Coleslaw

Ingredients
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard, or to taste
2 tablespoons sherry vinegar, red wine vinegar, or freshly
squeezed lemon juice
1 small clove garlic, minced
1 tablespoon minced fresh chile (jalapeņo, Thai, serrano,
or habenero), or to taste, optional
1/4 cup peanut or extra-virgin olive oil
6 cups cored and shredded Napa, Savoy, green and/or red cabbage
1 large red or yellow bell peppers, roasted and peeled if you
like, seeded, and diced or shredded
1/3 cup diced scallion, more or less
salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup minced parsley leaves

Directions
1. Whisk the mustard, vinegar, garlic, and chile together in a
small bowl. Add the oil a little at a time, whisking all the
while.

2. Combine the cabbage peppers, and scallion and toss together
with the dressing. Season with salt and pepper and refrigerate
until ready to serve. (It's best to let this rest for an hour
or so before serving to allow the flavors to mellow; the cabbage
will also soften a bit and exude some juice. Or let it sit for
up to 24 hours if you like. Drain slaw before continuing.) Just
before serving, toss with the parsley.

Variations:
cabbage and Carrot Slaw, Mexican Style --
Equally good: Substitute 2 medium grated carrots for the bell pepper.
Use lime juice in place of the vinegar.
Finish with cilantro instead of parsley if you like.

Apple Slaw -- A little sweeter: Use carrots instead of bell pepper,
as in the preceeding variation.
Use 1 medium onion, grated, in place of the scallion.
Shred or grate 2 medium or 1 large Granny Smith or other tart,
crisp apples and include them in the mix.
Lemon juice or cider vinegar is the best choice for the acid here.