INSALATA DI PATATE!!
Somebody above must have just got bored senseless with my non-stop moaning about the weather, because the last 2 days have just been glorious!! It just makes such a difference to your day when you wake up at 6am to the sun shining in the window and 2 beedy eyes staring out the end of the cot at you waiting for some "playtime". I think we need to sit down and have a mother to daughter chat about waking times, they're never too young I think!:) I see a big difference in our customers moods too when they come into La Cucina, everyone is so much brighter and chattier and it's great when everyone is dining al fresco out the front of the shop, it feels so European!!
I had loads of really hearty warm food lined up for this weeks blogging but obviously the menu has to change now to reflect the weather. New potatoes are in season anyway and I have to say I love Italian new potatoes. We use them every year around this time in La Cucina for our potato salad, they are double the price but they are only available for a short time and there is such a huge quality and taste difference they're worth it! Irish new potatoes are great too if you can't get your hands on the Italian variety!
Potato salad is very popular in La Cucina and we always get complimented on it, we do it the typical Irish way with mayo and spring onion! Bru's mom always makes this Italian potato salad at this time of year and it's a refreshing change from the heavy mayo version and a lot better for you and your hips!
WHAT YOU NEED:
- new potatoes - I cooked about 6 for 2 of us and had enough salad for lunch the next day too!
- parsley - chopped. I use flat but curly is fine too.
- 1 red onion - diced
- olive oil - I just use regular as sometimes I find extra-virgin can be a little strong for salads!
- red wine vinegar
- salt
WHAT TO DO:
- put your potatoes in a pot of cold water, bring to the boil and add salt, lower the heat and cook until soft. I cook our 
potatoes in their skins as it holds in the flavour! Don't overcook, they shouldn't crack!
- drain the potatoes when cooked and leave cool down! It's actually easier to chop the potatoes if you can leave them in a fridge for a while after they have cooled down.
- mix everything together in a bowl and season with salt and add red wine vinegar and olive oil to taste!!
- we had boiled new Irish potatoes this week too made simply with sea salt, kerrygold butter and mint - delicious!! A tad over-cooked as you can see!! It's not easy cooking with a 7 month old following you around the floor trying to eat your laces!
Buon Apetitto!!
p.s. I'm submitting this recipe for the heart of the matter blogging event that takes place every month, this month the focus is on vegetables. I think I will have a couple of entries as salads are on the menu all this week!
