I am a big fan of coleslaw in any shape or form.  I don’t mind if it is hoity-toity coleslaw or bog standard supermarket coleslaw, I love it all.  Although I haven’t seen it on the shelves recently I am particularly fond of “Mexican coleslaw” which I am sure is a made-up thing.  I also love coleslaw with cheese in.

I am guessing that coleslaw with cheese in is the invention of a Tesco food developer person and not an American standard but I could be wrong…

Despite my many adventures with coleslaw I’ve never had coleslaw with ham in.  This was good!

I am not sure what an egg white brings to this particular party, but I popped it in anyhow.

Be warned – this makes a HUGE AMOUNT of coleslaw.  I made half the recipe and I’ll be eating coleslaw every day for a month I reckon…

B.M. – Before Mayo…

This recipe can be found in a lovely little book called Cooking With Ava: Recipes From Her Family, Fans & Friends.  

As the cover hints, the recipes within are almost all from Ava’s family, fans and friends.  There are only a few recipes from Ava’s own kitchen – the coleslaw recipe has the note, “Found in one of Ava’s Cookbooks.”

As I am a FERRET when it comes to provenance,

I am dying to know if this means that Ava had books in which she scribbled down recipes OR, whether it was in a printed cookbook and she’d made a note like, “I LOVE THIS COLESLAW!” I don’t think I’ll ever know.

Ava jotting down a recipe…

For the Ava fans, these are the only recipes which have some kind of link to Ava herself.  If you would like them, email me via the contact page.  

Southern Coleslaw – Found in one of Ava’s Cookbooks

Succotash – One of Ava’s Favorites

Okra, Rice and Tomatoes – One of Ava’s Favorites

Baked Candied Yams – This page was turned down in Ava’s cookbook

Filets of Flounder – Found in one of Ava’s Cookbooks

Southern Corn Pudding – One of Ava’s Favorites

Corn Bread Fritters – Found in one of Ava’s Cookbooks

Pie Dough – In one of Ava’s Cookbooks

The book was obviously put together by Ava fans, many of the recipes are supplied by people who are listed as “Ava Advocates” and it was obviously a labour of love.  But I can’t help wondering if there were more Ava recipes knocking around the place or whether these were truly all they had to work with.

Ava Gardner’s Southern Coleslaw

1 cup mayonnaise

1 head of cabbage

1 cup of chopped cold ham

1 green pepper, chopped

1 red pepper, chopped

1 onion, chopped

1 egg white

Slice cabbage.  Add all ingredients together with cabbage.  A little vinegar and/or sugar may be added according to your personal taste.

Monthly movie star menus direct to your inbox

You have Successfully Subscribed!