I'm looking for something different to serve other than slaw or potato salad. Any ideas?

[color:"blue"]Deb's Macaroni Salad[/color]
We just made this one last weekend...
very refreshing! bunch of different flavors and crunch going on...
serve ice cold...

1 lb. macaroni, cooked al dente
1/2 red bell pepper, chopped
1/2 green bell pepper, chopped
1/4 cup of shreded carrots
1/3 cup chopped onion
1 small can of sliced black olives (about 1/4 cup)
1/2 cup broccoli florets, chopped small
2 celrey stalks, chopped (optional)
s&p to taste
mayonnaise...
not too much, add by the heaping tablespoon...
I start with four... and add one at a time after that...
I don't like to make it "soupy"...
if you use celrey, the salt will bring out a lot of moisture, so I always omit it...

we use Ronzoni "Smart Taste" macaroni, 7 grams of fiber per serving... very good too...
we also use Hellman's Canola Oil Mayo...

I got this from the Fresh Market website. It is great!

ULTIMATE SALAD


Ingredients:

6 ounces spinach leaves, rinsed and torn into bite-sized pieces

1/2 cup dried cranberries

1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese

2 tomatoes, seeded and chopped

1 avocado, diced

1/4 red onion, thinly sliced

1/4 - 1/2 cup walnuts, chopped

2 tablespoons red raspberry jam, seedless

2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

1/3 cup walnut oil

salt and pepper


Preparation:

In a large bowl, toss together the spinach, cranberries, blue cheese, tomatoes, avocados, onion, and walnuts. Set aside in refrigerator. In a small bowl whisk together jam, vinegar, walnut oil, pepper, and salt. Taste and adjust amounts to suite your taste. Refrigerate until serving. Toss salad with enough dressing to coat spinach. Can add diced yellow and orange peppers.

You could also try the Spinach Salad with Bully Boy Dressing I just posted a day or two ago...
http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/s...e=0#Post1008483

How about a nice broccoli salad?? I don't have my recipe here, but there are several broccoli salad recipes online, which is where I got the one I use. It's broccoli, red onion, bacon, cheddar cheese, with a mayo dressing. I usually add red and or yellow pepper also, for color.

Here is a simple pasta salad, but really good.

Tri-color pasta
broccoli
cauliflower
baby carrots
cubed cheese - pick your favorite
sliced olives
chopped tomatoes
Italian dressing

Make pasta according to package directions. Cut up veggies and cheese and add to cooled pasta. Add dressing and refrigerate to chill. There is no specific amounts, just add what you like.

This is always a hit. Be sure to make it the night before.

Broccoli Salad


Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
1 package broccoli florets -- chopped
8 ounces cheddar cheese -- shredded
3 ounces Hormel real bacon bits
1 cup mayonnaise
3 tablespoons vinegar
1/2 cup sugar

Mix mayo, vinegar, and sugar. Pour over other ingredients. Mix and refrigerate overnight.

Thanks for all the great ideas.

Not sure if you are a fan - but what about a nice coucous salad? add lemon juice, chopped roma tomatoes & cucumbers, chopped Italian parsley to cooked couscous - or add olives, feta cheese, fresh basil, maybe a chopped tomato a little drizzle of olive oil... you get the idea

What ever you do - enjoy the day

Or White Squall curried rice

[color:"red"]This vegetable salad is excellent.[/color]

Vegetable Salad with Goat Cheese
4 servings

12 small red-skinned potatoes - cut in ¼-inch-thick rounds
½ cup pitted Kalamata olives or other brine-cured black olives
6 anchovy fillets
1 tablespoon drained capers
1 garlic clove
¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
4 green onions - sliced- using the green part too
4 medium-size ripe tomatoes - cut into ½-inch-thick wedges
½ hothouse cucumber - halved lengthwise, seeded, sliced crosswise
4 ounces soft fresh goat cheese – such as Montrachet – coarsely
crumbled
Fresh basil sprigs

Steam potatoes until tender, about 10 minutes. Cool completely.
Blend the olives, anchovies, capers and garlic in processor until coarsely pureed. Gradually blend in oil, then lemon juice. Transfer mixture to large bowl. Add green onions. Stir to blend. Season olive mixture with salt and pepper. Add tomatoes, cucumber and potatoes to olive mixture. Toss to coat. Season salad to taste with salt and pepper. Sprinkle goat cheese over salad. Garnish with basil springs and serve.

OOHH! YUMMMMM! I can't wait to try this! I'd make a meal out of the salad, but I bet it would also be good with some grilled sausage or brats.

the white squall curried rice is excellent!
I used black currants and dried cranberries in leiu of the rasins...
a definate keeper!

They've been serving that recipe on the boat for a bunch of years to bunches of BVI visitors, so it must be pretty darn good! I enjoyed it a lot on the boat. Not QUITE as good at home, but still very good! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Smile.gif" alt="" />

here's a really easy and very tasty macaroni salad we just kind of made up:

Cooked pasta of your choice usually small elbows are the best.
Add some mayo, a tablespoon blob or two
Diced Red Onion (maybe 1/2 an onion or so) or green onions (scallions)
Diced Celery (one or two stalks)
maybe a little chopped fresh jalapeno for some extra kick
2 cans Canned crab or salad shrimp
a bunch of Old Bay Seasoning


one of our kid's friends was over one time and almost ate the whole bowl he liked it so much...his nickname was Bob Saget because he was infatuated with Bob Saget's stand up comedy so it will forever be known in our house as "Saget Salad"! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />


super easy and really great!