Ham and Cheese Macaroni Salad

 A COLLISION COURSE: HEAT WAVE EXPECTED  WITH RECORD-BREAKING TEMPS INTO THE 100'S STARTING TODAY, A DAY EARLIER THAN EXPECTED    

  
     AND BEGINNING OF SPRING ON MARCH 20TH  

Flowers, bushes, and cacti are just beginning to emerge 

I do declare it's time for a light meal with no oven needed. 

Ham and Cheese Macaroni Salad

Cook's Notes: An easy, simple salad to put together that's quite tasty and perfect for dinners and potlucks. You can easily double the ingredients and dressing for more servings. This recipe serves 6. It's an Ever Ready Special. Another suggested add in option: 1/2 cup diced red peppers. The dressing is the star of the salad.  For a vegetarian option, omit the ham. 

Salad Ingredients: 

• 2-1/2 cups dry small elbow macaroni
• 1 cup each of diced celery and mini yellow/orange peppers
• 1 ham steak (8 oz.) diced 
•  8 oz. of sharp cheddar cheese, cubed 
• 1/2 cup diced sweet onions
• 1 teaspoon each dill and parsley flakes
• 4 hard-boiled eggs, roughly chopped 
• 3/4 cup sweet frozen peas (no need to thaw) 

Directions:

• Prepare dressing and set aside.  
• Cook pasta al dente according to the manufacturer's instructions.
• Rinse and drain and set aside. 
• Dice ham and lightly brown in a fry pan. 
• To a large bowl, add ham and other ingredients, mix well.
• Toss with dressing (recipe below) and refrigerate for a few hours.

Dressing Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup mayonnaise or Miracle Whip
• 1/2 cup sour cream or yogurt
•  2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon poppy seeds
• 1/4 cup honey
• Salt to taste
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

Dressing Directions:

Mix well with a whisk.

 SPRING TREAT: Pastel M&M Cookies 

Note: this recipe does require an oven😀even if it's too hot in your area just hoping your AC works.

Cook's Notes: A kid-friendly crisp cookie, easy to bake and decorate. The recipe makes about 22 cookies.

Ingredients:

• 1-1/2 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup softened butter
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1-1/2 cups M &M's holiday colors (pastel), divided

Directions:

• In a bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
• Cream butter, sugars, egg, and vanilla in another bowl.
• Beat butter mixture into flour mixture.
• Fold in 1 cup M & M's.
• Refrigerate dough in freezer for 20 minutes for easier handling.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• Line 2 baking sheets with silicone pads or parchment paper.
• Roll dough into 2-inch balls for each cookie, and add a few M &M's to the top of the dough ball.
• Place on a baking sheet and bake 9 minutes. Let cool 3-5 minutes and transfer to a wire cookie rack to cool.