wcfoodie

wcfoodie

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By Request: A simple summer salad

Growing up, and let’s be real, even as an adult, macaroni is a go to for me.  Buttered macaroni as a side or with Cheez Whiz (ok, that not so much as an adult) or baked in a casserole.  Macaroni is a love.  After all, I already shared that I should have married into the mob for my love of all things pasta.  And macaroni counts as pasta so there ya go! 

A friend recently asked me for a good summer pasta salad recipe, so here it is Jill.  This is a gooder in my eyes.  A basic macaroni salad with a mayo-based dressing.  I have not made it in years, but this is the original my mom taught me.  You can add flaked tuna if you want protein in it.  Or I suppose you could also add flaked chicken.  I believe for a while as well I was adding imitation grab, but knowing today what that actually is, I would not recommend.  I do suppose though that adding some cooked salad shrimp would work. That’s the thing about me and cooking- always looking to adjust or change something up. 

This is a simple salad.  You can cut up the ingredients while the pasta is cooking.  And can take it anywhere!   This is an all good salad to serve up with your burgers and dogs this summer. And I bet, if you want this to be extra special, using just a bit of my homemade mayonnaise will knock this one out of the park and have you coming for more.

Enjoy! 

Macaroni Salad

5 from 1 vote
Course Side Dish

Ingredients
  

  • 3 cups elbow macaroni
  • 1/2 small red onion, chopped
  • 1/4 cup celery, chopped finely
  • 1/2 red pepper, diced
  • 1 can tuna, drained
  • mayonnaise
  • salt and pepper to tase

Instructions
 

  • Cook macaroni according to package, rinse and drain.
  • In a large bowl, add macaroni and chopped veggies. Mix together.
  • Add 1 can flaked tuna (optional)
  • Season with salt and pepper.
  • Add mayonaise to take.
  • Serve and eat.

Notes

This is the most basic version.  Add carrots if you like, or green onions.  Even some dill if you want to freshen it up a bit.
I can't actually tell you how much mayo to use.  That's all about the taste.  Start with a quarter cup and add until you get it the right creaminess.  To make it extra special, add some homemade mayo for that extra zing and goodness!

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