Thursday, April 12, 2012

Pretty in (Sorta) Pink -- Cranberry Cole Slaw


Have you looked at The Food List Challenge?  Just a fun little game to see how adventurous a food enthusiast you really are.  I thought I was, and I guess I am, if you compare my "stats" to the average joe.  I've eaten 64 out of the 100, but I sure never would have put some of them on my personal food bucket list!

Some of my answers were borderline; for instance, I've eaten rabbit, but not rabbit stew.  Some of the foods I wouldn't touch with a 10-foot pole!  Crickets? No, thank you.  Frog Legs? Yes.  There's nothing about urchins that attracts me at all, but I would like to try dandelion wine. Fugu sounds far too risky and haggis  just makes me want to gag, with or without a spoon. (I have, happily, sampled sweetbreads, however.  Go figure.)

All this is a roundabout way to talk about this very simple cole slaw, which I doubt would ever make it to anyone else's Top 100 anything list.  It's everyday fare, jazzed up just a tad.  A simple side that could just as easily go along side -- or in -- a sandwich as a hunk of steak.  It's on my Top 100 "everyday food made a little fancy" list.

It's neither overwhelmingly sweet nor tart.  But it has a nice crunch, both from nuts and cabbage.  And the cranberries provide a nice, sweet change of texture in the midst of that crunching.  

Although you can't tell it from the picture, I prefer to cut cabbage into fine, fine slivers for this slaw with a knife, instead of shredding with a box grater, or a food processor.  (That is, until I use my school teaching extra cash to buy a mandoline; and a new camera!)

The dressing for this is vinegar-based making it ideal for a buffet table or an outdoor picnic -- no mayo to spoil!

Cranberry Cole Slaw
adapted from a Recipe from Nancy Nicholson,
via Penzey's Spring 2012 Catalog
6-8 cups shredded cabbage, preferably a mix of red and green
1/2 large red onion, very thinly sliced
1 cup dried cranberries
1 cup sliced almonds
Dressing:
1/2 cup red wine vinegar
1/2 cup canola oil
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon whole celery seed

In a large bowl, combine the shredded cabbage, onion, cranberries and almonds.  Whisk together the dressing ingredients.  Pour over the cabbage mixture and refrigerate several hours (or overnight) before serving.  Makes 10-12 servings.

30 comments:

  1. Whew! Cole slaw that looks delicious. For a minute, I thought you were going to give a recipe for crickets!!

    Best,
    Bonnie

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    1. I was thinking . . . if you wrapped bacon around crickets, maybe, just maybe.

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  2. I'm going to try this one this weekend :) My food challenge score was 66 and I had some borderline ones too, so perhaps a little higher. And haggis? Had it when I was in Scotland and there is a reason they drink whisky with that stuff!

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    1. A whiskey chaser! There's nothing about haggis that has the least bit of appeal -- except for that chaser.

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  3. I can tell you right now that I will not be eating Haggis in Scotland, it looks disgusting and gross as the kids would say!
    On the other hand your cranberry cole slaw looks like a real winner to me;-)

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    1. There were a few other things on the list that looked (almost as) gross. Eel? Eek!

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    2. Oh no, I've had eel in sushi and it was quite good :)

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  4. They should add this to the list and take out the crickets. (Although my nephew assures me they are fine.) I am far too traditional. Pink cole slaw wins every time!

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    1. A long time ago, my aunt told me that chocolate covered ants were all the rage; she had to eat them, of course, and pronounced them "just like chocolate peanuts." The same with crickets?

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  5. I am absolutely in love with this. I can't wait to make it!

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    1. Hope you do. It's easy and a nice refreshing change from the creamy kind of slaw.

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  6. Looks pretty top 100 to me. Wowsa! Totally digging the cranberry :)

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  7. I like the sound of this coleslaw and will add it to my ever-growing to-try list. That is a fun game - I love seeing how many foods everybody has tried. I was able to cross off 80 of them.

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    1. Wow! 80! That's impressive! You should compare yourself with people you know, too. Interesting.

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  8. 64 is impressive! I only got 36... But there's a lot of stuff on the list that I would LOVE to try, but haven't had the chance to.. And I am with you about the crickets! This coleslaw sounds yummy... Love the cranberries and almonds! Thanks for sharing :)

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    1. There's a lot of Asian foods on the list I hadn't even heard of! Gotta get out more!

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  9. Super recipe!! I'm making this - full of flavor and SO good for you!
    Mary x

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    1. I suppose if you lightened up on the sugar, it would be even healthier.

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  10. I have made this recipe, too!!! SO fabulous!!!

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    1. Glad I made it . . . although Mr. Rosemary still prefers the mayo variety.

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  11. Love this and yesterday I made a coleslaw and also added dried cranberries; it came out really good.
    Rita

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    1. Isn't it great how just a little something can make a big difference? It's the details!

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  12. This looks delish! I love the idea of the dried cranberries! I took the test (thanks for providing the link) and I've eaten 69 of 100. Thank goodness I ate a lot of seafood before I developed an allergy to it, or the list would be much shorter!

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    1. So you tried eel, did you?!? The slaw is a simple one, but it is nice addition, and the cranberries are a nice touch.

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  13. OK, I have to check out this food list challenge now. This slaw looks delicious--and I hate slaws that use pre-prepared mayo, so I'm kind of picky.

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    1. I think you'll like this slaw. . . and I know you'll enjoy the little challenge!

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  14. Love that this has cranberries and nuts! Sounds great!

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  15. Bring on the "cole slaw"...love the addition, of the cranberries! So light, healthy and yummy! I never get tired of cole slaw, made so many different ways!

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