Lala's Macaroni Salad

Ingredients:

• 1 pound elbow or ditalini pasta
• 1 1/4 cups of mayonnaise
• 1/3 cup red wine vinegar
• 1/8 cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon onion powder
• 1 tablespoon dried basil
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• Salt & Pepper to taste
• 2-3 plum tomatoes seeded & diced
• 1-2 celery stalks diced
• 1/2 red onion finely diced
• 1/2 orange bell pepper diced
• 3/4 English cucumber seeded & diced

Directions:

• Cook the pasta two minutes less than package directions
• In a large bowl whisk together the mayo, vinegar & all the dried herbs
• Add all the veggies to the large bowl with the wet ingredients 
• Drain the pasta and let cool to room temperature before adding to the bowl

Shrimp & Orzo Salad

Ingredients

3/4 lb shrimp, shelled and deviened

3 tablespoons EVOO, plus 1/3 cup more

1 garlic clove, minced, plus one more

S&P to taste

1 lb tri color orzo pasta

4 tablespoons red wine vinegar

1/2 red onion, finely diced

1 pint cherry tomatoes, sliced on a bias

1/4 cup fresh basil, chiffonade

3 oz crumbled feta cheese

S&P to taste

Directions

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.

Season the shrimp with 3 tablespoons of EVOO, 1 garlic clove, minced and S&P. Place on a sheet in a single layer and cook for 7 minutes. Set aside to cool.

At the same time cook orzo to package directions.

Whisk together 1/3 cup EVOO, red wine vinegar, minced garlic and S&P to taste. Then add the red onion, tomatoes, feta cheese, cooled orzo and shrimp.

Super Simple Speedy Orzo Salad

Ingredients

1 lb orzo pasta

5 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

3 tablespoons red wine vinegar

1/4 cup minced red onion

1 cup grape tomatoes cut in halves

3 oz feta cheese cubed

1/4 cup fresh basil chiffonade (that just means cut into ribbons)

S&P to taste

Directions

Cook pasta to package directions - drain, cool with cold running water and transfer to a large bowl. Combine all other ingredients...yes that's it!