FIRE AND ICE SALAD

Fire and Ice Salad image

Provided by Melissa K Hand

Time 30m

Number Of Ingredients 14

2-3 large ripe tomatoes
2 large cucumbers, peeled in "stripes" (alternately peel strips and leave strips for a "stripe" effect)
1 large red onion, sliced in long, thin strips
1 large yellow or orange bell pepper, cut into bite-size pieces
2 large anaheim peppers or 1 large green bell pepper, cut into bite-size pieces
1 c water
1 c white granulated sugar
1 c white vinegar
1 tsp salt
1 tsp celery seed
1 tsp dry mustard
1 tsp grated horseradish (not prepared horseradish)
fresh ground black pepper, to taste
dried red pepper flakes, to taste

Steps:

1. Combine vegetables in a large shallow bowl and toss to distribute.
2. Mix up a dressing of the vinegar, water and sugar and put in saucepan. Add spices. Bring to a boil and stir until sugar dissolves, up to five minutes.
3. Cool dressing. Pour over vegetables, toss to mix and refrigerate. Make ahead several hours to allow flavors to penetrate vegetables.
4. Using a slotted spoon, drain the salad before serving.
5. You will always use a 1:1:1 ratio - 1 cup water, 1 sugar and 1 cup white vinegar, adjusting the spices as you increase the amount of dressing made.
6. If you like your cucumbers on the crunchier side, just wait and add the cucumbers right before serving!