Recipe: Broccoli Salad

I had an interesting experience at a potluck yesterday, and yes, it was food-related, but not in the way you might think.

I brought Debbie Arrington's Winning Broccoli Salad (yes, that's the official name - it was the stuff of legend in the Columbia Missouri Highlands Ward - so beloved by all that Debbie was always required to bring it to any ward function.  Also, she used "winning" long before Charlie Sheen tainted it).  I've tweaked the recipe some - replaced the raisins with craisins - but it's still her basic recipe, and it's fast becoming my potluck staple.

Returning to my potluck... I was deep in conversation, standing near the desserts (natch) when, out of the corner of my eye, I saw someone approach the hostess and mention "broccoli salad".  Uh-oh. Whenever someone mentions my food, I get worried. I'm not exactly known for my culinary skills.

I saw the hostess point at me, and there was some animated gesturing on the part of the inquirer. I turned and gave my best innocent look/trailing question combo: "yes, I did bring the broccoli salad...?"

The woman came over, stood directly in front of me, took both my hands in hers, and proceeded to tell me that it was the BEST broccoli salad she had ever had, and the broccoli was just perfect, and the cashews, and all the sauce... and she could just TELL that there was so much LOVE that went into that salad!

All of this accented, of course, with slight hand shakes after each phrase.

Wow.  Nice, but... kinda weird.

I smiled, thanked her, and gently extricated my hands. I sincerely thought at that point she was going to hug me, but she just sighed happily and left me, bewildered, still backed up against the counter.

Broccoli salad.  Transforming lives.  Bet you didn't know it could do that.

Debbie Arrington's Winning Broccoli Salad

Ingredients:
2 lbs. fresh broccoli
1 small white onion, chopped fine
1 cup Miracle Whip (I use MW light)
1/2 cup sugar
2 T. white vinegar
1/2 cup cashews
1/2 cup craisins (or raisins)
6 slices bacon, cooked crispy and chopped fine (I use maple bacon.  ooohhh....)

Directions:
Wash broccoli, then remove florets and separate into bite-sized pieces.  Place in a large bowl, and add chopped onion.

Whisk together Miracle Whip, sugar, and white vinegar in a small bowl. Pour over broccoli and onions and stir to coat.  Refrigerate overnight.

Immediately before serving, stir in cashews, craisins, and chopped bacon and mix well.

Stand back and watch lives being changed.  :)

Writing this post made me wonder what happened to Debbie.  I tried Googling her and looking for her on Facebook, but wasn't able to find her.  I'm sure, wherever she is, she's changing lives... and still stuck bringing this marvelous salad to every ward potluck.