Maria's Macaroni Salad- The best macaroni salad ever!

I can't take credit for this one, its my fantastic Mother in law's recipe! Most macaroni salads are sugary and way over dressed with mayo! This macaroni salad is simple, salty, not sweet, and addicting! I don't have exact measurements (as the best recipes never do). But this recipe is so easy and it really is to your desired taste anyway.

Maria's Macaroni Salad

Macaroni Noodles
Mayonnaise
Dill pickles with juice(sliced or whole-it doesn't matter its all getting chopped up!) DON'T use Relish!!!!!
2 cans of Black olives-save the juice!
2-4 ribs of Celery
2 carrots
Salt and pepper to taste.

Boil and drain the noodles
Rinse with cold water and drain.
Put noodles in bowl covered with plastic wrap-refrigerate
Pickles-finely chop up pickles-I use one large whole deli pickle or about a cup of the jarred sliced pickles- Set aside the pickles.
Celery- cut into three strips length-wise, then finely dice. Set aside.
Carrots-Shred and set aside

Add the Pickles, Celery, Carrots, and Olives (juice reserved and set aside) to the chilled macaroni noodles.
Mix well.
Then, add only a small amount of mayo to the salad. As you stir in the mayo, only add a Tbsp at a time until all the contents are VERY LIGHTLY coated/shiny. Thats all the mayo you need!

Pickle juice-add a 1/4 cup to start- stir well
Olive Juice-add 2 tbsp to start-stir well

TASTE! Then add salt and pepper
Taste again! then add more pickle juice or olive juice to taste.

ENJOY!!! Best served chilled of course!

What's easier than rice? Couscous!

Planning meals usually consists of 3 categories:

Protein, Veggie, and Starch.

The Starch category has been quite boring -it usually consists of rice, potato, or pasta - rolls don't count in my book.

And then there was COUSCOUS!

What is couscous? Technically it is a pasta but certainly nothing close to traditional pasta. Its made from semolina wheat. It also has about 5 grams of protein per half cup of cooked couscous.

So, even though it is a starch it still has some protein to balance the carbs as well.

My Favorite thing about couscous - ITS EASY!!!!!!

Basic recipe: 1 cup boiling water, add 1 cup couscous, stir quickly, bring back to boil (which takes only seconds) Then cover and set aside 5 minutes. fluff with fork......and DONE! HA!

Ummm, Rice? see yourself out.....well, for a while...

Favorite Couscous Recipe (so far):

Tomato Basil Couscous

You may want to make a double recipe if for more than 3 adults or simply because its delicious!

Ingredients1 cup couscous
1 cup boiling water
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 small cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup diced green bell pepper
5 green onions, sliced
1 cup cherry tomatoes or 5 Roma tomato's de-seeded and diced
1 cup fresh basil leaves hand torn or 1 tsp dried basil
1 pinch salt
1 pinch ground black pepper
1 dash balsamic vinegar (optional)
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

DirectionsPreheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Stir couscous into boiling water and return water to a boil.

Cover and remove pot from heat.

Let stand 5 minutes, then fluff with a fork.
While the couscous is set aside to "stand", heat oil in a large skillet (a wok is great for this)) over medium heat (don't burn your garlic).

Stir in garlic, green onions and peppers; saute until the bell pepper is slightly tender.

Stir in tomatoes, basil, cooked couscous, salt and pepper.

Mix together and transfer to a 1 1/2 quart greased casserole dish.

Splash some balsamic vinegar on top (optional).
Bake in a preheated 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) oven for 20 minutes (don't over bake).

Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese while still warm.

ENJOY!