Potato Salad with Sugar Beets

If you can't smell burning, it must be salad! I always remember this maxim whenever I make salads. This means that I don't have to worry about our very sensitive smoke detector. 

To be honest, I don't get much time for cooking these days. I mean, I study and tend to Lukas alternately for long hours most days. What makes me feel lucky is a husband who takes the burden of most household tasks. Well, actually, it is his servant's heart that makes me look like the baddie! He often sacrifices his own comfort for ours. And I think, this adds me in a small minority of women who have a husband whom they always depend on. Moreover, this particular attitude of his forces me to remain active when my tendency would be towards a moment of inertia or laziness.
This is also the reason why I always grab the opportunity to make his favorite dishes whenever it's feasible. Did I ever mention to you that he is a good cook? He absolutely is!

Potato salad is a usual fare that is always present on my Tita Mila's bounteous table and on all occasions, my husband would take the first share every time we visit them. It is a simple concoction of potatoes, sugar beets, carrots, apple, etc., and mayonnaise dressing . Well, I suppose he like salads best, but they have to carry luscious taste, of course. Remember, a good cook makes a good food critic!

Ingredients:

3-5 pieces large potatoes, (peeled if desired and cubed) or you can also use potato marbles

3 pieces sugar beets, cubed

2 pieces medium sized carrots, cubed

1 can pineapple tidbits or chunks

3 pieces medium sized apple, cubed

chicken breast (I usually don't put chicken because my husband is allergic to it.) or you can put bacon

500 ml mayonnaise (you may adjust the amount)

1/2 cup sweet pickle relish

1 cup cheddar cheese, diced - (optional)

spring onions, chopped (optional)

salt to taste

ground pepper (optional)

Procedure:

1. In a large pot, boil potaoes, carrots and sugar beets for about 20 minutes until cooked.
2. Boil the chicken breast in water with some salt. Shred the chicken meat.
3. Drain potatoes, carrots and sugar beets and let cool.
4. Drain pineapple tidbits.
5. Dice the potatoes, carrots, apple and sugar beets.
6. Combine all ingredients including pickle relish and mayonnaise.
7. Add salt to taste. You may also add freshly ground pepper if you wish.
8. You may add the optional ingredients for added flavor.
9. Additional suggestion: You may also add vinegar and a handful of raisins.
10. Refrigerate. Voila! an explosion of sour and sweet, tasty salad.

Sugar beets may cause you to defecate reddish particles but there is totally nothing worry about. Don't misinterpret it as having hematochezia. It's normal!

Our real blessings often appear to us in the shape of pains, losses and disappointments; but let us have patience and soon shall see them in their proper figures. J. Addison - Didache 10th August

Happy feast of St. Lawrence