new potato salad and healthy(ish) onion rings

for our labor day celebration today, we tried out a couple new sides with our hamburgers. i liked them both. so now i am sharing them!

dijon potato salad

i usually dislike traditional potato salad. probably because i strongly dislike pickles (how un-american, i know!) so i'm always on the look-out for a decent alternative. i think i found it. i REALLY liked this one. it comes from everyday food magazine.

1 1/2 lbs red new potatoes, scrubbed and halved
1 tablespoon white-wine vinegar
1 tablespoon dijon mustard
salt and pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 C chopped fresh flat-leaved parsley

steam the potatoes. in a serving bowl, combine vinegar and dijon and season with the salt and pepper. add the hot potatoes, toss and then let cool. after it's at room temperature add the oil and parsley and toss. yum.

baked onion rings (also from everyday food magazine)

1 1/2 C cornflakes
1/2 C breadcrumbs
1 large egg
1/2 C low-fat buttermilk
1/4 C flour
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
salt and pepper
1 sweet onion
2 tablespoons olive oil

1. preheat oven to 450. in a food processor, pulse cornflakes and breadcrumbs until fine crumbs form, then transfer to a medium bowl. in another medium bowl, whisk together egg, buttermilk, flour and cayenne pepper and season with salt and pepper.

2. dip onion rings in egg mixture, then in the dry mixture. pour oil onto a rimmed baking sheet and stick it in the oven for 2 min to warm it up. then place the onion rings on the baking sheet. cook for 16 minutes, turning once.