Potato Salad

With the increased daylight hours and the thermometer on the rise, I felt led to work up a spicy southern style salad with mayo and a bit of fresh ginger and eggs. Even though eggs are my least favorite of all foods, I still cook with them and prepare them for guests. They are delicious to some and quite healthful when used in a balanced meal. - Scott C. Anderson is associate food service director and chef with Shepherd University dining services in Shepherdstown, W.Va.

8 medium russet potatoes 6 hard-boiled eggs, diced 1/2 medium, red onion, diced 3/4 cup celery, diced 3/4 cup red pepper, diced 3/4 cup green pepper, diced 1/2 cup yellow pepper, diced 1 teaspoon dry mustard 1 teaspoon celery seed For the dressing 1 1/2 cups mayonnaise 1/4 cup apple cider or white vinegar 1/2 cup sugar Boil potatoes until fork tender. Peel and cube into 1/2- to 3/4-inch pieces. In a bowl, mash the eggs with a fork and add the mustard.

The Tri-State area is known for its Pennsylvania Dutch influence. German immigrants settled in nearby Pennsylvania and in Washington County, Md., and brought with them one of their lasting influences: food. Here in the Tri-State area, there are two basic types of potato salad: German potato salad and Amish-Mennonite potato salad, sometimes simply called Amish potato salad. It can be confusing. The Amish and Mennonites derived from the German region. So is there a difference?

A chicken and pig feet dinner will be held at Greater Campher Temple Saturday from 11 a.m. until sold out. The church is at 125 Bethel St. in Hagerstown. The dinner is sponsored by the Pastor's Aide Committee. The chicken dinner costs $8 and includes fried chicken, potato salad, collard greens or macaroni and cheese or sweet potatoes, rolls and tea (for those who dine in). The pigs feet dinner costs $8 and includes pig feet, potato salad, collared greens, rolls and tea. Side dishes can be purchased separately.

The next fundraiser for the Second Christian Church's Men's Day is a chicken wings dinner on Saturday from 11 a.m to 4 p.m. Enjoy chicken wings, potato salad, greens, fruit cup, bread and soda. Tickets cost $8. Second Christian Church is at 65 W. North St. in Hagerstown.

CLEAR SPRING - A ham and chicken feed will be held Friday, Aug. 19, at the Clear Spring American Legion picnic grounds. The doors open at 6 p.m. Tickets cost $12 each or two for $20. They are available in advance at the Legion bar or by calling Sharon at 301-842-3347. Each meal includes ham, marinated grilled chicken breast, potato salad, baked beans, rolls, fruit salad, sodas and an open bar. The event is sponsored by Clear Spring American Legion Unit No. 222 to benefit local children and youth projects and U.S. veterans.

The Clear Spring High School class of 1957 will hold a reunion on Sunday, Sept. 14, at noon at the American Legion Activity Building behind the Clear Spring Legion Post. Lunch will include fried chicken, ham, potato salad, macaroni salad, Watergate salad, iced tea and water. Lunch will be free. Anyone wishing to bring a covered dish, is welcome to do so. A log house model, made and donated by Jesse Shoemaker, will be raffled off. For more information, call Phil Mummert at 301-842-2130, Pat Hull at 301-842-2940 or Frank Carpenter at 301-252-5800.

John Wesley United Methodist Church, at 129 N. Potomac St. in Hagerstown, will host a cabin fever picnic Saturday, Jan. 28, from noon to 4 p.m. It will include bingo, beanbag toss, miniature golf, spoon races, a sing-along, door prizes and other activities. The menu includes burgers, hot dogs, potato salad, macaroni salad, baked beans, chips, beverage and a sundae bar. Tickets cost $8 for adults and $4 for those ages 4 to 12. Those younger than 4 will be admitted free. The public is invited.

