How To Peel A Boiled Potato AND My Favorite Potato Salad Recipe

Who knew it could be so easy?

Not me, obviously.

I've spent many years doing it the hard way... boiling the potatoes, let them cool (or burn your hands if you don't have time for that) and peel, then chop.

Then I got smart and started doing it the easy way...  peeling them first, chopping them in bite sized pieces, then boiling them. Just had to be careful not to boil them too long or you'll have mushy potato salad... or mashed potatoes.

Well, apparently there is an even easier way to peel a potato. It was just kept secret from me all these years.

Now, I haven't tried this myself yet, but I certainly plan to. It could save me a lot of work. Looks like it works in the video, and if "Mary Ann" form Gilligan says it works, then I plan to give it a try. You know... she is from Idaho.

Check this out..

How cool was that?

Well... since I just showed you how easy it is to peel a potato, I guess I should tell you how to make my favorite potato salad.

Spring is in the air, so you know that means picnics, potlucks, and bbq's are just around the corner. And somebody has to bring the potato salad!

This recipe was adapted from a clone of KFC Potato Salad. The original came from Top Secret Recipes. (Visit their site... there's a lot of great recipes there.) I changed it just a bit and have been using it for years now. Here's my version:



My Favorite Potato Salad

2 pounds potatoes
1 cup mayonnaise
4 teaspoons sweet pickle relish
4 teaspoons sugar
1 teaspoon onion powder
1-2 teaspoons mustard
1 teaspoon vinegar
1 Tablespoon minced celery
1 Tablespoon chredded carrot
1/4 teaspoon parsley
1/4 teaspoon pepper
dash of salt

Peel potatoes and dice into bit-sized pieces. Place in a pot with enough water to cover and bring to a boil. Boil potatoes until they are still slightly firm in the center. Drain potatoes and rinse with cold water.

In a medium bowl, combine all remaining ingredients. Mix well.

Place potatoes in a large bowl. Pour dressing over the top and mix until all potatoes are well covered.

Cover and cool in the fridge.

Serves 8.


My daughter and I always fight over the potato salad. We both love it... I like it really cold, and she likes it hot, right out of the pot. Either way it's really good.


Happy Cooking!
Mary Ann :)

Kite Flying... It's A Breeze!

It's a breeze!  Get it?

Windy... kite... breeze...?

Oh, never mind. :)

A couple of weeks ago I bought kites for my kids.  They looked pretty cool.  And it's cheap entertainment... right?  Something we can all do together? 

Well... That's what I was thinking!  Great minds think alike!

My kids had never even flown a kite until last year.  Seriously.  And even then, they would never have owned a kite if my dad hadn't given them one.  It was a cute little pink piggy kite.  Not only my kids, but a couple little boys at the park as well, got the chance to fly their first kite.

What great fun it was!  "We should do this again!" I tell them.  But wait.  My hubby set the kite in the back of the van... where our 100 pound lab sits.  "No!... don't let him jump in...."  Poor piggy!!!  He was so cute and my Baby Girl was sad to see him go.  But next year...

Yep, this is next year!  And when I saw those cool looking kites, that poor piggy kite came to mind and I HAD to buy them... in his memory, of course!  So glad I did.  These are really cool kites! I know I said that.... but it's true. They fly much better than anything I'd ever flown.  Who didn't know that?  LOL.  After 30? years I guess they were bound to improve.

Kite flying is one of those fun childhood pastimes.  Don't you think?  I've been trying to let my kids experience some of the things I did when I was a child.  You know roller skating, bike riding, and kite flying. (And just using your imagination...)  It was all fun.  And it still is.  We just need to remind them how much fun we had when we were young(er).

This is my Baby Girl flying her butterfly kite.

Really colorful and durable.  Not like the paper kites I remember.

This is my Young Man teaching his brother, Baby Boy, how to fly his jet kite.

And now Baby Boy can fly his own kite.

We just drive to the desert at the end of our street.  It's a safe place where we won't hit anyone if one of the kites come crashing down.  You know that happens.

We don't always realize it, but it's the simple things that bring the most pleasure in life.  My kids were excited when they could do this themselves.  I got to show them something from my childhood that is now a part of their own.  They learned something new, and we had a great time together.

What's your favorite childhood pastime?  What did you enjoy that you'd like to share with your kids or grandkids?  I know there must be something.  And I'm sure they'd enjoy it too.  Don't let them fool you into thinking they can't part from those video games.  Take them out and have fun!  Time spent together is the best time of all!

***In case you were wondering... I usually don't post pictures of my family or give their real names.  I'm not sure if I want to do that yet, or at all. Once you put something out there, it's out there. No taking it back. So... until I'm ready, I will just give out their 'blog names' and post photos that still protect their privacy. Yes, I'm weird like that. Thanks for understanding! :)

God bless!
Mary Ann :)