As another Easter season comes and goes, I find myself reflecting on the importance of family traditions. Some of these traditions came from my family, others from my EC. There are many that I look forward to, and many that I look back on fondly. Some are great, some are just habit. Over the years we have taken on some new traditions, and let others lapse.
Sometimes these decisions are difficult. Often when two families come together, something has to give. It can get emotional as we try to “define” who we are. We get protective, and defensive about our own traditions, and are reluctant to give them up. It doesn’t always have to be emotional, it can simply be about figuring out what works best for us. Sometimes we are trading up from “good” to “better”, or “better” to “best”.
But every now and again, it boils down to a simple choice between what is right, and what is wrong. And when confronted by that choice, we must make the tough decisions. I am speaking of one particular tradition that many of you might wrestle with in your own homes. Sometimes this tradition is so ingrained that it spills over into extended family – even for generations. But remember – just because “that’s the way we have always done it” doesn’t make it right.
I know my readers are astute, and have probably figured out where I am heading with this. With yesterday being Easter, it isn’t hard to guess what tradition I am referring to. So, I’ll just put it out there:
• Potato Salad made with Miracle Whip is an abomination.
There. I said it. It is out there. I imagine that some of you are shaken by the sheer bluntness of this truth, and I am so sorry you had to hear it from me.
Please know that I’m not judging you. (effective 3/31/12) I am trying to help. What kind of friend and mentor would I be if I let you meander through life with the mistaken assumption that Miracle Whip has a place in our lives, and in our homes? I would feel guilty and responsible. I couldn’t bear the thought of you joining those other sad souls wandering the earth thinking that it is OK to put sweet pickles in potato salad or tuna fish. Heartbreaking – I know.
Some of you will immediately become defensive. I understand. Some will try and justify by saying “it’s just his opinion.” It’s not. Others will make wild claims that Miracle Whip is “great” or “real food”, in an desperate effort to cling to this tradition…
It is time to let go. I know it’s hard, but you can do it. I’m rooting for you, and there is time – summer is still a few months off.
My Best Foods to you,
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Finally! Back to the important issues!
OK, so I’m a fence sitter. I actually like both Mayo and Miracle Whip, although I will concede that potato salad is vastly better with Mayo. Both hubby and I came from MW households….I was converted to mayo in college. But, he’s a MW man all the way. I’ve never told him that I don’t put MW in potato salad….either he hasn’t figured it out, or has decided it isnt worth the battle.
However, I put bread and butter pickles in my potato salad, cuz that’s the only pickle I really like.
Phew. After the last 5 or 6 posts, I was worried about when you would get back to discussing something that matters! 😉 For your next post, could you explain cans that say, “Chili with beans”?
Trying hard not to think about the child I can’t control,
Tonya
Sorry about that. My posts have been mostly food-free the past week.
“Chili with Beans” is meant to distinguish it from “Chili Without Beans”. (Which is better on a chili dog.) Next time you are at the grocery store, look closer, you’ll see it.
Good luck with the child!
Wait — what does potato salad have to do with Easter? Ick.
That’s what you make on Monday with the leftover hard boiled eggs.
On Tuesday, you make ham and beans with the leftover easter ham. With cornbread.
You speak truth. My entire family (except me) are Miracle Whip lovers. I say it takes a Miracle to like that abomination in a jar. Ewww.
I think I threw up a little when you mentioned Mayo. So after reading the whole post I’m a little dehydrated. I will continue on my path of unrighteousness with Miracle Whip. And continue leading my family the same direction.
You might want to think your defiance through more carefully, after all, you are holding a generation on your lap.
I thought the post was pretty funny (and dead on) but the comments are pretty entertaining too! : )
I love my potato salad, and I love the Miracle Whip that goes in it! I’m out numbered here, but I’m used to be different, living in the mission field as I do 🙂
Ginger, just wanted you to know that someone else is on your side. We’re a Miracle Whip family, although we do go with the “light” version and I don’t use nearly as much on our sandwiches as my dad does. Mayonnaise makes me gag; fortunately I recently discovered a biscuit recipe using mayo that will help me empty the jar before it goes bad. Maybe it really does have something to do with living in the mission field.
