Recipe: Home Ec Club Macaroni Salad with Sweet Pickle

HOME EC CLUB MACARONI SALAD WITH SWEET PICKLE

FOR THE MACARONI:
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1/2 pound uncooked shell or elbow macaroni
1 tablespoon milk
FOR THE SALAD:
1 large peeled, seeded tomato, coarsely chopped
4 sweet pickles, coarsely chopped
6 scallions (tops included), finely chopped
1 small red bell pepper, finely chopped
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
1/4 cup chopped fresh dill
FOR THE DRESSING:
3/4 cup mayonnaise (or a bit more)
1/4 cup sour cream
1 1/2 teaspoons celery seed
1/2 tablespoon sweet pickle juice (from the above)
1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
1 teaspoon salt

In a large saucepan, bring 2 quarts of water to a boil; add the oil, then the macaroni. Boil over medium heat for 14 to 16 minutes or until the macaroni is just tender. Drain, rinse under cold water, and drain again. Transfer to a large bowl, add the milk, and toss.

Add the tomato, pickles (reserve juice), scallions, bell pepper, parsley, and dill; combine; set aside.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, celery seed, pickle juice, black pepper, and salt.

Pour the dressing over the macaroni and mix well. Cover and refrigerate.

"Extension Service Homemakers Associations, created in 1914 to teach homemaking skills primarily to rural women, are still going strong across the Midwest, and are supervised by graduate home economists. These associations, like the 4-H Clubs for young people, are part of the Land Grant College Extension Service Program, which was created under President Lincoln.

At the Home Ec Club monthly meetings, carry-in dinners are sometimes part of the entertainment and the women bring an assortment of mouth-watering dishes, including macaroni salads. This version is unusually creamy and colorful, with bits of tomato, red bell pepper, snipped dill, and lots of sweet pickle."

Servings: 6
Adapted from source: Heartland by Marcia Adams