Recipes by Zola - Honey-Dijon Coleslaw

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Honey-Dijon Coleslaw

Zola Gorgon

Packing...

My suitcase contents just got a little more interesting.

Our client called to let us know the details of the conference we are attending at a beautiful hotel west of London. Everything sounded pretty normal until she got to the details of the dinner the last evening.

That's where it all went wrong.

Well, not really wrong...just challenging. She sort of slid to the conversation that all of the conference attendees (over 300 of them) would be dressed as their favorite icon for a fancy costume party, and if wouldn't be too much trouble, would we mind coming in costume? And by the way, it wasn't a requirement...but...it would make everyone oh, so happy....

My brain immediately flashed to my suitcase. I'm leaving for 13 days -- 3 business days, a 7 day cruise and then 3 more days on the road. The cruise is a European one, run by an Italian company. That means it's a more formal cruise. Every night means jackets for men and 2 of the nights mean tuxedos, and you can guess how many changes of clothes that means for a woman. Me. With all of the weight restrictions in place these days I cannot even think about traveling like Liz Taylor used to; trunks in tow.

So, I had to get creative.

First of all, who's my favorite icon? No matter. I just have to figure out a costume that will fit in a teeny corner of my suitcase. I got it! Cruella Deville! All I need is a black and white wig, long gloves and an old fashioned cigarette holder. (Don't worry, the cigarette will remain unlit.) I'll wear something black and formal, throw a red cape on that I'd be taking anyway, and I'll be set. My neighbor has lent me her gloves and wig from her Halloween experience as Cruella and I just need to find the cigarette holder. I can do that at a novelty shop down the street this weekend.

Now, for my husband.

This one came kind of easily. I had been thinking about how he needs to take suits for business, suits (the same ones) for dinner on the ship and formal wear for the tuxedo nights. It dawned on me that his tux is at our other house. Darn. Don't have time to go get it. What's Plan B?

Then I focused in on European tradition, combined with the tradition of the fashion worn in the casinos in places like Monte Carlo, and I stumbled on the idea of a dinner jacket. One of those creamy ones that you wear with black pants, a bow tie and a fancy shirt. Bingo. I had a Bruce Willis costume at my fingertips!

You see my husband is regularly mistaken for Bruce Willis. People do that thing where they say, "Do you know who you look like?" And their idea is always Bruce Willis. My husband is taller, and has about as much hair as Bruce (but doesn't shave his head). So, for the costume party we'll give him a very short haircut, rub some pomade on his head, give him some sunglasses, and if we think he needs it, we'll put a name tag on him that says, "Hello, My Name is Bruce".

Neither one of these characters qualifies as a personal icon, but the priority was to think about what will fit in the suitcase!

So, now visualize Bruce Willis accompanying Cruella Deville to the costume ball. And if that doesn't make you laugh, I don't know what will.

Today's recipe has nothing to do with Bruce, Cruella or the costume party. It had plenty to do with an informal dinner party we had this weekend that included the Melt-in-Your-Mouth Ribs from the entree section on my website at www.dinnerwithzola.com. I wanted to serve coleslaw and didn't want the same old, same old, so I came up with this.

Honey-Mustard Coleslaw

8 cups of shredded cabbage. You can shred your own or use the prepped cabbage
1 red bell pepper cut into ¼" strips then cut in half so they are about 2" long
3/4 cup of raisins
2 Fuji apples cored and diced (do not peel)
1 carrot shredded
12 oz. jar of honey mustard salad dressing
4 Tbl. of Dijon mustard (or your favorite flavor)

Put all ingredients in a large bowl. Stir thoroughly. Store cold.

Let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving.

Now, how's that for fast and easy!?

Enjoy!
Cheers,
Zola

Send email to Zola at dinnerwithzola@hotmail.com.

This news arrived on: 04/14/2008

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