Hawaiin Macaroni salad

 There used to be a restaurant in Los Angeles which used to serve Hawaiian food. One of the side dishes was a macaroni salad which was a bit sweet. I used to like it. Its been so long time ago that we had it. Finally I made it the other day, to go with my store bough coconut shrimp and yum...dinner was ready in no time

Hawaiian Macaroni salad

Hawaiian Macaroni salad

Ingredients:

1. 3 cups macaroni cooked according to package directions in salted water
2. 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
3. 1 medium carrot chopped or shredded
4. 1/4 cup each of onion finely chopped, milk, mayonnaise, sweet relish
5.  1-2 teaspoon sugar
6. fresh ground black pepper
7. chopped green onions

• Mix all the ingredients together to form nice smooth consistency. Add the over the paste and mix well. Give it a taste test and add bit more sugar and/or salt according to taste. Chill in the fridge for 1 hr to let the ingredients mix well together and serve as a side dish

Alphabet Stew

 I used to get the "Alphabet Pasta" when the kids were little. It was fun asking them to find a specific alphabet in their food when they used to eat it. Then they became older and I stopped brining this pasta. The other day I found it in the super market and I got nostalgic and some a pack. :)

Alphabet Stew

Alphabet Stew with vegetables

Alphabet stew and chops

Ingredients:

1. 1 packet alphabet pasta or about 1.5 cups
2. 3.5 cups of chicken broth
3. salt and pepper to taste
4. 1 teaspoon finely chopped garlic
5. 1/2 cup each of chopped onions, frozen spinach thawed, small cubed carrots, frozen green peas thawed, chopped bell pepper of your fav color
6. 1/2 tablespoon each of butter, olive oil (or use 1 tablespoon of either butter or olive oil and skip the other)

In a pan heat the oil and butter and seat the onions for 3 minutes. Add the garlic and stir well. Add the pasta and stir for 2 minutes. Add hot broth cover and cook on medium high for 6 minutes (My pasta had a cook time of 11 minutes). Add all the vegetables and stir and cover and simmer for 5 more minutes. Taste test for salt and adjust it and add pepper and serve with your favorite meat . I served it when beef chops. Enjoy on a cold evening.