Come sit with me for awhile . . .
and see what I’m bringing to the table

Bash on the barbie .   .   . it’s the perfect Labor Day celebration !!!

A day of parades, games, fun, friends, and family gatherings in the great outdoors. The aroma of hot dogs, hamburgers, steak, chicken, and my grilled corn on the cob! Yup .   .   . I’m about to step out people, and throw my barbie tongs into the ring of fire! But before I don my barbie mitts .   .   . A special note to all the amazing, accomplished, and prolific chefs, and seasoned cooks who follow my tablescaping, and home design on Twitter, Facebook etc.. I come in peace, with no known aspirations of stepping out of my design zone. However, I am feeling the need to stretch my legs, or is it my mind ??? Hmmmm .   .   . Soooooo, having said that .   .   . I humbly, and with great trepidation, offer up one of my own cooking concoctions to all of you, the cooking kitchen gods, who follow my tablescaping blog from around the world .  .   .  Wait .   .   . phew .   .   . I need a moment to take a deep breath, before the plunge!!!!! O k I’m ready  .   .   .

It’s all in the schmearing .   .   . oh please .   .   . believe me .   .   . schmearing is not rocket science, and definitely not brain surgery.   .   . even I can schmear with the best of the best, hence, my not complicated recipe!!!   First pull back the husk almost all the way without detaching from cob and strip away silk. Take a mixture of olive oil, lime, coarse ground black pepper, curry powder (to taste), and a teaspoon of mustard (personal choice for this dish is simply Heinz mustard). Beat ingredients together with a mini wire whisk and brush it on. Pull husk back up over the cob, and tie off top with string. Next wrap in foil and place on barbie over medium heat for about 12-15 min. then remove foil, and place on high heat for approx. 3-5 min. to get that slightly seared, delicious, pop in your mouth, to the very last bite taste. Yes, I understand .   .   . you are asking as to quantities .   .   . Weeelll .   .   . I grew up watching my mother in the kitchen .   .   . and  this is how my lessons went .   .   . Question … how much of this or that are you putting in the bowl mother ?  Answer… oh just a smidgen of this and a smidgen of that. There you have it friends, need I same more .   .   . I am a full fledged, by the seat of my pants .   .   . a little of this, and a little of that kitchen flyer. 

As the British expression goes  .   .   . “in for a penny, in for a pound” soooooo why not the kitchen sink!!! Here’s the “… in for a pound part” .   .   . a second of my very own concoction side dish .   .   . I think I’m getting light headed with all this stretching of my mind !!! So here we go with .   .   . NO mayonnaise potato salad.

Of course it can be done .   .   .  has been done , and will be done ! This is soooooo simple, that even a novice can do this!!!  I like small red potatoes, however, any potato will work. Again the quantity depends upon how large a group you are serving .   .   . sooooo .   .   . adjust people, adjust. This recipe is for two dozen small red potatoes.  Boil them up until easily pierced with a fork, set aside or refrigerate to cool them down completely. Next scoop out the pulp of two ripe medium to large avocados into a bowl, (set aside the pit ) and mash with a fork, leaving a few small chunks. Yup .  .   . you are correct .   .   . that is your mayonnaise substitute! Cut up potatoes into small bite size pieces, add all the avocado, a teaspoon or more to taste, of yellow mustard, couple dashes of white pepper, quick shake of celery seed, and salt for those of you who use salt, then blend, and add a shake or two of sweet paprika, and chill. For those of you who need a bit more, I offer additional choices of four hard boiled eggs, a couple tablespoons of chopped pimentos, and of course chopped olives.

What??? .   .   . did you really think I was about to jump in here with a recipe for Coq Au Vin, or a Grand Marnier Souffle ????

Til next time .   .   .

MORE CANDLE TIPS NEXT TIME

Sharon Insul is the former owner of the popular Beverly Hills boutique Candle light and…

I WELCOME YOUR COMMENTS and QUESTIONS  .   .   . sharons3@me.com

Shop on line @http://www.shop.tableofferings.com for one-of -a-kind finds for your tablescape and home decor.