Nope. I’ve lived most of my life in the mission field, and Miracle Whip is nasty.
Now why is Miracle Whip bad? you didn’t give any reasons… so I am only left with, “it’s your opinion”… Is it bad for you? Are you arguing that it’s bland? Is it like margarine… artificially produced? Why?
It’s one of those things that you just have to accept on faith. Arguing doesn’t change truth.
I’m just glad you didn’t post that photo of the Easter Bunny at the tomb again!
Photo? You mean “Masterpiece”.
WHEW . . .
Thanks . . . There IS still hope for me, huh?
If I can just learn to gag down potato salad . . . ;o)
Honestly, I am not that fond of potato salad, no matter WHAT it is made of, and I think BOTH miracle whip and mayo are nasty (I pretend not to realize that there is mayo in egg salad sandwiches), though mayo IS a little nastier . . .
I guess I am not as stalwart a member as I have always tried to be . . . I EVEN like sweet pickle relish in tuna, though for just eating I MUCH prefer dill pickles . . .
And here I was worried that maybe CHOCOLATE would be one of the final issues as to who does and does not get into the Celestial kingdom . . . Who knew it would be potato salad and mayo and pickles that cast the deciding vote?
SIGH . . . =o/
Sue: Don’t get me wrong – I don’t think it will be a deciding factor in the final judgment. It is merely a manifestation of how we respect and honor our mortal tabernacles while on the earth.
I AM MORTALLY OFFENDED!! I grew up with the religion of eating Miracle Whip and I will die in the religion of Miracle Whip! It was good enough for my mother. It is good enough for me! All roads lead to Rome or potato salad with sweet pickles.
You are breaking my heart. 🙁
PS: The earth is not flat. The earth revolves around the sun, etc.
If I have to convert, I am willing to eat Mayo with some sugar added.
Actually, that can work OK in a Waldorf salad.
I’m seeing a trend here. Could it be that men prefer Miracle Whip (on sandwiches), whereas women (and MMM) prefer mayo? Since most of MMM’s fan base is women, no wonder he’s getting so much support on this post. Take that back to those bloggers who called MMM a misogynist.
Maybe it’s that women have far more sophisticated palates than men. And remember many, many of your “Miracle Whip Men” like NASCAR. Popularity does NOT equal quality.
Mayo all the way!! – Married Mr. Miracle Whip.
It’s not that potato salad made with Miracle Whip is an abomination. It’s that Miracle Whip is an abomination.
Thank you MMM! I know it’s hard for some to hear, including my husband and children, but the truth needed to be said. I have often thought that we needed more pulpit-pounding from the brethren to speak the truth boldly (Elder Bruce R. McConkie-style). But, as far as I’m concerned, this truth ranks right up there. Thank you for the clarion call!
Potato Salad is a creation of the devil. Whoever decided that cold potatoes with hard boiled eggs was a good idea should be summarily shot. Well, ok, not shot, but severely reprimanded. Doesn’t matter what you put in it, IT IS AWFUL!!!
That said, for a ham and cheese sandwich, I prefer Miracle Whip. Sorry, I guess that makes me the span of satan. Something I can live with.
It’s “spawn” not “span”, and yes, it does. But we aren’t judging you for it.
You are correct. I stand corrected. Thank you for pointing that out. Frankly, I’m terribly embarrassed by my spelling error. Just another bit of information demonstrating that I am the “spawn” of satan. Oh well.
Thank you for daring to speak the truth! My hubby blames his lack of sandwich eating on my lack of Miracle Whip buying. I think it’s a tradeoff I can live with.
I knew I loved you, MMM! Best Foods all the way – Miracle Whip does not pass these lips.
I must be broken I have never noticed a significant difference between Salad dressing and Mayo all I know is Potato salad Homemade YUM but any of that Junk from the Deli people try to pass off as food has got to GO I would rather eat a sweet pickle (which would be totally gross)
Potato salad is an abominable thing to do to a perfectly good potato, also any sauce on french fries just defeat the whole purpose. OK, I am weird, but relish (made with bread and butter pickles) my own weirdness.
