Summer Picnic Macaroni Salad Food

OLD-FASHIONED PICNIC MACARONI SALAD

Steps:

• In a large salad bowl, toss together the warm pasta, oil, salt, and pepper; allow to cool, then add the onion, celery, pickles, and bell pepper; toss to blend.
• In a small bowl, stir together the mayonnaise, milk, mustard, and celery seeds; pour half over the salad and toss to coat.
• **At this point, cover and refrigerate the salad and remaining dressing for at least 4 hours and up to 2 days.
• One hour before serving, remove the salad from the refrigerator, add more dressing, if needed, and taste for salt and pepper.
• Sprinkle with the paprika, cover, and refrigerate until ready to serve.
• Variations--try adding any of these to the salad:.
• *2 cups frozen peas, defrosted.
• *2 cups smoked turkey or ham cut into 1/2 inch cubes.
• *2 cups cherry tomatoes, whole, or cut in half.
• *2 cups pimento-stuffed green olives, drained and chopped.
• *2 cups ranch dressing, in place of the mustard/mayonnaise combination; omit the celery seeds.
• *6 hard-boiled eggs, sliced.

PICNIC MACARONI SALAD

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook elbow macaroni in the boiling water, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Drain and let cool completely, about 30 minutes.
• Mix ranch dressing, mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons reserved olive juice, garlic powder, adobo, and pepper together in a bowl.
• Pour dressing mixture into cooled macaroni. Add olives, tuna, and red bell pepper to macaroni; stir well to combine. Chill until serving.

CALIFORNIA SUMMER MACARONI SALAD

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook elbow macaroni in the boiling water, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Drain, rinse with cold water, and transfer to a large bowl. Place in the refrigerator to chill while you prepare the eggs.
• Place eggs in a saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil, remove from heat, and let eggs stand in hot water for 15 minutes. Remove eggs from hot water, cool under cold running water, and peel. Slice eggs with an egg slicer.
• Mix mayonnaise, vinegar, relish, white pepper, and sea salt together in a small bowl. Gently mix in avocado, celery, and green onion, being careful not to overmix the avocado. Mix in sliced eggs.
• Add mayonnaise mixture to cooled macaroni; stir until well coated.

CONTEST-WINNING PICNIC PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Cook spiral pasta and tortellini according to package directions. Drain and rinse in cold water. Place in a large bowl; add the artichokes, broccoli, provolone cheese, salami, peppers, beans, olives, onion and garlic. , Prepare salad dressing according to package directions; pour over salad and toss to coat. Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate.

PICNIC PARTNER MACARONI SALAD

Steps:

• Cook and drain macaroni, saving 1 cup pasta water. Cool macaroni. Rinse in cold water to cool and drain well.
• In large bowl, combine yogurt, mayonnaise, onion and seasonings. Add macaroni, toss to coat. Add celery, peas, cucumber and cheese. Mix well. Cover. Chill at least 2 hours or overnight. Pasta has a tendency to absorb a lot of liquid as it sits, so if the salad appears dry, add some of the pasta water to hydrate again.
• Stir gently before serving.

THE PERFECT PICNIC PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Whisk Dijon mustard, cider vinegar, rice vinegar, salt, sugar, and cayenne together in a large bowl for about 30 seconds. Whisk in olive oil in 1-teaspoon increments until emulsified. Whisk in tarragon, dill, parsley, chives, and thyme. Remove and reserve 1/2 of the dressing in a separate small bowl.
• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil; cook rotini at a boil until tender yet firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Add snow peas, carrots, peas, and broccoli about 2 minutes before the pasta is done. Drain pasta and veggies well, but do not rinse.
• Transfer hot pasta mixture to the vinaigrette in the large mixing bowl and toss well to combine. Let rest for 5 minutes and toss again. Toss occasionally until the mixture is almost room temperature, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Add bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, red onion, green onions, salt, and the reserved dressing and toss well.
• Wrap and chill in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 hours before serving. Toss and adjust seasoning before serving.

SUMMER PICNIC PASTA SALAD

Steps:

• Blanch broccoli and asparagus in boiling salted water, and plunge into ice bath to stop cooking.
• Cook pasta until al dente.
• Rinse with cold water and drain.
• Toss pasta with chopped vegetables.
• Mix first 5 ingredients of dressing, and slowly whisk in oil.
• Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Toss dressing with pasta and vegetables.
• Chill until ready to serve.