Saturday, August 1, 2015

Homemade Macaroni Salad #Recipe @Peg Cochran & #Giveaway

I love macaroni salad but I find the store bought kind to be way too sweet for my taste.  I found this recipe on the Food Network and fiddled around with it to suit our tastes. Actually now that I look at the original recipe I realize this bears little resemblance to the original!  But I can assure you it was very good.  You can put this in your back pocket and serve it for your Labor Day barbecue or picnic.


Ingredients
2 cups elbow macaroni, cooked
green pepper, chopped (quantity is up to you--about 1/2 a large green pepper)
diced celery and carrot (about 1/2 cup each)
1 (very) small red onion, chopped

Dressing
1/2 cup mayo
3/4 tsp dry mustard
1 1/2 teaspoons sugar (we used Splenda)
1 1/2 tablespoons cider vinegar
3 tablespoons sour cream
salt and pepper to taste


Chop your veggies--this is before I added the green pepper




 Mix dressing ingredients in a separate bowl




Add pasta to veggies, stir in dressing and enjoy!  Taste for seasoning--you may want more salt or pepper.

GIVEAWAY!


I am giving away one copy of Berried Secrets, first in my brand new Cranberry Cove series (debuting on August 4) to one lucky winner.  All you have to do to be entered is leave a comment below!




When Monica Albertson comes to Cranberry Cove—a charming town on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan—to help her half-brother Jeff on his cranberry farm, the last thing she expects to harvest is a dead body.

It seems that Sam Culbert, who ran the farm while Jeff was deployed overseas, had some juicy secrets that soon prove fatal, and Jeff is ripe for the picking as a prime suspect. Forming an uneasy alliance with her high-maintenance stepmother, Monica has her hands full trying to save the farm while searching for a killer. Culbert made plenty of enemies in the quaint small town…but which one was desperate enough to kill?




You can catch up with me on Facebook and sign up for my newsletter on my web site.  You'll also find a sneak peek at the first chapter of Berried Secrets there under News & Events!




72 comments:

  1. The book and the recipe sound wonderful! I will try this salad soon. Thanks for the chance!
    angelhwk68@yahoo.com

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  2. The series sounds delightful. And the salad may be just what I need for my book group potluck.

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  3. Great sounding recipe! Gonna have to try it one day!
    Thanks for sharing it and for a chance to win this book, it looks like a great read!
    mtrver@gmail.com

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  4. If this series is even half as good as the Allergic to Death series, I cannot wait to read it & winning it would make it even better!

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    1. Forgot my email fullerjr43@gmail.com

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  5. Delicious...recipe and a book? I always like getting into a series with the introduction of Book 1...I love the title, too! kat8762@aol.com

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  6. The Macaroni Salad looks yummy! Thank you for sharing the recipe and giveaway.
    myrifraf(at)gmail(dot)com

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  7. One look at that macaroni salad and I knew I had to make it. Thanks for the giveaway, too. sssusieq@hotmail.com

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  8. The macaroni salad looks delicious. Thank you for sharing the recipe and for this giveaway.
    peggyhyndman(at)att(dot)net

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  9. The macaroni salad sounds delicious especially since I also don't like things really sweet. I'm looking forward to your new series and can't wait to read Berried Secrets. Thanks for the giveaway. poohwine1217@gmail.com

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  10. The recipe looks great, it's pretty close to my mom's recipe. I can't wait to read this book. Thank you for the chance
    Moonbay7399@gmail.com

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  11. Will have to try this, very close to my grandmother's recipe but I never thought of adding the dry mustard and sour cream - that would definitely give it a kick. I do add sliced green olives to mine.
    Love cozy mysteries, cranberries and the Michigan coast so I'm looking forward to reading the book.

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  12. Love macaroni salad, cranberries and mysteries. Thanks for the giveaway.
    fsumom99@aol.com

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  13. I really like macaroni salads too! I won't be home for a week so I have to wait to make it. Thanks for the recipe and the chance to win a fun book!