🙁 I made a potato salad yesterday. With Miracle Whip. And pickle relish. (Hangs head.)
My mom makes pickle relish, and although I don’t like cucumbers or pickles, I like her pickle relish. The part of potato salad that I don’t like is the eggs. Yuck.
Any suggestions for a good potato salad? I’m on the lookout for a better potato salad. It’s just how I’ve always made it.
(And I’ve never really understood why potato salad has eggs. It’s not egg salad.)
For starters, lose the Miracle Whip – you’ll be 90% of the way there. Bonus: Chop up dill pickles – no relish. Put some pickle juice in with the mayo and mustard as you are making the dressing. Gotta have eggs.
Sweet pickles are ONLY for veggie platters/relish trays and as relish on hot dogs. Never for potato salad or hamburgers or sandwiches or tuna fish. And Miracle Whip is not allowed in our house. 🙂 Not even for sandwiches!
Absolutely not judging. MW is gross and tastes awful and should be in outer darkness. And if anyone tries to get me to use GENERIC mayo, I will throw it at them. But again, I’m not judging. Really, I’m not! (looking like Snidely Whiplash and wringing my hands…)
We have recently had a similar discussion within our extended family…. WE agree – Miracle Whip is indeed an abomination. Of course we know the guilty taketh the truth to be hard. But I’m not judging or anything.
What is miracle whip? Is it the same thing as salad cream? I’ve never heard of it. But my potato salad is made with potatoes cut into 1cm chunks, chopped spring onions, mayonnaise and parsley and it’s yummy.
@Karen, could you tell me the recipe for ranch dressing? We tried it when we were in America and loved it, but can’t get it over here.
Anna: Don’t know about salad cream. But if salad cream is nasty and seems like something that would be enjoyed in the Telestial Kingdom, then it’s probably the same stuff.
Anna, Miracle Whip is basically mayonnaise with extra spices and sweeteners. It’s a Kraft brand in America, but there are generics nowadays. By the way, I have successfully made Ranch Dressing in a foreign land using only locally available ingredients. You use the spice packet for a standard vinegar and oil dressing mix, add 1 cup milk, and 1 cup mayonnaise.
I’m a little late to the party, but Anna, Miracle Whip has a similar taste to salad cream, although it’s thicker (more like mayo), and I’ve never met anyone who actually uses it as a salad dressing, like I’ve met people who do that with salad cream.
Thank you! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Miracle Whip makes me shudder.
I am finding more reasons than ever to consider you a great guy!
Now we need to talk about licorice……(shudder)
True potato salad is made with Mayo (Best Foods!) and dill pickles. (I prefer kosher)
Miracle whip in any salad is just plain wrong.
Also, I agree with Vatermann that everyone should make their own ranch dressing. With mayo of course.
Truer words have never been spoken. I have a friend who would completely disagree with you but she has never prayed to know the truth of this higher law. Miracle whip does not belong in potato salad, or macaroni salad, or deviled eggs *shudder*. Thank you for confirming what I already felt in my heart.
The Devil is behind the abomination called Miracle Whip.
Ok…I’ll bite. First, I’m not a potato salad lover. I’m not even a liker. So I don’t make it. I have tasted one once that I liked. In my humble opinion, it should have mayo, but not mustard. We eat deviled eggs at our house instead of potato salad. ;o) And on that note, we like a little of each in our deviled eggs. We, meaning my kids. I really prefer the mayo only.
Second, I grew up a miracle whip girl. No one ate mayo at my house. My hubby was a mayo guy. I’ve converted. Yet I still use both where appropriate. Miracle whip is the only thing to put in tuna fish. Kills the fishy taste. I’ve converted my dh to this.
Third– as for pickles, my grandmother always made sweet and dill. They’ve owned the fruitstand for years and years, so we grew up canning. I never did learn her art of pickle making, sadly. So I like both pickles– to eat. I don’t put them in salads.
So I’m not sure what you’ll call me MMM, but I feel balanced. I do try to use them in the proper way. =)
Of course I’m not gong to judge you… but I have a hard time reading past where you said you don’t even like potato salad. I’m not going to say that it makes your thoughts irrelevant, but…
Sweet pickles do have their place – as pickles – not ingredients.
