coleslaw

Easy Coleslaw Dressing

This easy homemade coleslaw dressing gives the crunchy classic cabbage salad a tangy bite with creamy mayonnaise and cider vinegar’s zing.

Backyard barbecue and summer potlucks wouldn’t be the same without a classic coleslaw salad on the table. It’s the perfect side car to grilled chicken, the best grilled salmon, my very favorite garlic burgers and is a necessity when it comes to pulled pork sandwiches.

I make my best creamy coleslaw recipe with this same homemade dressing, but it can be used for even more than just lushing up cabbage, and that’s why it’s worthy of a recipe post of its own.

I eat coleslaw dressing on basic crunchy iceberg salads with cucumber and tomato, or drizzled on baked potatoes instead of sour cream. And it makes an awesome dip for fresh veggies on a platter or to dip in for a snack.

Some creamy coleslaw dressings use a combination of sour cream and mayonnaise with flavorings that run the gamut of grated onion to worcestershire sauce to mustard and lemon juice.

But why go through all those paces? Let’s keep this dressing simple.continue to the recipe… about Easy Coleslaw Dressing

Pulled Pork Sandwiches with Crunchy Slaw

If you’re feeding a crowd, there’s not many recipes easier or more beloved than slow cooker pulled pork sandwiches topped with a simple, crunchy, vinegar-dressed slaw.

Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Sandwiches

Whether it’s summer get togethers or a laid back game day gathered ’round the TV, there’s no better option for easy eats like pulled pork sandwiches. They’re simple to make, easily customizable, and it’s rare I don’t hear enthusiastic, “Oh, that sounds so good” from those I’m making them for.

These sandwiches start with my slow cooker pulled pork that seriously tastes even better the longer it sits in the fridge, making it perfect for make-ahead menus and weekly meal planning.

And in the world of recipe making, how many can claim that distinction?!

continue to the recipe… about Pulled Pork Sandwiches with Crunchy Slaw

Quick Korean Spicy Slaw Recipe

This quick coleslaw version of Korean kimchi has all of the classic Asian flavor but is ready to eat in 30 minutes or less.

Kimchi is having it’s day in the culinary spotlight with a whole new slew of devotees who are loving the vibrant flavors of its age-old traditional Korean fermented flavors.

And then, there are the haters. Okay, that’s a strong word. Let’s instead call them the misinformed, those who sadly share a not always positive perception of kimchi. “Ew, it smells.” “Why would you bury your food in the ground?” “It must be hard to make.”

Hardly so. Especially when you make take all the flavors to make a quick Asian cabbage slaw instead. continue to the recipe… about Quick Korean Spicy Slaw Recipe

Slow Cooker Smoky Pulled Pork Tacos

Just four simple ingredients tossed in your crock pot make this easy pulled pork shoulder recipe taco-night ready when topped with a crunchy Mexican slaw, smoky roasted salsa and guacamole.

To be the most efficient in the kitchen calls for a wee bit of planning. But I’m the type of cook who has a habit (good or bad?) of adding a dash of this and a bit of that and ultimately departing from the recipe. I also have a habit of getting so immersed in my day that by the time the dinner bell should be ringing, I’m just starting to think about what the heck we’re going to fix for our last meal of the day.

But over the past year, I’ve made some great strides in being a better kitchen planner and cooker because I’ve put my idea of the perfect planner into practice (get a free download of it here!) And instead of going to the grocery store every single day, I’m becoming more efficient at planning a few meals for the week and sticking to my idea. Sure, I leave a little wiggle room because hey, life happens, and I like to think I can be nimble on these so-not-a-good-dancer-feet.

continue to the recipe… about Slow Cooker Smoky Pulled Pork Tacos

Easy Mexican Coleslaw Recipe

This super simple Mexican-flavored coleslaw is perfect for picnics, BBQs and potlucks because its mayo-free and takes just a few minutes to toss together.

There are some recipes I slave over. Working, reworking and working them again to make them just perfect.

That’s not this recipe.

Instead, this recipe came together the very first time I made it. It was perfect from the get-go, and I’m not the only one who said so. I made it up to serve for a family BBQ with an upcoming recipe for some DELICIOUS Mexican-inspired pulled pork I made with this salsa that I’ll be sharing soon. Because if you know one thing about pulled pork, you know it needs a little crunchy kick to add to it.

Not that pulled pork is the ONLY thing this coleslaw is good with. It’s tasty as a side for pretty much any chicken, steak or seafood, especially when you’re looking for something with a little texture and crunch. I’m also planning on serving it alongside enchiladas as an alternative to salad. It’s totally adaptable that way.

This recipe is tried, tested and approved, and I KNOW it’s one you’ll have the same success with too.continue to the recipe… about Easy Mexican Coleslaw Recipe

How to Make the Best Creamy Coleslaw

My favorite creamy coleslaw stays crunchy, not soupy, and gets a bit of bite in this slightly sweetened, vinegar spiked mayonnaise dressing.

Potato Salad. Baked Peans. My favorite Burrata and Heirloom Tomato Caprese Salad. Those recipes have always made up my barbecue buffet table daydreams. But coleslaw? It was always on the bottom rung of my side dish desires. Show me the shredded cabbage bowl and watch me skip right on by.

But my husband? He’s a coleslaw connoisseur. It’s usually the first thing he goes for. But that doesn’t mean the bites he gets are always good and that puts our home’s king of slaw down in the dumps.

But this creamy coleslaw recipe always gets not just one, but two big, Big, BIG thumbs up from my man. And now me, too.

It isn’t goopy. Nor is it soupy. And it’s far from overpowered by the bite of raw onion.

This here coleslaw, folks, this is the best I’ve ever eaten. And the man agrees.

Here’s why, and how to…

continue to the recipe… about How to Make the Best Creamy Coleslaw

Kale and Cabbage Coleslaw with Marcona Almonds

I’m into layering. Not just in my clothing options—yes, I’m a big fan of piling on the tank, then the shirt, then the sweater, jacket or blazer—but also when it comes to cooking.

Layering flavors and textures in a dish—and even an entire menu—is the sign of an adventurous and accomplished home cook. The cook that takes the uneven path and changes our anticipated cravings with a little extra crunch or flavorful zing is the cook that delivers memorable meals. And by memorable I do not mean complicated or over worked. Just. Good. Food.

I’ve been partial to this mindset ever since I can remember when my favorite after-school snack was crunchy Triscuits topped with creamy liverwurst—hey, I’m German, what can I say? A tuna fish sandwich wasn’t complete without a layer of crunchy potato chips and puckerey kosher pickles. It was all about the texture combos for me, and it still is.

Cabbage is the perfect example of an ingredient that can use an extra oomph, a little push to the flavorful side.

continue to the recipe… about Kale and Cabbage Coleslaw with Marcona Almonds