Ruby Raspberry Slaw -- The Saturday Bowl That Brought It All Together

My week with the kids. The fireflies in the backyard at dusk. Thursday Jerome and I took our breaks together and talked restaurant. The dream is closer than it was a year ago.

Pop's in the recliner. Tigers on. Sugar in range this week. Sunday at Mama's. She made greens with hambone the way she has since 1985.

Coleslaw Saturday. Mayonnaise-based. Sharp cabbage, sharper vinegar.

Aiden's 10. The youth basketball league. I'm coaching. He's the best player on the team and he knows it. Zaria's 7. Helps me cook on a step stool. Has opinions about the seasoning.

I sat on the back porch with a beer and looked at the smoker and thought about nothing for an hour.

Mr. Williams across the street had a heart scare. He is okay. We are all watching each other now. I took him a plate of greens and chicken Wednesday. He said, "DeShawn. You're a good neighbor." I said, "We're even, Mr. Williams. You shoveled my walk in 2024." He laughed.

Aiden had practice Tuesday and Thursday. I drove. He shot threes for an hour after.

A neighbor down the street gave me a tomato plant Saturday. He grows them on his porch. Said he had extra. I put it next to the back step where it gets the afternoon sun. Detroit gardens are improvised victories.

Stopped at Eastern Market Saturday. Got chicken thighs, bacon, a watermelon, and a pound of greens that I did not need but bought anyway. The vendors know me by name now. Three of them asked about the family.

Plant ran clean this week. The line ran. The body held. The paycheck is the paycheck.

Drove past Jefferson North on Tuesday. The plant is still the plant. The trucks coming out. I waved at the gate guard out of habit. He waved back even though he didn't know me. The plant is its own neighborhood.

The block had a small drama Tuesday. Somebody parked in front of Ms. Diane's driveway. Ms. Diane addressed it directly. The car moved within the hour. The neighborhood polices itself on small things.

I cleaned the smoker Sunday morning. Brushed the grates. Emptied the ash. Wiped down the body. The smoker repays attention. So does most everything that matters.

The basketball court at the rec center got refurbished. New floor. Plays different. Bouncy. I shot a few from the elbow before practice Wednesday. The knee held. The shot fell short.

Mama left me a voicemail Wednesday. She said, "DeShawn. Don't forget Sunday." I had not forgotten Sunday. I have not forgotten Sunday in twenty years. The reminder is the love. I called her back.

The kids next door knocked over my trash cans Tuesday night. Their dad made them help me clean up Wednesday morning. Good man. The kids apologized. I gave them each a Capri Sun. Cycle complete.

The Lions on TV Sunday. Lost on a missed field goal. Detroit. The neighborhood collectively groaned at the same moment. You could hear it through the windows.

A song came on the radio Tuesday — old Stevie Wonder — and I had to sit in the truck for the rest of it before I went into the store. Some songs do that. Detroit is a city of songs that do that.

The drive home Friday was the long way around. I took Outer Drive past the lake. The water was still. I do not always notice the water. I noticed Friday.

The grass came in fast this week. Cut it Saturday morning before the heat. The mower had been sitting all winter. Took three pulls to start. Once it ran, it ran. Some things just need patience.

Coleslaw Saturday has been a constant in my house for years — sharp cabbage, sharp vinegar, mayonnaise doing the work it was born to do — but this week felt like it deserved something with a little more color in it. The fireflies, the tomato plant catching afternoon sun by the back step, Zaria up on her step stool with opinions about seasoning — all of it called for something bright. This Ruby Raspberry Slaw is the version that earns a spot next to whatever’s on the smoker, and it’s simple enough that a seven-year-old with opinions can absolutely weigh in on it.

Ruby Raspberry Slaw

Prep Time: 15 min | Cook Time: 0 min | Total Time: 15 min (plus 30 min chill) | Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 4 cups green cabbage, thinly shredded
• 2 cups red cabbage, thinly shredded
• 1 cup fresh or thawed frozen raspberries
• 1/2 cup shredded carrots
• 1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced
• 1/3 cup mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons raspberry vinegar (or apple cider vinegar)
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon celery seed
• Salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Make the dressing. In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, raspberry vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, and celery seed until smooth. Season with salt and pepper. Taste and adjust — it should be tangy with a hint of sweet.
2. Prep the slaw base. Combine the shredded green cabbage, red cabbage, carrots, and red onion in a large mixing bowl. Toss to distribute evenly.
3. Add the raspberries. Gently fold in the raspberries. If using fresh, handle carefully so they don’t break down too much — a few broken ones are fine and will bleed that ruby color into the slaw.
4. Dress and toss. Pour the dressing over the slaw and fold everything together until evenly coated. Go easy so the raspberries hold their shape.
5. Chill before serving. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving. The cabbage softens slightly and the flavors come together. Serve cold alongside anything coming off the smoker.

Nutrition (per serving)

Calories: 130 | Protein: 1g | Fat: 9g | Carbs: 12g | Fiber: 3g | Sodium: 160mg