Earth Day is about celebrating the planet that we live on. The Nature Conservancy came up with the idea of having a Picnic for the Planet. They’re encouraging communities around the globe to come together and enjoy the great outdoors, good food, and each other and celebrate the beauty that is Nature this Earth Day.
Getting together with a bunch of your favorite blogging friends, however, might not be very green. We live all over the world, and flying is not a very green way to travel. So instead, we’re having a Virtual Picnic for the Planet.
What would I take to our picnic? My Nanny’s Potato Salad.
My Nanny’s potato salad is legendary. People all over San Antonio know her, and lately, my sister, for it. It’s always been their go-to barbecue, picnic, or potluck side dish.
Chellee, my sister, will tell you that it’s the poppy seeds that make it special. I’ll tell you I think it’s the poppy seeds and the love. My grandmother has made this potato salad more times than I can remember, usually to go along side cold fried chicken, slow smoked brisket, and delicious borracho beans. That right there, folks, is a Texan picnic.
Today is Earth Day. I for one want the Earth to be as healthy as it possibly can be, so that the lives of Chellee’s children, David and Ava, are long and prosperous.
Visit the Nature Conservancy’s website for more information about throwing your own Picnic for the Planet in your neighborhood. And maybe take Nanny’s potato salad with you.
Nanny’s Potato Salad
Serves 6-8
6-8 Yukon Gold potatoes (1 per person being served)
4 eggs, boiled and chopped
1 large yellow onion, chopped fine
kosher salt
fresh ground black pepper
Nature’s Seasons seasoning
Poppy seeds
Peel and chop potatoes into 1″ square cubes. Boil in salted water for approximately 15-20 minutes, until the potatoes can be pierced with a fork easily, but do not break apart when pierced. Remove from stove and drain.
Place potatoes in a large bowl (feel free to use the bowl you plan to use to serve). Add salt, pepper, and Nature’s Seasons seasoning to taste. Add poppy seed. The poppy seed are really what makes this dish what it is, so please be liberal!
Put potatoes in the fridge to cool for at least an hour.
Hard boil the eggs, then allow them to cool and peel. Chop finely. Chop large yellow onion finely as well, into pieces roughly the same size as the eggs.
When potatoes have cooled sufficiently, add onions and eggs. Add two heaping large spoons (we use a serving spoon) of mayonnaise. Stir to combine all ingredients.
The potato salad should be creamy, but not overwhelming in the amount of mayonnaise. Start with the 2 spoons, and if you feel it needs more, add a little bit at a time until you are happy with the salad’s consistency.
Can be made 1 day ahead of time. Enjoy with family, friends, and copious amounts of barbecue!
Visit the rest of my Picnicking Pals around the web for a scrumptious virtual picnic full of salads, sandwiches, desserts and drinks perfect for your own Picnic for the Planet.
Simple Bites | Pressed Sandwiches
My Baking Addiction | Mixed Berry Cheesecakes in a Jar
Gourmande in the Kitchen | Honey Ginger Lemonade
Dine & Dish | Sangria
Add A Pinch | Herbed Tortellini Salad
Bakers Royale | Fruit Recipe Roundup
Three Many Cooks | Black and White Caviar
Food for My Family | Homemade Potato Chips and Avocado Ranch Dip
Sugarcrafter |Apple Hand Pies
Tickled Red | Tangy Potato Salad
What’s Cooking with Kids | Kale Chips
Confessions of a Cookbook Queen | Mini Lemonade Cakes
TidyMom | Picnic Pies in a Jar
{ 30 comments… read them below or add one }
I can’t WAIT to try this recipe Amber!! thanks so much for sharing!!
Oh yum on the poppy seeds! I’m with you it’s the love as well :) I can’t wait to try your Nanny’s potato salad this summer.Wish we were just a smidgen closer love.
I have never seen potato salad like this… how beautiful and unique!
This is a gorgeous potato salad, Amber!
Thanks, Robyn! It’s a family specialty that we’re really proud of!
I would have never thought of poppy seeds in potato salad. What a great recipe!
Thanks, Kristen! I think you’ll love it if you try it.
Ahhhh, potato salad. (Entire huge craving here)
Looks great :)
P.S. I installed comment luv like you said! I luv it, thanks :)
Tell ya a secret: I cut down the recipe until it served 2 people to take this photo. 2 potatoes, 1 egg, 2 tbsp mayo. Was totally channeling you!
Looks delicious! Love the poppy seeds on there. YUM!
Maggy, I think you’d be a big fan.
Such a unique gorgeous potato salad! LOVE the poppy seeds!
Thanks, Wendy! I like to think I did Nanny proud.
This potato salad looks perfect! I’ve never put poppy seeds on potato salad before, but I am totally going to try this next time!
I think you’ll really like it, Tracy. It really adds something special!
I think you’re right it’s the love that make grandma’s recipes the best. I know that’s how I feel about my grandmother’s recipes.
Sylvie, she’s totally the reason I started blogging. She’s got too many gems not to share with the world.
I want to go on a Texas picnic!!!
Thanks for teaming up with me for this virtual picnic. It’s been a blast. Can we do it again soon? ;)
I want you to go on a Texas picnic WITH me!
I’m so glad you let me team up with you. Give me a week to rest, then we can start over! ;)
I can’t wait to try this…I LOVE potato salad and I’m betting the Nature’s Seasoning and poppy seeds make this one extra special.
I think it’s going to become your new favorite potato salad, lady.
Wow your potato salad looks amazing. I LOVE poppyseeds but never though about adding them to potato salad. What a great idea. I’m so glad I found your blog, I love it! :)
Well thanks for the lovely comment, Lindsey! You’re a sweetheart!
I’m telling you – everyone that ever sees Nanny’s potato salad for the first time says the same thing: “Poppy seeds?”
Then they taste it. And it’s all she wrote!
I love potato salad. My mom makes a great one and I try so hard to recreate it-but it just isn’t my moms. This picnic series is great! I love picnics!
Im jumping all over your blog hungrily. It was this and now ofto borracho sp? Beans… :-) AND lol @ natures seasonings…I put that stuff in everything. That’s my house seasoning!
Haha. It’s our “house” spice too. That and McCormick’s Season-All. I put that crap in everything. Fried chicken, chicken soup, roast beef…
My potatoes are almost ready! Can’t wait to taste this
Looks and tastes yummy! Thanks for sharing!
Never heard of poppy seeds on potato salad but plan on trying it on my recipe, http://www.cookeatdelicious.com/vegetables-recipes/potatoes-recipes/new-classic-potato-salad-recipe.html, thanks for the suggestion!
Potato Salad. wow. i never tried this. whenever there is an option to make salad i regularly tries varieties of onion with other vegetables. but never tried of this potato sald. good one. thanks for sharing the recipe.
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