July 7th is National Macaroni Day #NationalMacaroniDay and celebrating Holiday’s like today makes me miss my mom wore than usual. Like me my mom loved Pea Salad and Macaroni Salad. I wish she was here to share Macaroni Salad with me but she isn’t and there is no, sense in making it just for myself. If you like Macaroni Salad or Pea Salad would you like to come to dinner and I will make them for us?
if you want to know how Charlie would like to celebrate Macaroni Day he would choose Ghoulish or Sketti ie Spaghetti and Meat Sauce made with Hamburger Meat and Italian Sausage. David would want to make Homemade Cheeseburger Macaroni made with Hamburger Meat and no, not from Hamburger Helper homemade David would say. Would you like to join us for dinner and you can choose what we have from Macaroni or we can cook a recipe you like.
Each year, the nation gets its fix of the Pasta, Macaroni, as we celebrate National Macaroni Day on July 7th. Macaroni is a elbow-shaped Pasta that is a fan-favorite that it gets its own day of celebration. Did you know Macaroni is the most common form of Pasta in the U.S. So on National Macaroni Day, let’s all come together to show our love for the humble Macaroni.
The origins of Pasta, and Macaroni, are not very clear. Records indicate Pasta might have originated in China, instead of in Italy as is commonly believed. The word ‘Macaroni’ itself has had varied meanings to different people over time. The International Pasta Organization traced the word to the Greeks who had established the Colony of Neopolis (modern-day Naples).
They had appropriated a local dish made from Barley-Flour Pasta and Water called ‘Makaria.’ Cookbooks in the 14th or 15th Century contained the initial mentions of Macaroni-like dishes and how to make them, but these Noodles were much longer than the short Elbow Macaroni we now use. Recipes in later centuries catered to the tastes and palettes of the regions they came from, and all were slightly different variations of the Macaroni we know today.
As more of the world came into contact with various cultures, different types of Pasta were introduced to the Colonies. People began to fall in love with this doughy Noodle. The American Ambassador to France, Thomas Jefferson, first tasted Pasta in Naples, Italy. The American Ambassador even brought back a Pasta-making machine to the U.S., and this inspired him to design a machine of his own, one with instructions for preparing Pasta. The American love affair with Pasta continued to boom throughout the 19th Century.
HOW TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL MACARONI DAY
- Macaroni is a versatile ingredient that can be used in everything from Soups and Casseroles to hot dishes and Salads. Why not go wild experimenting with different recipes using Macaroni. You can make a Macaroni-crusted Lasagna, a Macaroni Pizza with the base being baked Mac and Cheese, or even Macaroni and Cream dessert. Whether you are a vegetarian or a meat-lover, there is a Macaroni recipe for everyone to try out.
- Macaroni is not just for eating. There are ways to play with Macaroni too! For those with kids (or those who are kids at heart), use Macaroni to make art and craft projects. You can dye the Pasta in different colors and string them into jewelry or glue them onto boxes for a DIY decoration project. Let the kids go wild creating their own fabulous works of art!
- Challenge friends and family to a friendly Macaroni-themed cook-off. The best Macaroni dish wins. You can take this one step further and create categories for the most inventive recipes.
FACTS ABOUT MACARONI
- Did you know you can have Macaroni for breakfast in Hong Kong? Where Macaroni is cooked with Mushrooms, Peas, Ham, Eggs, and Chicken Stock.
- Purists swear by Macaroni Shell Pasta as the best Pasta to pair with Cheese because it has a bigger surface area for the Cheese to hold on to compared to long Pasta.
- In the 1700s, fashionable men who wore expensive Italian clothes were called ‘macaronies,’ which is another word for ‘dandies’.
- The distinctive yellow feathered crest on the Macaroni Penguin’s head that resembles the hats worn by fashionable men from the 1700s inspired this Bird’s name.
- A study by the Animal Behavior Society showed City-dwelling Rats prefer Macaroni and Cheese above anything else.
WHY PEOPLE LOVE NATIONAL MACARONI DAY
- Macaroni Pasta has played a major role in our lives, appearing as comfort food, warming meals when we were sick, and as our kindergarten art. All Pasta is mouthwatering, but there is something special about this elbow-shaped Pasta that takes us straight back to our childhood and those fond memories.
- preparing store-bought Macaroni (and other Pasta) is extremely easy. Many Macaroni-based dishes can be cooked ahead and stored, making mealtimes much less stressful. Macaroni can also be used to stretch the quantity of food to feed more people.
- This Pasta goes with a lot of different cuisines and ingredients with absolutely no problem and makes the dish taste even better. On its own, Macaroni looks unassuming, but the right flavors turn a simple dish into a powerhouse. We love how this Pasta makes us feel like Master Chefs with very little effort.
Recipe for Maccaroni Salad
Ingredients
- For the Dressing
- 1⁄2 cup mayonnaise
- 1⁄4 cup sour cream
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1⁄2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1⁄8 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons sweet relish
- For the Macaroni Salad
- 2 cups dry elbow macaroni
- 1 cup celery, diced (about 2-3 stalks)
- 1⁄2 medium red onion, diced
- 1⁄2 red or green bell pepper, seeded and diced
- 1⁄2 cup grated carrot (about 1 medium carrot)
- 1⁄4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 2 hard-boiled eggs, chopped (optional)
Instructions
- Cook the pasta to al dente per the instructions on the package. Drain and rinse it under cold water, then set aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk the mayonnaise with the sour cream, cider vinegar, mustard, sugar, salt, pepper, and garlic powder until smooth. Add the sweet relish and stir until well blended.
- Add the cooled macaroni, celery, red onion, bell pepper, shredded carrot, parsley, and hard-boiled eggs, if using. Mix until everything is well-coated.
- Cover the bowl and place the macaroni salad in the fridge for at least 1 hour to allow flavors to meld.
- Stir the macaroni salad before serving and enjoy!
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