    ElaineE246 at msn dot com

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  14. Love macaroni salad!!! Thanks for the new recipe and the chance to try to win the giveaway! My husband and I are going out East this fall, and cranberry bogs are on my list; they are so beautiful to look at! Again thanks for trying to win the.hopegrubka@att.net

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  15. Thanks for the new series and the opportunity to win! And for the recipe; big party coming up in 3 weeks! email address through my website.

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  16. Thanks for the giveaway and the chance to win. The book and the recipe both sound really good. mbrown0813@wowway.com

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  17. Yum! This sounds like a must-try recipe to try along with your must-read new book!! bskts4unme@hotmail.com

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  18. A yummy recipe to try and more books to read! Perfect combo; thanks for the opportunity!

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  19. Wow- that sounds delicious! I've been looking for a new pasta salad recipe so I'll definitely give this one a try. And with a broken ankle, I've got time to check out new books, so I'll look that up. I'd love to win a copy :-)
    Jenn (speedogirl21@yahoo.com)

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  20. Thanks! I've never found a store-bought macaroni salad that tastes good. Congratulations on the new series!

    patucker54 (at aol dot com)

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  21. Would love to read!
    Mjdownfam@comcast.net

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  22. I like that it is colorful. There is nothing like a bland, colorless salad at a picnic.
    this one looks inviting. lkish77123 at gmail dot com

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  23. Would love a chance to win Berried Secrets, love your mysteries & I'm always looking for new ones to read. Thanks for you generous Giveaways. Linda May

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  24. The macaroni salad looks fantastic. I am looking forward to making I. Thank you for your giveaway. Thank you for your recipe.ci

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  25. Sorry , forgot my address.
    Iamshortanote@yahoo.com

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  26. The recipe sounds great. I love that you used Splenda and red onion.I have almost everything to make it this week-end. I can't wait to read the book and love the cover. The cat reminds me of the first stray that adopted me! Thanks for the giveaway.
    MarshaMysteryreader@yahoo.com

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  27. Sounds good. Looking forward to reading your new book. Thanks for the chance.

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    1. Oops forgot my email. drdotoldsmobileaticlouddotcom

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  28. The macaroni salad looks good. I don't do well on those kinds of salad but maybe I can make this one. Would really love to win book. Reading and cranberries together - awesome
    bobntoni@aol.com

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  29. Looking forward to reading this new series📖 cebogert@gmail.com

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  30. I'd love to win Berried Secrets. Another great vegetable macaroni salad to use the fresh veggies from the garden.

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  31. Food and story sounds great!! Thanks for the chance to win a copy!
    jawdance@yahoo.com

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  32. So many good books coming out this month, this will break my book budget, but that's a good thing. Thanks for the giveaway.

    Good recipe, will have to try it. I use Miracle Whip instead of mayo in my macaroni salad, gives it a little more tang.

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  33. Your recipe for macaroni salad is very similar to my potato salad recipe except I don't use vinegar and do add a little sugar and paprika. Would love to get your new book. Have a great day :)

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  34. Not a big fan of mac salad, but may have to try this one. And like Grandma Cootie I would have to use Miracle Whip, cant stand mayo. Also have to say, Berried Secrets is a fabulous start to what has to be a wonderful new series. Can not wait for the next one!! I am sure whoever wins it will love it as much as I do!

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  35. This recipe looks delicious, and I just might give it a try. I can't wait for the book to be out. I'm so looking forward to reading it. rencw@verizon.net

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  36. This recipe sounds so good. Eager to try it. Eager to read your latest, and it's a new series!

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  37. I'll have to try that recipe minus the sugar and substituting no-fat Greek yogurt for the sour cream. Thanks for the ideas---and the contest.
    suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com

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  38. Nice recipe, Peg! I've ordered your book. Can't wait for it to arrive!

    Hugs
    ~Daryl

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  39. I am looking forward to your new series!!!! Thank you.
    ejbs3s@yahoo.com

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  40. I am looking forward to reading Berried Secrets.recipe sound wonderful!

