Recipe: Macaroni-Bacon Salad

MACARONI-BACON SALAD
Source: Sunset Magazine

1/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup flour
8 slices bacon (8 oz.), chopped
1/2 cup distilled white vinegar
12 ounces dried macaroni (2 2/3 cups)
3/4 cup finely chopped celery
1/3 cup thinly sliced green onions
Salt and pepper

In a bowl, combine sugar and flour.

In a 2- 3-quart pan over medium high heat, stir bacon often until browned and crisp, 8 to 10 minutes. With a slotted spoon, transfer to paper towels to drain. Discard all but 3 Tablespoons fat from pan

Add sugar-flour mixture to drippings in pan over medium-high heat. Stir for 1 minute, then add 1 1/2 cups water and the vinegar. Stir until mixture is boiling, 2 to 3 minutes.

In a 5- to 6-quart pan over high heat, cook macaroni in boiling water, stirring occasionally, until just tender to bite, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain and return to pan. Stir vinegar mixture into macaroni. Let cool.

Just before serving, stir bacon, celery, and green onions into macaroni. Season generously with salt and pepper. For a looser texture, stir in about 1/2 cup water. Pour into a serving bowl.

Makes 2 quarts (8-10 servings)