweet pickles are just fine if you prefer that. Sweet peppers are better. Dill pickles? Nah. Not for me. Dill pickles, which I absolutely love, just don’t take this salad to where it needs to be. Why is this marriage proposal potato salad better than the Piggly Wiggly version? No dill pickles. Try the sweet peppers, or the sweet AND hot peppers if you can find them, and prepare to bend down on your knee or have someone else propose to you. And may you get a 5 carat ring. If you are already married, this salad reminds your loved one just how magical and wonderful you are. You’re welcome!
