The best mom-style macaroni salad in the world. Because it's my mom's. Give it a try, or spin it using your favorite ingredients.
I never measure when I make this. The whole idea is to make enough dressing goo to coat all the pasta pretty liberally. By the next day, most of it will have soaked in, leaving the pasta somewhat dry. If you don't like it that way, make a Very Lot of dressing goo. If you like your macaroni on the dry-ish side, make Just Enough. Whatever that means is up to you.
I will give you amounts to start with, and from there you can add more or less as your taste dictates. Enjoy!
3TablespoonsvinegarI like apple cider vinegar for this
1teaspooncelery seed
1Tablespoonsugar or honey(optional)
For the Macaroni
1poundmacaroni--shells or elbows. You can use Special Shapes, but I stay with the basic Loved Since Childhood shapes for this one
1cupmedium onion, diced (as much or as little as you like)
2ribscelery, small dice (ditto)
½cupdill pickles, all cut up into wee cubes. Or just use relish. (double ditto)
12ozcanned tunadrained and pressed
½cupcheddar cheese cut into 1/4" cubes(I also used some pepper jack, because it said it wanted to join the party. Who was I to say no)? (triple ditto)
Instructions
For the Dressing
Mix equal parts mayonnaise and sour cream.
Add in enough mustard so that the whole deal is decidedly yellow-ish.
Season with salt and pepper, and add enough vinegar to make it the consistency of thick-ish ranch dressing.
Add about 1/2-1 tsp celery seed (depending on how much you like it. Remember, you can use whatever you want). Stir and stir, and taste.
You might need to add a squirt of honey or other sweetener if it's tasting a little too Pointy to you. I like it pointy, so I skip the sweetener.
When I was done, I probably had about 2 cups of dressing. Make more or less, depending upon how gooey you like your macaroni. Oh, yeah--if you want, you can add some grated Parmesan to your dressing. I didn't this time (and I didn't miss it), but I've done that before, and it is Very Good.
For the Macaroni
Cook the macaroni until it is done to your liking, and drain well.
Put the macaroni into a big old bowl, and stir in the dressing. Yes, while the macaroni is still hot, so it will soak in.
Then, stir in the onion, celery, pickles and tuna until it is all nicely Mixed Up. I do this one ingredient at a time, just to give the macaroni time to cool off some before adding the cheese.
Add the cheese cubes last.
Refrigerate until cold.
Put in your face.
Mom used to put in shredded carrot, and you can if you want. I don't. You can leave out the tuna, or substitute chicken, if you want. You can also add in chopped herbs if you feel called to do so.