Mama's Coleslaw!

  

There are some southern foods that just demand coleslaw be served with them...barbeque, fried chicken, catfish or really most seafood.  Coleslaw is not a hard thing to make, but it seems there are not a lot of good recipes for it.  I think most people just buy a bag of the shredded cabbage mix and a bottle of coleslaw dressing and call it a day and that is not bad if you doctor it up a little, but a good homemade slaw dressing is just so much better.  

This is my mother's coleslaw recipe and it is the best recipe I have tried.   Of course, I am a little biased.  Here is what you will need:

6 cups cabbage, shredded  (can use a bag of coleslaw mix from the produce section)

1 red apple, unpeeled and diced small (optional)

1/2 cup carrot, shredded

1/4 cup sweet onion, chopped fine

Dressing

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup water

1/4 cup vinegar (apple cider vinegar or white vinegar either one works)

1 cup mayonnaise

2 tsp. honey mustard (prepared dressing or just the prepared honey mustard dipping sauce or sandwich spread)

1 tsp. prepared yellow mustard

Mix cabbage, apple, carrot and onion in a large mixing bowl.  The apple is optional, but I would advise trying it, it makes the coleslaw so much better.  Dice the apple into a bowl of salted, warm water first and let it sit for a minute or two, then drain.  This keeps it from turning brown and the slaw can be kept for two to three days in the refrigerator if you have leftovers.

For the dressing, combine the sugar, water and vinegar and microwave for about 3 minutes or cook over medium heat in a saucepan until it comes to a boil and boil for a minute or two.   Set aside and cool completely.  You can place it in the refrigerator to cool it faster.  

Once cool, stir in the mayonnaise, the honey mustard and the yellow mustard.  Pour the dressing mixture over the shredded cabbage and other ingredients and mix well.  This is best if you refrigerate for at least 2 hours for the flavors to blend.   Stir again right before serving. 

Mama's Coleslaw