A Rattling Good Salad

DEAR SOS: I would love the recipe for the delicious potato salad served at Rattler’s in Santa Clarita.

--LISA

DEAR LISA: According to Rattler’s general manager, Mary Lopez, this basic potato salad recipe is the most popular of the six salads offered at the salad bar.

RATTLER’S POTATO SALAD

4 large baking potatoes

1 green bell pepper, finely chopped

3 stalks celery, finely chopped

1 bunch green onions, white part and 1 inch of green part, finely chopped

2 cups mayonnaise

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon white pepper

1 tablespoon seasoning salt

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Bring 1 gallon water to boil and add potatoes. Cook until knife pierces easily into potato, about 30 minutes. Cool completely, peel and cut into 1-inch cubes in large bowl.

Add bell pepper, celery, green onions, mayonnaise, garlic powder, white pepper, seasoning salt and black pepper. Mix well.

Makes 6 servings.

Each serving contains about:

375 calories; 1,548 mg sodium; 20 mg cholesterol; 26 grams fat; 35 grams carbohydrates; 3 grams protein; 0.62 gram fiber.

Bright on Broadway

DEAR SOS: I purchased the “Dear SOS Cookbook” expecting it would contain my lost recipe, but alas, Broadway Cheesecake was not included. Would you please, for me, print the recipe?

--HELEN

DEAR HELEN: If only space permitted everyone’s favorite recipe. Thanks for calling attention to this popular cheesecake recipe.

BROADWAY CHEESECAKE

GRAHAM CRACKER CRUST

1 1/4 cups graham cracker crumbs

3 tablespoons sugar

6 tablespoons butter

Using fingers, work crumbs and sugar into melted butter. Divide mixture, using 2/3 to cover bottom and sides of 9-inch springform pan and remaining 1/3 as topping to sprinkle over filling.

FILLING

1 (3-ounce) package lemon gelatin

1 1/4 cups boiling water

1/2 cup evaporated milk, chilled

1 1/2 cups whipping cream

2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup cottage cheese

1/2 cup lemon juice

1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup sugar

Dissolve gelatin in boiling water and set aside until syrupy.

Combine evaporated milk and whipping cream and beat until mixture is quite thick.

In separate bowl, mix cream cheese, cottage cheese, lemon juice, vanilla extract, salt and sugar. Add cheese mixture to cream mixture. Add partially set gelatin. Mix thoroughly. Pour into prepared crust. Sprinkle top with remaining crust mixture. Chill 4 hours.

Makes 8 servings.

Each serving contains about:

583 calories; 500 mg sodium; 151 mg cholesterol; 47 grams fat; 32 grams carbohydrates; 11 grams protein; 0.15 gram fiber.

Scandia to the Rescue

DEAR SOS: I’ve lost my recipe for Swedish meatballs that goes back 20 or 25 years. It’s a favorite, and I would love to have the recipe again.

--JERRY

DEAR JERRY: The Swedish meatball recipe from the former Scandia restaurant in Hollywood is our model. I hope it’s the recipe you want.

SCANDIA’S SWEDISH MEATBALLS

1/2 cup soft bread crumbs

1 cup milk

1/2 pound twice-ground beef or veal

1/2 pound twice-ground pork

1 egg

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Dash allspice

1/2 cup chopped onion

2 tablespoons butter

1/4 cup clarified butter

Flour

1/3 cup milk

1/3 cup broth or consomme

Soak bread crumbs in 1/2 cup milk. Combine moistened crumbs with beef, pork, egg, salt, pepper and allspice.

Cook onion in butter until tender and add to meat mixture. Beat mixture while slowly adding remaining 1/2 cup lukewarm milk.

Chill until mixture is firm. Roll into appetizer-size meatballs.

Heat clarified butter in skillet. Add meatballs and fry until cooked through. Drain, then dust meatballs lightly with flour. Add milk and broth for gravy and simmer a few minutes. Adjust seasoning.

Makes 6 to 8 servings.

Each of 6 servings contains about:

278 calories; 655 mg sodium; 110 mg cholesterol; 21 grams fat; 7 grams carbohydrates; 14 grams protein; 0.09 gram fiber.