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Discussion » Statements » Rosie's Corner » Do you treat yourself to something luscious to eat if you're alone on your own and it's a holiday! I always did. Do you?

Do you treat yourself to something luscious to eat if you're alone on your own and it's a holiday! I always did. Do you?

There were more than a few years I was on my own. My son was grown and on his own and lived far away. Before I met Jim. I'd always plan something tasty for me..something special. Now I love to cook so it was not a tribulation. I remember on the 4th of July they used to have a TWILIGHT ZONE marathon. The day before I prepped whatever I was going to have so on the day when the marathon began I'd be in front TV watching all day. It was something I looked forward to do....a TRADITION I had built all by myself for myself.

Do you have a tradition for you? If not you should. If so what is it if you don't mind my asking?

Posted - November 21, 2020

Responses


  • 10449
    On many "big" holidays, I treat myself to my homemade macaroni salad.
      November 21, 2020 10:43 AM MST
    1

  • 113301
    I was hoping you'd answer this question Shuhak. I know you like to make food to enjoy and I was thinking how disappointed I'd be thinking you just opened a can of tuna or a can of soup. So wouldja like to share the recipe? WE LOVE all things pasta. Hot cold in-between! I used to make one long ago with artichoke hearts. It really pumped it up bigly. What is your recipe and will you be dining on it next Thursday? I've got a turkey I'll roast and I'm not really sure what else. Thank you for your reply! :) This post was edited by RosieG at November 21, 2020 1:35 PM MST
      November 21, 2020 10:49 AM MST
    1

  • 10449

    Recipe?  Uh...  I can give you the basic ingredients, but not the exact measurements.  I really make it by taste.  I close eyes, taste, and can tell if there’s too much of an ingredient, or if an ingredient is missing.  Then I adjust it from there.  (I know, I know... that's not how one cooks). 

    * Macaroni Salad *


    - 1 box salad macaroni - cooked, rinsed and drained
    - 3/4 to 1 jar Miracle Whip (regular)
    - 6 or 7 hard boiled eggs – chopped
    - 1 whole hard boiled egg (set aside)
    - Pickles (chopped) – 1 to 1-1/2 dill AND 5-8 sweet pickle chips or 3-4 sandwich toppers {Note: Pickles can make or break the salad.  While it’s preferable to have slightly more dill than sweet, be aware that too many pickles (epically sweet) or too few (especially dill) can drastically throw off the flavor}
    - Parsley (dried) – Just enough for a bit of color
    - Garlic powder –a dash or 2
    - Onion - 1/4 fresh, OR a little less than handful of chopped dried, OR a sprinkling of powder)
    - Paprika – just enough so that salad’s not too pale (too much and salad will be bitter)
    - Salt-free seasoning mix (such as Mrs. Dash) –a smidgen or 2
    - Celery seed - dash to a tad (optional)

    *****

    *Place macaroni in a large bowl.  
    *Add spices and mix thoroughly.  
    *Add eggs and pickles, mix thoroughly.
    *Mix in about 2-3 spatulas of Miracle Whip and mix thoroughly.
    *Taste.  
    *Add more pickles, onions or spices if needed (depending on what you think it needs to suit your tastes)
    *Add enough Miracle Whip to make salad slightly "damp".  {Note: salad will absorb 25%-35% of the moisture from the Miracle Whip once it's refrigerated.  So add enough Miracle Whip so that it looks like too much … but don't overdo it or salad will be soggy.}
    *Taste. 
    *If dry, add more Miracle Whip.  If taste is "off", add spices and/or pickles to balance (Note: you can add, but you can't take away, so be careful.  Flavors will blend during refrigeration, so a warm salad won’t taste exactly "perfect").
    * Place salad into serving container.
    *Slice reaming egg into 5 or 6 slices and arrange on top of salad.  Dust top of salad lightly with paprika
    * Cover and refrigerate salad for at least 6 hours (overnight is ideal).

    Serves: 8-10

    Note - mayonnaise can be substituted for Miracle Whip, but salad won’t taste as “sweet”. 

      November 21, 2020 5:04 PM MST
    1

  • 113301
    Thank you for going to all that trouble for me Shuhak. I appreciate it a lot. You "close your eyes" when you taste it? I've never tried that m'dear. That shuts out all distraction so you can focus on taste. Okay. I shall try that. We use Best Foods Light mayo. Hellman's on the east coast. Same thing. When we moved to Massachusetts in November 1965 there were brands I was used to in California that I couldn't find there. Lo and behold I think someone told me to use Hellman's because it was the same thing. It was. Why the name is different I don't know. Happy Sunday before Thanksgiving Shuhak! :) This post was edited by RosieG at November 22, 2020 11:01 AM MST
      November 22, 2020 2:04 AM MST
    1

  • 10449
    Best Foods mayo and Hellman's are the same.  When Best Foods (out of San Francisco) bought out Hellmans (out of New York) in 1932, they didn't want to lose loyal Hellman's customers by changing the name.  Since it was already called Best Foods mayo on the west coast, they kept that name in the west and the Hellmans name in the East.  One mayo recipe, one mayo brand, 2 unique names.  And it's been that way ever since (even though both brands are now owned by Unilever).


    Yes, closing my eyes lets me focus.  Especially since I like to cook with music playing (60's, 70's and 80's).  
      November 22, 2020 11:13 AM MST
    0