~Pineapple and Shrimp Macaroni Salad~

~Pineapple and Shrimp Macaroni Salad~

Ingredients: 

• 1 pound pasta, you can use any small pasta, such as bowtie, shells, or elbow but elbow macaroni is a classic choice
• 1 pound shrimp , peeled and deveined
• 1 can (8 ounces) pineapple chunks, drained (Reserves the liquid.)
• ½ cup mayonnaise
• ¼ cup sour cream
• ¼ cup thinly sliced shallots diced
• ¼ cup of chives diced
• ¼ green and/or red peppers diced
• ¼ cup celery diced
• Salt & pepper to taste.

Options:

• Use OLD BAY Seafood Seasoning or Tony Chachere's Creole Seasoning instead of salt and pepper.
• Add peas
• Add corn
• You can use chicken instead of shrimp.

Directions:

• Dice the cooked shrimp (I found that dicing the shrimp prevents people from picking out the shrimp for themselves.)
• Mix the shrimp, pineapple, peppers, shallots, celery, and chives together in a large bowl.
• Whisk together the mayonnaise and sour cream together in a separate bowl and slowly add the reserved pineapple juice until the mayo and sour cream has thinned out a little. You don’t want to make it too thin or it will run off the pasta and shrimp.
• Season to taste, refrigerate before serving.

*****

Because this dish contains mayonnaise, it should be kept cool to keep it from spoiling. When bring mayo to a picnic I always worry about the mayo going bad, I found this nice two quart insulated bowl that you put in the refrigerator before and it will keep the food cool.

~~Super Simply Tomato & Onion Salad~~

During late summer when the vines ripen with tomatoes it becomes the season of tomato salads and they are quick and easy to make.

Ingredients:

• Sweet onion thinly sliced
• Cherry tomatoes (I get a medley of red and yellow cherry tomatoes for more color)
• Feta Cheese
• Chopped fresh basil
• Chopped fresh parsley
• Northern Italian Dressing (Or you can use just olive oil and Balsamic or red vine or apple cider vinegar)

Directions:

• Cut the cherry tomatoes in half and place in a bowl with the thinly sliced onions add the Northern Italian Dressing mix and let marinate for an hour.
• When ready to serve add the basil, parsley, and Feta cheese and toss lightly.

Now wasn’t that easy?

Options:

• Add a cucumbers
• Add an Avocado
• Add black olives such as Kalamata.
• Some recipes add red pepper flakes (But I don't like my tomato salad spicy)
  
• Some use red onion but I find to have too much bite of the raw onions and some some soke them in water to cut the bite.