Cooking Up Cottage

Tag: salad

  • Spring Pasta Salad

    garden pasta salad 8

    The first day of Spring was last Sunday and if you are like me you are starting to plan and dream about your garden. I have a large flower garden in my back yard so usually I am dreaming about what flowers to plant.

    FullSizeRenderHowever, for the past few years I have grown a few vegetables, and many of the vegetables I have grown are included in this flavorful Spring Pasta Salad: radishes, green pepper, red onions, and grape tomatoes.  These four main vegetables come together beautifully as they get tossed into a tangy dressing with shell pasta.  This combination is perfect for any celebration including Easter which will be here before you know it.

    pasta salad 12pasta salad 10

    Start by boiling 1 (16 oz.) package of medium pasta shells according to the package directions.shellsboiling pasta

    While the noodles are boiling, chop 1 cup of red onions, 1 cup of green peppers, 1 cup of sliced radishes and cut 1 pint of grape tomatoes by cutting each tomato in half.tomaotes , onions, green peppers and tomatoes

    Now set the vegetables to the side and mix up your dressing.  In a bowl combine the 14 oz. can of sweetened condensed milk, 2 cups of mayonnaise, 1/2 cup of white vinegar, 1/4 teaspoon of salt, and 1/2 cup of sugar.

    mixing dressing

    Drain your pasta and rinse it in cold water.  Now you can mix everything together in a large bowl.

    shells mixed into pasta

    Refrigerate for at least 3 hours before you serve to let the flavors mix together.

    garden pasta salad 14

    garden pasta salad 11

    Spring Pasta Salad
     
    Ingredients
    • 1 (16 oz.) package of medium pasta shells
    • 1 cup of chopped red onions
    • 1 cup of chopped green peppers
    • 1 cup of sliced radishes
    • 1 pint of grape or cherry tomatoes (cut each tomato in half)
    • 1 (14 oz.) can of sweetened condensed milk
    • 2 cups of mayonnaise
    • 1/2 cup of white vinegar
    • 1/4 teaspoon salt
    • 1/2 cup of sugar
    Instructions
    1. Start by boiling 1 (16 oz.) package of medium pasta shells according to the package directions.
    2. While the noodles are boiling, chop 1 cup of red onions, 1 cup of green peppers, 1 cup of sliced radishes and cut 1 pint of grape tomatoes by cutting each tomato in half.
    3. Now set the vegetables to the side and mix up your dressing. In a bowl combine the 14 oz. can of sweetened condensed milk, 2 cups of mayonnaise, 1/2 cup of white vinegar, 1/4 teaspoon of salt, and 1/2 cup of sugar.
    4. Drain your pasta and rinse it in cold water. Now you can mix everything together in a large bowl.
    5. Refrigerate for at least 3 hours before you serve to let the flavors mix together.
     

     

     

     

  • Cucumber and Onion Salad

    cucumber and onion saladThis is one of my favorite recipes of the summer! It is the perfect way to enjoy the fresh cucumbers that are abundant this time of year.  It is one of my dad’s favorites; he prepares it every summer. It has a sweet and tangy flavor like Tangy Pea and Macaroni Salad and Old-Fashioned Potato Salad. And did I mention…this recipe is super easy to make. So let’s get started.

    First you need 5 cucumbers.

    cucumbersNext peel the skins off of the cucumbers. 

    pealing cucumbersCut the cucumbers into thin slices. The thinner the slices the more of the flavor they will absorb while sitting in the dressing. 

    sliced cucumbersSlice your half of an onion and then cut each slice in half.

    sliced onionsMix your cucumbers and onions together in a bowl.

    cucumbers and onionsAdd the 1 1/2 cups of sugar to the bowl.

    cucumbers and sugarAdd the 3 tablespoons of vinegar.

    cucumbers and vinegarAdd 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 1/2 teaspoon of pepper.

    cucumbers and salt and pepperAdd just enough water to cover the cucumbers in the bowl.

    adding water

    Now mix everything until it is all combined.  Then put it in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours to let the flavors combine and absorb into the cucumbers. Now you have the perfect addition to your next meal or you have a delicious, refreshing snack.

    [yumprint-recipe id=’57’]