Deli-style Elbow Pasta Salad

A quick pasta salad to accompany hot dogs

This is a classic “deli” style macaroni salad perfect as a side dish for grilling hot dogs and hamburgers. I used Mueller’s elbows, on sale 2-for-1, and cooked up both boxes. We reserved a bowlful of pasta for our four-year-old but otherwise this is two pounds of elbows.

Ingredients

• 2 lbs elbows, Mueller’s brand

• 1 cucumber

• 2 carrots

• 6 pickle slices

• 1/2 red onion

• Handful of capers

Dressing

• 4 tablespoons Mayo

• Juice from half a lemon

• 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

• 2 dashes hot sauce

• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

• 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

• Pinch of sugar

• Pinch of salt

• Olive oil

(These amounts are estimates using a spoon from the flatware drawer)

Instructions

• Begin boiling the water

• Slice the cucumber in half and remove the seeds with a spoon

• Finely dice the cucumber, carrot, onion and pickles

• Toss together with capers

• Prepare dressing by combining the ingredients and beating together

• Cook pasta until al dente

• Combine hot pasta with vegetables and dressing

• Stir and serve