Page 35 of A Whisker in the Night (Country Cottage Mysteries #29)

From the Country Cottage Café

Mom’s Delicious Broccoli Salad

Here’s an easy and delicious recipe for my mother’s broccoli salad that’s sure to be a hit. It’s quick to make and uses simple ingredients you might already have on hand.

I know, I know, it’s broccoli we’re talking about. Okay, hear me out. Once I tried my mother’s broccoli salad, I became a fan for life. In fact, it’s so delicious that I actually crave this in the night. And I’ve eaten giant mixing bowls of the stuff ever since that fated day at Westoff Farms. You MUST try this! I hope you love it as much as I do.

Happy no-baking!

Ingredients:

4 cups fresh broccoli florets (about 2 medium heads, cut into bite-sized pieces. And I mean cut really, really small.)

1/2 cup red onion (finely chopped)

1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1/3 cup dried cranberries or raisins

1/4 cup sunflower seeds or chopped almonds (optional, for crunch)

4-5 slices of cooked bacon (crumbled, optional but recommended)

Dressing:

1/2 cup mayonnaise (or Greek yogurt for a lighter option)

2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar (or white vinegar)

1-2 tablespoons sugar (or honey for a natural sweetener)

Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Prepare the Salad:

In a large mixing bowl, combine the broccoli, red onion, cheddar cheese, dried cranberries (or raisins), sunflower seeds (or almonds), and crumbled bacon.

Make the Dressing:

In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, vinegar, sugar (or honey), salt, and pepper until smooth.

Mix Everything Together:

Pour the dressing over the broccoli mixture and toss well to coat evenly.

Let the salad chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.

Serve:

Give the salad a quick toss before serving. Garnish with extra sunflower seeds, bacon, or cranberries if you like. (Yippee!)

This broccoli salad is easy to switch up. Feel free to leave out the bacon for a vegetarian version or swap in your favorite nuts and dried fruits. It’s a crowd-pleaser for potlucks, holidays, or weeknight dinners! Or just to eat by the bowlful while watching TV. I’m weird like that.