Nothing is better in the summer heat than a cool salad. There are so many different kinds, it’s hard to choose. I love pasta salads and this Ham & Mac is one of my favorites. I’ve found that you can use most any kind of cheese you prefer in it. My favorite is either cheddar or mozarella. You can also use regular mustard if you don’t have dijon. I just love the taste of dijon mustard, so I use that.

Ham & Mac Salad

• 1/2 lb ham, diced in 1/2″ cubes
• 1/2 cup cheese, cheddar or mozarella, diced
• 2 cups cooked elbow macaroni*
• 1 cup celery, chopped
• 1/2 cup onion, chopped
• 1/2 cup dill pickle, chopped
• 1/2 cup mayonniase
• 2 tsp dijon mustard

* Use 1 cup uncooked elbow macaroni to make 2 cups cooked.

Cook the macaroni. Mix the mayonnaise and dijon mustard together well in a small bowl and set aside. Prep the other ingredients- cheese, celery, onion, and dill pickle and mix together. Add the macaroni to the chopped mixture. Then add the dressing mixture and stir well. Refrigerate.

This salad tastes great right after putting it together, but refrigerating it for a few hours maximizes those flavors.