SImple Macaroni Salad and Welcome Home!

How do you prefer your macaroni salad --

Mayonnaisey or Vinegary?

 

I am on the mayonnaise side of the fence;

in fact, I do not like macaroni salad at all 
if it has vinegar in it. 

Maybe it's because I like the way my mother made it. 

In fact, this is her recipe.

Well, I doubt that it is her recipe.
She probably got it from the back 
of a mayonnaise jar, or box of macaroni.

It's nothing fancy...

just plain, old-fashioned, simple macaroni salad.

Junior Goo Shoes likes Mayonnaisey Macaroni salad, too.

It must be hereditary.

In fact, he can eat massive amounts of it.

Not me.

 No, I can restrain myself and eat dainty, lady-like portions. 

Contrary to what you may think,

I do not use a shovel to dish it onto my plate.

Of course not.

When Junior Goo Shoes came home from camp on Sunday, 

I made one of his favorite meals...

Filet mignon, corn on the cob, and macaroni salad.

We were so excited to hear all about his summer, 

because four of his seven weeks at camp
were spent on a cross-country tour,
visiting lots of national parks.

We didn't even get to go to Visiting Day this summer,

because the kids were traveling then,

so we were chomping at the bit to hear all about the trip.  

"It was great." 

WHAT? That's it? 

Four weeks in five different states, 
seeing some of the most awesome places in this country, 
and all he could summon up were three little words?
I swear, I was ready to say,
"No macaroni salad for you!"

Not really.

The poor kid was so tired

he practically fell asleep in that big ol' plate of mac salad.

After a good night's sleep, and some macaroni leftovers,
Junior GS was ready to tell us all about 
"The Trip..."
 which he says, was "the best summer of my life."  

Who could ask for more than that :) :)

Now, you know I'd rather do anything but cook,

but this mac salad is so easy, 

 it's barely considered cooking. 

A pound of macaroni will make a ton...

a half-pound will make about 8-10 side-dish servings,

or four servings, if you're us. 

You can use whatever vegetables you have on hand...

I usually use grated carrots, diced celery,

and finely chopped red onion,

but I've used peppers, cucumbers and scallions, too.
Don't feel like you have to measure the vegetables...

adjust the amounts to your personal preference.  
I think it tastes best when it's made the day before serving.

MACARONI SALAD

1/2 pound Elbow Macaroni
1/2 cup grated carrots
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/4 cup finely chopped red onion
1/2 cup mayonnaise + 1/4 to 1/2 cup additional
Salt and pepper to taste

Cook macaroni according to package directions.
Rinse with cold water, and let macaroni cool.
Mix in vegetables; then mix in mayonnaise.
Season to taste.
Refrigerate until chilled.
Before serving, add more mayonnaise, since the mayonnaise will have soaked into the macaroni.

Enjoy!

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