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  41. Berried Secrets is a book that I know I must get. Having lived in Massachusetts "cranberry country" for most of my adult life, I have grown to love cranberries more than I even thought I could. I stock up each fall and try to make sure to have enough to make my favorite recipes until the new crop is available the next fall. So being a cozy mystery fan AND a cranberry fan, means that this is a series that I am sure that I will enjoy. And we all know how great Peg writes too, so it is a winning combination. I would love to be included in this drawing please. Will you be sharing cranberry recipes anytime soon Peg?? One of my favorite recipes to make for family for Christmas is Cranberry fudge. The tart and sweet is a perfect adult treat. Again, I cannot tell you how much I am looking forward to reading this book. Thank you. Cynthia

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  42. Your macaroni salad sounds great! I love that it is so colorful! I am definitely going to try this out! Thanks for the chance to win your book! I am definitely looking forward to reading this one! I love a new series and this is on my to be read list at the top!
    edtercross7304@yahoo.com

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  43. The book sounds great. I don't eat macaroni/potato/chicken/egg etc. salad. I don't like mayo.

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  44. Please make my day - I'd love to win this book (sounds like a great new series!)

    rebarger@bellsouth.net

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  45. Looking forward to reading Berried Secrets. I will share the recipe with my mother. Her and my father will love it. Thank you for a chance to win and have a great book release day! Doodlesink@hotmail.com

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  46. Never thought about sour cream in macaroni salad. Thanks for tecipe. Excited to read the new series.
    Bettyjo.english@gmail.com

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  47. Never thought about sour cream in macaroni salad. Thanks for tecipe. Excited to read the new series.
    Bettyjo.english@gmail.com

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  48. Never thought about sour cream in macaroni salad. Thanks for tecipe. Excited to read the new series.
    Bettyjo.english@gmail.com

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  49. Cover makes me think - and giggle - about the Ocean Spray commercial with the 2 guys standing in a cranberry bog!
    Congrats on the new series. It sounds like a BIG winner.
    kpbarnett1941[at]aol.com

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  50. I'm making this salad tomorrow. Looks yummy. Would love to win your new book.
    A big fan
    Gabi Eagon

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  51. I like the idea of cranberry cove and introducing people to the world of cranberry bogs. I'll be reading as soon as you write them!

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  52. Sounds like a fun read. I wonder what would be good instead of carrots. I just don't like them lately.

    pmettert@yahoo.com

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  53. What a delightful book. Love the recipe for summer. Thanks. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  54. Both the recipe and the book look good! tfitzh20@gmail.com

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  55. The book sounds a treat! Thanks for the opportunity.
    stitchkat(at)gmail(dot)com

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  56. Most definitely will try the recipe as we agree store bought macaroni salads tend to be too sweet. Would love to win the book as well! Thanks!
    djmeyer44@hotmail.com

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  57. I would like to read Berried Secrets. Thank you! jr_dj_gantt@juno.com

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  58. Glad I stopped by, I missed Iced to Death, will add it to my wish list now.

    acm05atjuno.com

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  59. I'm not a huge fan of macaroni salad, but this looks delicious.

    llcejka at gmail dot com

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  60. Recipe looks great! Thanks for the chance to win. stclairck@gmail.com

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  61. Looks like a fun new series.
    dotkel50@comcast.net

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  62. I have been wanting to read this book. I'd love a chance to win it!
    bpwoodfield@gmail.com

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  63. I would love to read Berried Secrets!!!
    Lisa
    hseaside5@aim.com

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  64. That series looks really fun! Awesome recipe, too!

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  65. Originally from Boston, spent a lot of time in Plymouth, would LOVE to check out a series based around cranberries. Congrats on the release! dm_richards(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  66. smartnewyorker2000@yahoo.com, I'd love to start a new series!

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  67. Would love to win Berried Secrets. Thanks for the chance.
    elainehroberson@gmail.com

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