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!