Friday, February 27, 2009

Cheryl's Kicked up Macaroni Salad


I am getting adventurous, I tell ya! My hubby has been gone for almost a whole week now and I actually made this pasta, and took the pictures all by myself, I feel like such a big girl! Kidding, I enjoy his input and suggestions, and he takes the photo's with his fancy camera, but I decided to try it myself this time! Tell me what you think?

My Sister In Law had a 41st Bday party (yes I know you are still younger than me), and I wanted to make Macaroni Salad, which I had never made before. I wanted it to be different and kicked up! I made the standard for her party, because she is a wusss when it comes to spice and made some extra for me, which I kicked the hell up! BANG!

I will give you the Kicked up version. I also added diced cheese and smoked turkey to make it more of a meal than a salad, and so I could live on the leftovers for a few days! Shrimp would also be really good in this salad.

16 oz package elbow macaroni
1 cup mayonaise
2 thick slices of deli smoked turkey, diced (you could use ham or whatever)
cubed pepper jack cheese (your choice, I used Colby Jack this time)
1 red bell pepper, seeded and diced
1-2 jalapenos, seeded and diced
3 celery stalks diced
1/2 large onion, diced
1/4 cup white wine vinegar
yellow mustard to taste
salt and pepper
Cayenne pepper to taste
sweet or dill pickle juice
1 equal
1/2 tsp celery salt
I also added a few dashes of Red Hot Sauce

Cook your pasta as directed on the package, drain, rinse with cold water (don't shake off the excess water, I learned this from Cooks Illustrated)

Combine the remaining ingredients (except the meat and cheese) and mix well.

Taste for heat and piquancy, add any additional spices, or additional mayonaise or mustard, if needed

Add in the meat, cheese and pasta, mix well and chill

**To bring the salad back to life if it gets dry, add a few tablespoons of water and mix well
***The cheese will turn into squares of goo in several days
***It will get hotter the longer is sits

16 comments:

Debbie said...

Oh that sounds and looks good. I love macaroni salad.

Donna-FFW said...

Love the kicked up ness in this! The cheese is the PERFECT addition! Your pictures are JUST GORGEOUS, Cheryl. you did a fantastic job! Really looks pretty. Captured it great!

Katherine Roberts Aucoin said...

Cheryl you did a fanstic job with the salad and the photo. I like how you kicked this up. Macaroni salad is always on the table for Easter. I am bookmarking it!

Sara said...

Your picture looks great! I actually don't really like mayo, but I make an exception for macaroni salad :)

Pam said...

Looks creamy and tasty. I love macaroni salad.

Cheryl said...

This sounds good...
RYC: LOL on the classification. I still call you SIL even tho I'm not with UO. I don't know how to refer to Mary, I guess "a friend" would be ok, considering we've never met. BTW...there seems to be trouble in paradise...;-)

Netts Nook said...

What a great salad. I just left you an award on my blog come and get it when you have a chance.

Paula said...

Whoa, no kidding you kicked it up! This sounds great, especially with the turkey and cheese in it. Between the jalapenos, cayenne, and red hot sauce, this has serious sinus clearing abilities! Both my hubby and I like spicy, so this is a keeper. One thing ... did you add mayo to this? You reference it, but I didn't see it in the list. YUM!

Paula said...

PS: Meant to say, too, that your photo looks terrific! You did great time two = the salad and the photo! :-)

Heather said...

mmm. that sounds so good! i just looove pasta salad!!

Lyndas recipe box said...

This looks really great! I love the addition of jalapenos and pepper jack.

The Blonde Duck said...

That's my kind of macaroni salad. I love food with a kick.

NuKiwi said...

Sounds like it should be called "A$$ Kickin" rather than "Kicked Up"! LOL Looks creamy though - good enough to try a smallish portion (as I am not quite as fireproof as you & J).

Just as a side note - if you have avocado handy, it will stop the fire in your mouth afterwards!!!

MaryBeth said...

As my dear sister has previously stated I am very much a spice wuss, however I am trying to get better with that,it is a slow process. Now let me also say that Cheryl's first attempt at pasta salad was absolutely fabulous and I am sure her new and improved or as she called it the kicked up version was just a wonderful as my more plain version. And I also think you did a perfect job of taking your own picture...I think it looks great!

R. said...

This looks really good! I've never made macaroni salad, so this will be my first attempt. Thanks for sharing the recipe!

Jan said...

I love pasta salad, and this one sounds like it bites back. Great picture too.

How to spatchcock a chicken or turkey!

Finishing some of Cheryl's drafts... Keeping spatchcocking simple. Using a VERY sharp cleaver or kitchen shears -- not scissors, carefu...