Fresh Broccoli and Califlower Salad

My husband wanted me to make this salad last week, so it was an opportunity to re post this recipe that was one of my firsts posts when I started my blog. This is another delicious old recipe from years ago. My grandmother introduced this wonderful, fresh salad to us and it became a most requested dish at our family gatherings, especially Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas. If you don't like uncooked veggies, you may not want to read further, but we love our fresh, crisp veggies here. This Broccoli and Cauliflower Salad is dressed in a tasty ranch style dressing and stays crisp for a couple of days. It makes a good sized salad though, so it's perfect when you need to feed a crowd. Whenever I make it, I think of my sweet, wonderful grandmother, who lived to be 92 years old. I feel so blessed to have had my grandmother for so many years and to have so many wonderful memories of her. We will always enjoy this salad of hers. I hope some of you will give it a try also.

Fresh Broccoli and Cauliflower Salad

From Lynda's Recipe box and my grandmother

1 head of cauliflower, cored and cut into florets

1 large head of broccoli, cut into florets(bite size pieces)

2 carrots, peeled and sliced thin

1 red onion, diced-or I like to use Vidalia onion when available

1 green bell pepper, large dice

2 stalks celery, sliced- I don't always use this

1 8 ounce carton of sour cream- I use low fat

1 cup mayo-I actually measure the mayo into the empty sour cream container, just like my grandma did

1 package Hidden Valley dressing mix-the dry mix

Cut all vegetables into a large bowl. Mix sour cream, mayo and dry Hidden Valley  dressing mix in a bowl. Add dressing to vegetables and stir until well incorporated. The dressing will be thick at first. Keep refrigerated. Will stay fresh for a couple of days. Enjoy!

Fresh Broccoli and Cauliflower Salad

After our oldest son got married almost 6 years ago, he began asking for certain family recipes that he grew up with. I began to see a need to get all of my family recipes organized, as many of the the dishes I make are not written down on paper, but instead written in my memory, and that isn't a safe place! I have so many of my own tried and true , but also those of my Mother's and mother in law's, and piles of untried recipes that I think I'll get around to "one of these days". This blog is really helping me to organize my written recipes. And those that are still in my mind, well, I'm working on them. This Fresh Broccoli and Cauliflower Salad recipe came from my Grandmother. It has been almost 30 years since she made it for the first time. My family had gone to my grandparent's home for Thanksgiving and my Grandmother had made this salad. We all loved it so much, that for many years we had to have it every holiday! I don't make it as often as I used too, as too many new recipes come along. But I made it this week, so I'll share it with you!

FRESH BROCCOLI and CAULIFLOWER SALAD
1 large head of broccoli, cut into bite size pieces
1 head of cauliflower, cut into pieces
2 carrots, peeled and thinly sliced
1 green bell pepper, sliced
1 onion, chopped ( I use 1/2 of a red onion)
2 celery ribs, sliced ( I didn't use celery)
Combine all the vegetables in a large bowl.
DRESSING
In a small bowl mix together;
8 oz. sour cream ( can use low-fat)
1 cup real mayo
1 envelope dry ranch dressing mix( use the Original mix)
Mix well and fold into the vegetables. Cover and refrigerate at least a couple of hours before serving. It's so good, with the tangy dressing over the fresh, crunchy veggies! However one of these days, I'm going to experiment with the dressing, trying fresh herbs in place of the powdered ranch. But that's for another day.