Pam’s Broccoli Salad

Share on Facebook tweet this

Recently, my mom visited our old home town (the one they moved away from after Katrina because it would never be the same anymore).  She stayed with my cousin Pam.  I always did enjoy going to her house for Thanksgivings and Christmases because I am an only child, but I love LOVE big family gatherings.  Pam has two great kids who I used to babysit when I was in high school.  I can’t believe one has graduated high school, and the other is a senior this year!

While visiting, Pam made this broccoli salad.  When m0m told me about it, I was not enthused.  Mayo and bacon and broccoli do not sound like the best things to me.  Maybe on a  BLT, but I digress.  Last weekend, mom made this broccoli salad for us, and I’m telling you that is like nothing I have ever tasted.  She put the bacon on the side since I’m a veg now, so I really appreciated that.  I imagine that it is super good with the bacon, but I really enjoyed it even without it.  I went back for seconds!

If you’re looking for something different, try this.  I promise it is awesome.  Don’t let the sound of the ingredients frighten you away like it did me at first.

Pam’s Broccoli Salad

• 2 heads of raw broccoli
• red onion, finely chopped
• sunflower seeds (sans hulls, of course)
• raisins or dried cranberries
• optional: freshly cooked, crunchy bacon
• another optional that I haven’t tried yet: shredded cheese
• 1 cup mayo
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 3/4 cup white vinegar

1. Mix the mayo and sugar together.  (Pam uses more sugar, so you could go with more if you wanted it later)
2. Add the vinegar a little at the time so it doesn’t clump up.
3. Cut the broccoli into tiny, bitesize florets, and add to the mayo mix.
4. I wish I could give you the measurements on the rest of the ingredients, but mom doesn’t do it that way.  Handfull of this, handfull of that.  Stir in the red onion.  You know how potent it can be, so just use your best judgment.
5. Stir in a handfull of sunflower seeds and a handful of raisins or dried cranberries.
6. Mom had the bacon on the side, and Joe said he preferred it that way because it stays crunchy until you get ready to eat it.

You can easily half this recipe like we did last night.   I would post a pic, but I used vegan mayo, and the color isn’t creamy like mom’s.  It is still good, but I suggest using Kraft regular mayo or Duke’s.