I think I’m going to cry. I love “Miracle” Whip. I did find out this Easter though that all my daughters-in-law wouldn’t think of putting it and sweet pickle relish in deviled eggs. That and this blog with it’s responses makes me feel like such an outsider and I’ve never really considered myself a loner before. (All the eggs got eaten though and not just by me)
But Barbara: Isn’t it better to find out here, among friends who are concerned about you? I hate to use the term “intervention”, but one of the beautiful things about this life is that we all have the ability to change.
You are not alone – We are all with you in your journey.
At a certain age the one and only true choice is Mayo-lite which is a complete travesty and abhorrence to one of my dearly loved daughter-in-laws.
Sweet pickles and dill pickles have there place but it is not in potato salad.
AS my children have married their wonderful spouses have brought new traditions into our family, it’s all for the good.
My grandmother would roll over in her grave if I made any changes to her potato salad recipe. Thankfully, it is made with mayonnaise and dill relish! 🙂
I grew up in a Miracle Whip family but have long since found the old religion of Mayo. My 17 yr old DD is our only hold out. I pray that she will be converted to the only true salad and sandwich spread, Mayo. Of course if this is her only rebellion, I consider myself blessed.
DH’s family LOVES sweet pickles. I love his family, but ugh to the sweet pickles and the Miracle Whip. Is it sacrilegious that my dear MIL served Potato Salad not only with Sweet Pickles but also Miracle Whip on Easter Sunday?
Yes, yes it is. But that is just your cross to bear. Do it with dignity – for the children.
I would have gagged!
It’s all shades of gray. Potato salad is disgusting.
All I can offer, is that with time and experience comes understanding. You’ll get there.
Could not agree with you more. Miracle Whip is evil. It has no place anywhere at all. Same with sweet pickles and/or relish. They’re pickles, for crying out loud! SWEET has no place there. Ick. and *shudder* Now that we have these truths established, I must also say that traditions are a good idea–something you can depend on, something that brings family together, something that makes for warm, fuzzy memories–and so we should have them. But we should pay close attention to something we are going to make such a huge part of our experiences and memories. Good-Better-Best applies, but let’s be honest–so does Bad. I know it takes courage to change traditions, but they can be so easily replaced with something Great if you just try.
JWW
Hey now, Miracle Whip has its place. It’s just the opposite of what you’d think. Miracle Whip aka “salad dressing” should never go into a salad. It should go on sandwiches, hamburgers, hotdogs etc. Whereas, mayonnaise should be the proper ingredient for salads. If you make your own Ranch Dressing (and you should), then you use mayonnaise not Miracle Whip. I think people get confused by Miracle Whip’s generic name “salad dressing.” Talk about false advertising. Miracle Whip and mayonnaise are as interchangeable as baking soda and baking powder.
PS MMM, dill pickles are fine for now, but some day you’ll have to start living the higher law of sweet pickles. My EC was once like you, but eventually she converted.
This makes me so sad, and a little queasy. I’m going to blame it on the media. You have obviously been sucked into this nefarious world through slick marketing campaigns. Either that or false traditions of your fathers. Either way, I am rooting for you.
My sweet pickle preference has been good for my marriage. I like sweet things ie my EC’s personality. She likes salty things ie my personality. It works. I will agree that sweet pickles don’t belong on hamburgers, though.
I enjoy watching young couples who think they have everything in common arrive at their first Christmas and realize all of their traditions may not be compatible with each other. It is always fun to see which family has the dominant tradition gene. PS- I like Miracle Whip on sandwiches, but not in potato salad.
Fencesitter.
Never in all the years I have known you have you ever spoken truer words.
Yes, it’s true. Miracle Whip IS an abomination and most likely of the devil
Melissa: I didn’t want to take it that far, but you are probably right.
If you saw a man drowning, would you stand there asking if they wanted help? NO! You’d jump right in and teach them about Real Mayo!
(Another Culinary Abominations: honey ham.)
Miracle Whip=Yuck!
Sweet Relish=Also Yuck!
So glad to know you are already on board.