Macaroni, check. Celery, check. Artery clogging amounts of mayo, check. With the red onions, carrots and diced cucumbers playing in the bowl already so cheerfully, I thought I would add something new to my mixing bowl. Asian pears. They added a splash of juicy sweetness to the quickly becoming not-your-memaw's macaroni salad. With a delicate flavor and a hearty crunch, pears were the perfectly palatable solution for ho-hum macaroni salad. Pale yellow peppers native to the mediterranean were gutted and chopped small-and unlike a bell pepper they do not overwhelm with their aroma and flavor. Dill along with fresh pressed garlic made a zesty appearance and mingled with the mayo creating a stunning backdrop for the colorful collage of veggies- and now fruit. I thought about apples, but they create appleness in everything they are in. Hmmm, not ready for apple macaroni salad yet.
This is a new day for macaroni salad. It will no longer be the bowl that is neglected on the reunion table, whose only redeeming qualities include copious amounts of cubed ham or bacon bits. It shall with pride display a vast array of flavors and textures to delight even the most discriminating Grandma. Johnny still only eats pig-in-a-blankets and green beans. But, if you are ready to try something new, this is for you. Now nestled happily between industrial amounts of fried chicken and corn pudding, macaroni salad has earned its place in the most honored position on the table of gluttony. Fruits and veggies unite in harmony to elevate this humble salad to an elegant side for any occasion. I think they pair well together.
I may never try the recipe, but I loved reading about it! What great writing. :-)
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