People never really believe me on this, but there are downsides to living in South Florida. One is that there are enough Northern transplants in every neighborhood, every social group, that it's never fully safe to trust summer potluck food. Unless you've lived here a long time (or are, like myself, an actual native), you don't understand how unbelievably quickly food can go bad in 98 degree heat with 100% humidity. All the rules about cross-contamination, mayo that's been allowed to warm, etc? They exist for a reason, and it's called Florida. The last time I ate pasta salad at a cookout, the guest who made it (yes, with mayo) was scrupulous about keeping it cold - except for the 10 minutes when she stopped to get beer on the way over and left it in the car. No one knew about that until we'd spent the night puking. So yeah... I'm pretty wary of food not prepared by anyone I wouldn't entrust my (hypothetical) children with.

That said, not only do the tips here lead to safe food, but from the sounds of it, darn tasty food, too. I might even venture back into the land of pasta salad and make some myself for this weekend's parties!

Food handling safety tips are the same wether you live up here in the North or Fla.

I'm a northerner who has been preparing salads for summer picnics for decades and nobody has gotten sick yet. You can use mayo, but you've got to keep the bowl on ice, yes even in the car, and leave it out for less than 15 mins tops, just long enough to serve.

And yeah, we do get 98+ and 95% humidity weather up here, just not as often, thankfully. That kind of heat dulls the brain.

Floridians are totally incapable of holding an election without screwing it up, but they do know enough not to eat spoiled salad.

I guess that's something.

I could use a good recipe for pasta salad..

And will share a favorite Florida pot luck donation of mine:

Chunky Gazpacho cold soup. Cut a lot of celery, carrots, onions, green and red peppers, into small squares. pour one small can SPICY HOT V8 over the mix and leave marinate overnight.

The next day, add a regular large jar or two of cold V8 juice or tomato juice. Just serve by large ladle with chunks of French bread and wine. Place a bottle of TABASCO on the table for the brave.

GoBecky:

Setting it on a tub of ice and covered helps. Keeping it acidic also helps as the lemon juice inhibits bacteria. A tablespoon or so mixed in to do so.

Usually since it has gotten so hot most of the reunions in tennessee are in the camping out style screened in large cool rooms with a open pit b b que and grills for burgers and at the state parks. good food, safe food and everyone enjoys a day of swimming in cool blue water and eating in a cool diner in a natural setting. kids do not venture into woody posion ivy plants. enjoy your summer