There are some foods that we all love, and we don’t quite know the secrets for making them. They are as common and familiar as food can be, and yet the actual ingredients remain a mystery.
We love these foods at picnics, family dinners, or even as a gift of food during an illness or death. While there are always people who experiment with the recipe, creating something different, like curried chicken salad or a fancy pasta salad, the grandmother of this world have instilled in us all an appreciation for the soothing taste of the traditional recipe.
I consider myself quite accomplished in the preparation of most types of foods, but the traditional macaroni salad, chicken salad, and potato salad had always eluded me. During the funeral of my mother-in-law, a dear friend brought a delicious macaroni salad, and my whole family loved it. Even the ones who didn’t like macaroni salad loved it! She shared the recipe with me, and informed me that she uses the same formulation for the other two salads, too: chicken salad and potato salad.
Enjoy!
InstructionsThings You’ll Need:
- Mayonnaise 3/4 cup to one cup
- Vinegar: 2 tablespoons I use white …. Apple cider would probably be ok, too.
- mustard: 2 tablespoons
- sugar: 2 tablespoons
- salt to taste
- pepper to taste
- 1/2 cup each of peppers, onions, celery diced finely
- One box of Creamette macaroni,( You will need chicken, or potatoes, depending on what you are going to make.
Step 1
I am giving the directions for macaroni salad. The chicken salad and potato salad would be made the same way. Boil, drain and rinse one box of elbow macaroni. I like Creamette Macaroni.
Step 2
Finely chop the vegetables. You could use more of one and less of another, but it is this equal combination of the three that gives you the traditional flavor.
Step 3
Add Sugar and vinegar. Stir well. Add the mustard, too. Stir, and allow to sit for a few minutes or so. Add a liberal amount of salt and pepper at this point. Add the mayonaisse. Start with 3/4 cup and adsd a little more at a time if it doesn’t look wet enough. Don’t add any more than the extra 1/4 cup or you will lose the tang of the different flavors. This macaroni salad will have a little color from all of the mustard you use, so don’t expect it to be white. Stir well. Cover and chill.
Step 4
If you want to make potato salad, cook your potatoes, dice and mix. If you are in a hurry, microwave them. For chicken salad, cook the chicken however you like. I like to just microwave some frozen boneless tenderloins. Add this dressing until it is the consistency you want, then store the rest in the refrigerator.
Tips & Warnings
- You should use your discretion on the safe handling, storage and use of a mayonnaise-based salad.
