Saturday, June 23, 2012

Macaroni Salad


Growing up macaroni salad and potato salad were staples on our table in the summer time.  They were also standard fare for picnics and covered dish dinners.  My mother had a special insulated bowl with a tight fitting locking lid that was reserved for these two dishes.

My mother's macaroni salad was nothing fancy, but it was hearty and delicious.  She used lots of hard boiled eggs and celery and made sure the dressing was slightly runny.  I refused to eat anyone else's macaroni salad for years.  No one else's was good enough.  (I still feel this way about her potato salad).

However, in college I dated a man whose mother made me macaroni salad the first time I met her.  Southern politeness dictated that I at least try a little of everything she served.  Her macaroni salad was different - drier without as much mustard, with tomatoes and small chunks of cheese.  "Cheese in macaroni salad???" I thought.  I was sure I'd hate it.  On the contrary, I loved it.  Some bites had a cool burst of tangy tomato.  Others had a creaminess of mild cheddar.  The relationship didn't work out, but I do still miss that salad from time to time.

Enter my now husband, whose mother believes food is love.  She finds it her mission in life to ensure the people around her are well fed.  If you go to bed hungry in her house, it is your own fault.  The first time she served me macaroni salad, I was skeptical, but after my previous experiences, willing to try.  In addition to green peppers and sometimes cucumbers, hers also has tomatoes, but no cheese.  It's also a salad I would eat any/every day.

What I realized is that for every person who cooks out there, there is a version of macaroni salad.  No one is ever the same as anyone else's.  They are very specific to the person making them.

When time came for me to make my own macaroni salad (which I do not do often, as my husband isn't a big fan), I realized I wanted to incorporate elements from all three I'd grown to love.  A macaroni salad to me has to have a bit of mustard and "bite" in the dressing.  I also wanted the creaminess of the cheese.  And I loved the coolness of the cucumbers and tomatoes.  What I ended up with for my version was a loving marriage of all three.

This recipe fills my large 9x13 lasagne dish with a little leftover.  I only make it when I have a crowd to feed.  You can cut this recipe in half easily.

Macaroni Salad

Dressing
1 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup yellow mustard
1 tablespoon white wine or apple cider vinegar
2 teaspoons celery salt

Salad
1 box elbow macaroni, cooked, rinsed and drained
1 large cucumber, diced
1 tomato, diced
1 large carrot, shredded
1 stalk celery, diced
4 ounces cheddar cheese, diced

Blend dressing ingredients together, mixing well and tasting for seasoning.  Now is the best time to adjust it if needed.
Mix all salad ingredients together and pour dressing over it.  Stir to coat.  Taste again for seasoning.  Cover and let chill in refrigerator 1-2 hours or until cold.

If making ahead of time, prepare dressing, dice all vegetables, and cook macaroni 1-2 days in advance.  Store in the fridge separately.  On the day you'll serve, combine all ingredients and taste for seasoning.

30 comments:

  1. Visiting from See Ya The Gumbo. Great recipe, great blog.

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    1. I like your blog to and the very clever name!

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  2. I think my family would like this I will have to give it a try!

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  3. That recipe sure does sound amazing. Would love it if you link it to Piquant Potluck!

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  4. That looks delicious! My family is going to love this. Thanks for sharing!!

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  5. Thank you for coming by and linking with See Ya In the Gumbo. It's so nice to have you join in! I loved reading your thoughts about macaroni salad--some of what you talked about rang true with me and my mother-in-law.

    My mom adds cubes of cheese to mac salad and I love it! Thank you for sharing.

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  6. This sounds perfect for my family reunion coming up later this summer!

    Visiting from You're Gonna Love It Tuesday.
    Debra

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  7. I'm a real macaroni salad fan! It looks wonderful!

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  8. That looks great and I love your pics! We make a similar version, but add chopped black olives and sometimes tuna. Thanks so much for sharing!

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  9. Hi, what an interesting macaroni salad! Can't wait to try this. Thanks for sharing on Southern Sundays. Hope to see you again soon.
    www.asliceofsouthern.blogspot.com

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  10. Yummy. This looks so delicious. Thanks for sharing them. Come and visit us. We have some wonderful picnic recipes this week.

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  11. I love macaroni salad and this looks like a great version. Thanks so much for sharing on Tout It Tuesday! Hope to see you next week.

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  12. I enjoy macaroni salad when the weather starts warming up! This looks like it would hit the spot! Thank you for joining me at my party over at Love Bakes Good Cakes! I would love for you to visit again soon! Have a great weekend!

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  13. Nice.... I saw this via The Real Housewives of Riverton where I have linked in a beef recipe.

    Have a good week.

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  14. This looks yummy! I'll be trying your version next time I make macaroni salad. Pinned! Thanks so much for sharing at Terrific Tuesdays!
    Rachel
    adventuresofadiymom.blogspot.com

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  15. This is a favorite summer time dish from my childhood. Yours looks terrific. Come and visit us. We have some really wonderful picnic foods to share.

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  16. I love this is a classic macaroni salad just like I remember from childhood.

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  17. I always forget how much I love macaroni salad until I see a recipe like this. It looks delicious!

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  18. This sounds very unique, and I'm picky about my macaroni salad too. I will definitely be giving this a try. Thank you for linking the recipe to Foodie Friends Friday. Hope to see you again next week.

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  19. Your macaroni salad sounds really good! I love seeing different recipes for macaroni salads, and seeing how other people like to make theirs! One of my favorite party dishes to make! This looks really great!

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  20. Thanks for coming by Foodie Friends Friday today and linking up...this recipe looks delish! Tracy @ Busy Vegetarian Mom ( I love your background...mine looking something just like it, lol!)

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  21. Looks and sounds delicious! Thanks so much for linking up to this week's BFF Open House!

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  22. Your macaroni salad looks delicious! Thanks for joining Food Friends Friday! Please join us again next week.

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  23. I have never had macaroni salad with cheese and it sounds like a fantastic idea. It is interesting how, at times, we miss the obvious, and after reading this recipe, I think it is obvious that macaroni salad is better with cheese. Thanks for sharing this with My Meatless Mondays.

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  24. I believe we are like your macaroni salad:) A nice blend of all our experiences. Thank you for sharing not only a great recipe but a cute story about the the origin of your salad. As always I so appreciate you at Freedom Fridays.

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  25. How fun that you included all three recipes and came up with your own! I make macaroni salad with tomato and eggs:-)

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  26. Yum, I love this salad and haven't made it in a really long time but I will try your ingredients. Thanks so much for sharing at Doodles & Stitches!

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  27. A perfect bbq side! Thanks for sharing on Foodie Friday! I've featured you on this weeks linky http://homemaidsimple.blogspot.com/2012/07/foodie-friday-no-bake-cookies.html

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  28. This was one of my favorite Foodie Friends Friday recipes, so I nominated you for the Addictive Blogger Award!

    You can check out the details of the award on the post below:
    http://www.chefpickykid.com/2012/07/12/the-addictive-blog-award/

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