Bob "Bones" Higgins, 61, of Hagerstown, and his wife Lynley, 42, have worked out an arrangement when it comes to running their household. Bob cooks. "I do everything else," Lynley Higgins said. That's the way it's been for the seven years of their marriage, and there are no complaints from Bob, Lynley or any their four children. Especially when Bob Higgins makes chili and potato salad. "I like to color mine up," Bob Higgins said of his chili. "The beans change up the color.

The Washington County Commission on Aging offers noon lunches to anyone 60 years and older at six locations - Smithsburg, Keedysville, Williamsport and three in Hagerstown. Smithsburg, Keedysville and Williamsport are open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Potomac Towers, Walnut Towers and Francis Murphy are open Monday through Friday. The hours are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the days they are open. The agency requires that you call by 11:30 a.m. to give them a two-working-days reservation notice.

John Wesley United Methodist Church, at 129 N. Potomac St. in Hagerstown, will host a cabin fever picnic Saturday, Jan. 28, from noon to 4 p.m. It will include bingo, beanbag toss, miniature golf, spoon races, a sing-along, door prizes and other activities. The menu includes burgers, hot dogs, potato salad, macaroni salad, baked beans, chips, beverage and a sundae bar. Tickets cost $8 for adults and $4 for those ages 4 to 12. Those younger than 4 will be admitted free. The public is invited.

The Washington County Commission on Aging offers noon lunches to anyone 60 years and older at six locations - Smithsburg, Keedysville, Williamsport and three in Hagerstown. Smithsburg, Keedysville and Williamsport are open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Potomac Towers, Walnut Towers and Francis Murphy are open Monday through Friday. The hours are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the days they are open. The agency requires that you call by 11:30 a.m. to give them a two-working-days reservation notice.

June 15 to 21 The Washington County Commission on Aging offers noon lunches to anyone 60 years and older at six locations — Smithsburg, Keedysville, Williamsport and three in Hagerstown. Smithsburg, Keedysville and Williamsport are open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Potomac Towers, Walnut Towers and Francis Murphy are open Monday through Friday. The hours are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the days they are open. The agency requires that you call by 11:30 a.m. to give them a two-working-days reservation notice.

I come from a Pakistani and Indian background when it comes to cooking. Every aspect of my culture has a food related to it. For the monsoon season, for example, we prepare fruit- and floral-inspired dishes with lots of colors to remind us of the coming of the harvest. I learned to cook when I was about 13. We were a big family. As my mother and aunts would prepare traditional foods for celebrations, or even regular Tuesday night meals, my sisters and I would help. It was communal and fun. My Catholic faith is a direct reflection of why being a chef appeals to me. The food-artistry is inspiring, and breaking bread together, sharing it and receiving it brings us closer to serving God and one another.

Girl Scout cookies Girl Scout Troop 47888 is selling Girl Scout cookies. The cookies cost $4 a box.  To buy cookies, contact Monique or Paula at gstroop47888@gmail.com.   The girls will be at City Farmers Market Saturday from 7 to 10:30 a.m., Valley Mall March 12 and Lowe's in the North End on March 19. Ash Wednesday Second Christian Church, 65 W. North Ave., will hold its annual Ash Wednesday service on Wednesday, March 9, at noon.

By ANNE CHOVEY Special to The Herald-Mail My pal, Tom Atoe, and I stopped in for a bite to eat at The Brickyard Grill, a new salad and sandwich shop in downtown Hagerstown. The restaurant is small with a few tables in the shape of huge butterflies. The bulk of the business is take-out for busy office workers who want to grab a quick lunch. The restaurant was spotless. The menu is primarily made up of sandwiches: hot, signature and deli.

With the increased daylight hours and the thermometer on the rise, I felt led to work up a spicy southern style salad with mayo and a bit of fresh ginger and eggs. Even though eggs are my least favorite of all foods, I still cook with them and prepare them for guests. They are delicious to some and quite healthful when used in a balanced meal. - Scott C. Anderson is associate food service director and chef with Shepherd University dining services in Shepherdstown, W.Va.