Macaroni Salad with a Twist

I was messin' around in my kitchen trying to put a twist on my traditional macaroni salad recipe. I tried several different dishes before I came up with this one. Now my friends and family can't get enough of it! I recommend making it a day ahead and chilling it overnight to really develop the flavors.

• Preparation Time: 20 mins
• Cooking Time: 8 mins
• Total Time: 28 mins
• Calories: 582 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 ½ teaspoons salt
• ⅔ cup white sugar
• ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
• ¼ cup distilled white vinegar
• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 2 stalks celery, chopped
• 1 (16 ounce) package small seashell pasta
• ¼ cup grated carrots
• 1 green bell pepper, seeded and chopped
• 1 pound diced cooked ham
• 2 ½ tablespoons prepared yellow mustard
• 1 large Vidalia or sweet onion, chopped

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta, and cook until al dente, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain pasta, but do not rinse. Let stand 5 minutes.

Step 2

To make the dressing, combine the mayonnaise, vinegar, sugar, mustard, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Set aside.

Step 3

Combine the onion, celery, bell pepper, carrots, and ham in a large bowl. Stir in the dressing. Add the pasta and toss gently to blend all ingredients. Chill at least 4 hours before serving.