A basic coleslaw, dressed with a sweetened vinaigrette, called Forever Slaw because of it's long refrigerated shelf life.

Forever Slaw Vinegar Coleslaw

It's been hotter'n hot here this past week or two y'all. The Cajun and I went out shopping together yesterday and I thought I was gonna fall out from running around in the heat.

A basic vinegar coleslaw made with the addition of sweet apples and a touch of jalapeno for heat.

Vinegar Coleslaw with Apple

For those who were asking, this is the coleslaw that was pictured with the most recent pulled pork recipe I posted.

There are essentially two basic schools of taste on coleslaw - one creamy and usually mayonnaise based, and others, like this, more heavily vinegar based. Considering that it's apple season and apples are plentiful right now, I decided to add in some grated apple to make it a little more seasonal.

Pair the sweet and sour elements of a vinegar coleslaw with the familiar fire and ice dressing combination we Southerners seem to be endeared to, and you've got a sweet and spicy vinegar coleslaw I think your guests will love!

Fire 'n Ice Vinegar Coleslaw

Far as I know there are essentially two basic kinds of coleslaw in The South, though there are a multitude of variations on each one of them too.

While they are both certainly some combination of sweet and sour, one is more of a basic creamy style - primarily based on mayonnaise, milk, or buttermilk - and where marvelous things like Pineapple Buttermilk Coleslaw fall. The other is more heavily vinegar and sugar based, with a few that cross lines somewhere between the two.

Thinly shredded cabbage marinated in a fantastic spicy buttermilk pineapple dressing.

Pineapple Buttermilk Coleslaw

Don't let that picture fool ya. I didn't want a big pool of juices for the photo, but soon as I snapped it, I scooped some of those juices out of the bottom of the bowl and poured them right on top of that serving. Y'all, I am not ashamed to say that I actually tilted my plate up to lap up all the juices of this coleslaw. Yep. I sure did. It is that good.

A basic cabbage coleslaw with a creamy vinegar and mayonnaise base.

Basic Creamy Coleslaw

Of course most everybody has a coleslaw recipe they love. I happen to like a variety of them, so I'm not really loyal to any one. This coleslaw is loosely based on LuLu's in Gulf Shores, Alabama, but I added in bread and butter pickles because I liked the extra contrast they provide beyond the usual vinegar and sugar. If you happen to have some - or want to make some up - Fire 'n Ice pickles would be fantastic too.