Tag Archives: celery

Absolute Best Macaroni Salad

different mac

Ahhh, macaroni salad! Who doesn’t love pasta and veggies dressed with a special “sauce”? Because this salad keeps well in the fridge without losing its flavor or texture, it was on my carry-in list to my sister’s house for Christmas again this year. The secret to the salad’s great taste is found in the sweetened condensed milk used in the dressing. Cutting the vegetables for this dish by hand does take longer, an exercise in determined effort more than anything else, but the moisture the veggies release using a food chopper detract from the flavor of this dish and you will have better results taking the time to slice-and-dice them yourself.

The secret to the salad’s great taste is found in the sweetened condensed milk in the dressing. Use just enough mayonnaise to prevent the dressing being runny as this keeps the pasta from being overwhelmed. I already adjusted the mayonnaise amount; you should start with the smaller amount then adjust to your taste. This yields a large bowl of salad so it is a perfect choice for a “next day” menu as well. Do try this and let me know what you think; it is not the typical Hawaiian-style plate lunch mac salad, y’all, but it is a good alternative. Don’t over cook the macaroni and it’s all “duck soup!”

Ingredients

For the salad

1 (16 oz.) pkg. elbow macaroni, cooked, drained well
1 large onion, chopped, small dice
1 large green pepper, seeded, cut into strips, then cut, small dice
2-3 stalks celery, cut into thin strips then diced
3 carrots, shaved into strips then snipped small

For the dressing

1 can Eagle Brand sweetened condensed milk
1-1/2 to 2 cups Hellman’s mayonnaise, to taste
1/4 cup cider vinegar
Salt & pepper to taste
Celery seed, to taste

Directions Prepare the vegetables. Cook macaroni according to package directions; drain well in a colander. Prepare the dressing by combining the milk, mayonnaise, and vinegar in small mixing bowl, whisking thoroughly to blend. Season dressing to taste with salt, pepper, and celery seed if using. Place well-drained macaroni in large bowl, add the vegetables and the dressing; stir well, folding the dressing in thoroughly to coat the macaroni. Scrape into large covered container and chill completely before serving. Store leftovers in fridge.

Cranberries in the Snow

this cranberry salad

Christmas is past, but, oh, how memories linger! My hope is that every blessing you enjoyed be magnified in the new year! Shared family time, often with a baby or several, means a new generation of your family growing and changing right in front of your eyes, and is there anything finer than Christmas excitement reflected in their eyes? The days after Christmas are sweet as well with all busyness finished and stopping to catch our breath before the new year begins. The holiday tables set with favorite dishes linger in my memory especially then. Our celebration this year was made sweeter with this cranberry salad. This old recipe of mama’s is a beautiful addition to any holiday table; it looks so festive plated with a Christmas turkey or ham. The sweetened tartness of the cranberry sauce is a perfect complement to the “snow” topping. This tastes even better the second day, or for a sweet late-night snack, after the flavors have mellowed. It is such a special dish, do try it!

Cranberries in the Snow

Ingredients

1 lb. pkg. fresh cranberries
3/4 cup water
1 cup crushed pineapple, drained
1 cup pecans, chopped
1-(8 oz.) block cream cheese, softened
1 large box cherry flavored gelatin
2 cups sugar
1 cup celery, sliced thin
1-(7 oz.) jar marshmallow crème
1/2 pt. carton whipping cream

Directions Cook cranberries in water until tender and they begin to pop. Mix dry gelatin and sugar in large bowl and add cooked cranberries. Stir and allow to cool. Add pineapple, celery and nuts. Pour into a 9×13 glass pan and refrigerate until set.

Topping: Whip the cream and mix well in large bowl with cream cheese and marshmallow crème. Use a rubber spatula or a flat wooden spoon for this as it takes effort to get the marshmallow crème blended with the whipped cream. Keep blending until you reach a good spreading consistency. Spread on top of gelatin mixture and refrigerate, covered, overnight.