Macaroni Salad

Another salad in the works, well it's summer and what works good is salads for those hot summer days and nights. This is kind of a do your own thing type of salad. So let's see what we have here.

• 1 lb macaroni, elbow or other shape, cooked, drained and chilled.
• 6 hard boiled eggs chopped
• 1/2 red pepper chopped
• 1/2 green pepper chopped
• 1 small yellow onion chopped
• 1 pickling cucumber peeled and chopped
• 1 large tomato chopped
• 1 stalk celery chopped
• salt & pepper to taste
• about 1 cup mayonnaise

Ok, I start with cooking the macaroni, when it is done al dente, but not too hard, I drain and rinse it, to cool the macaroni. then it goes back in the pan. I add the mayonnaise to the macaroni before it starts sticking together, like can do sometimes, but I also make sure the macaroni is not too hot for the mayonnaise. then I add the rest of the items. everything is chopped somewhat small, but not too small. ya, just hafta know what size you like it to be.

The ingredients can be varied to your satisfaction. Be careful of the salt, I don't use salt when I cook the macaroni, so when you add salt later you can control the saltiness better. I don't use salt in it and that is perfectly fine. You could also add chopped parsley and other herbs of your liking, but consider this as a base recipe and go from there. Another option might be chopped black olives or maybe even green olives. It your choice to create your own salad.

Bon Appetit!

Potato Salad

I have adopted this recipe from Better Homes & Gardens Limited edition New Cookbook.

• 3 lbs small redskin potatoes, cut small
• 8 eggs boiled, peeled and chopped
• 1 stalk celery, chopped small
  
• 1/2 medium or small onion, chopped small
• 1 cup mayionaise
• 1/4 cup dill or sweet relish, avoid high fructose sugar as an ingredient
• gound pepper to taste
• 1 TBS of yellow or spicy mustard
  

Boil potatoes till done, drain and set aside. You might want to save the potato water for soup or other uses. Mix with chopped eggs and add celery and onion.

Mix rest of ingredients in separate bowl and then mix with potatoes and egg mixture. Set in refrigerator to cool and let the flavors mingle. Wahla!!!