Theresa Blodgett's Hot Potato Salad

My husband's grandmother and grandfather both emigrated from Germany as youngsters, before WWI. They met and fell in love and married and worked and had a gazillion kids, and lived on a farm and Grandma Eichas was pretty well self-taught in so many skills... as she said to me "Because it was needed!"

She was a darling woman, strong and vibrant and fair.... and I loved her.

My mother-in-law is her daughter Theresa, and Mom (Theresa) developed this family favorite about five or six decades ago... it's her version of German potato salad, without sugar so you don't get "sweet and savory" you get salty and savory with a twang of vinegar....

The entire family loves it, and the trick in making it isn't in the ingredients or the skill, it's in the layering and patience.... Because once you layer it, you want to warm it in a medium oven (about 275° or 300°) until well warmed through, about 40 minutes to an hour.... and if you want, you can leave it in a slow oven for a long time. (Don't ask how I know that. Timers do not always work correctly!!!! )

So here's a shot of the simple ingredients, and there is no measuring with this. You use a big serving spoon (not the HUGE ones in your utensil drawer, the "vegetable" sized ones in your silverware drawer).

You'll need cooked potatoes (I did a five pound bag), peeled and diced to a medium/large piece.

Apple cider vinegar

Cooked bacon, not overdone.

One medium onion, chopped and sauteed lightly in the bacon grease when the bacon is done.

Parsley

Salt

Pepper

4-6 slices cooked bacon, crumbled

4 quart baking dish or pot

Spread layer of potato chunks on bottom of pan. Sprinkle with one spoonful of bacon grease/onion mix.

Sprinkle top with salt. Then pepper. Then Parsley. Then a handful of crumbled bacon. Then sprinkle with TWO spoonfuls of the apple cider vinegar.

Repeat twice.

Cover and put in slow/medium oven and walk away.....Let it heat through without stirring, then stir after about an hour. (Unless you can't wait and need to taste test after thiry minutes or so. It is that worthy).

Kav, you could use bacon bits and olive oil to saute the onion for your version, and I laughed when I saw your admission about over-cooking the potatoes.... because that's the one thing Mom scolds about! "Don't overcook them potatoes!"

So I don't!!!!

And if I remember to take a pic when it comes out of the oven, I'll post it, but I've got this and it's WAY BETTER THAN POTATOES!!!!

The Little Princess!!!!

Nine months old (and 4 days) The Little Princess has taken her first steps, gotten one tooth and is eating a freeze pop!!!!

She's so big!!!

Bald is beautiful!

And THIS TRICK is amazing: Fruit flies in the kitchen are an obnoxious problem every summer, but Mandy showed me this trick and it works!!!!

Take one-quart (or so) bowl. Fill it about 1/3 full of warm, soapy water. Put small glass or candle holder in middle, filled with apple cider or red wine vinegar.

Set next to a banana or any fruit fly enticing fruit....

Fruit Fly Trap!!!

It works! I had a melon and some bananas on the counter, and no fruit flies! They all were drawn to the bowl and the aging banana and the vinegar. The bubbles "trap" them, but I found it worked even once the bubbles disappeared.... Although I did use my coffee frother to whip them back up! I've changed the soapy water twice in a week, and there are no clouds of fruit flies in my kitchen, and it's caught about 7 house flies, too....

And non-toxic! Go Green, Ruthy!!!!!

And then there's this....

Grandpa and a snuggle bunny Lena, curled up at our Herne Family Reunion on July 3rd... Note the cleanliness of this sweet, old house and you know in an instant, it's not mine!!!!

We had a great time, great family, and it's always fun to reconnect with those we love.

And I just received my first box of books from my beloved Love Inspired for "Her Unexpected Family"!!!

Such a delightful story, I love it!!!!

And that's it from the farm.... Next week I can show you more progress on the ponds and front gardens, and maybe reveal the Secret Project I'm working on....

I am loving having a chance to be inside writing and outside working!!

God is good!

Multi-published, bestselling author Ruth Logan Herne loves living in the Eastern Woodlands of upstate New York because she's pretty sure she's part dryad! A mother of many, and grandmother to many more, she is living her dream of writing sweet, inspirational stories of faith, hope and love in her 162 year old farmhouse... where if you try to fix one thing, you break two others!

Visit her on facebook as Ruth Logan Herne or stop by her website www.ruthloganherne.com

She'd love to meet you!