Recipe: Summer Salad

We have a lot of family barbecues over the summer months, as I'm sure most families do. It's a nice way to get all the family members gathered together at one time (free food always entices the kids home again). As it's usually my job to prepare the salads, while hubby cooks the steaks and smokies (bratwurst sausages), I've been trying to find new recipes to entice my family with.

I'd often thought of making a noodle salad, to go along with the usual leaf (or garden) and potato salads, but had never come across a recipe of one that I particularly enjoyed or cared to duplicate. Until, lo and behold, I finally found the perfect noodle salad that my family and I really liked.

After making it once, it is now a must on the barbecue menu. In fact, every time there is a family barbecue, both my sons-in-law ask if there will be noodle salad. Of course, to make sure that they'll be here, I promptly get to cooking. I'm pleased to say that they always take 2nd helpings.

I once asked one of my sons-in-law if he wasn't getting tired of the same salad, to which his reply was "I'll never get tired of it." So, it has become a staple at every family meal. Your families might enjoy this as well, so I hope you give it a try.

Directions:

Cook colored, spiral noodles as per usual. The colored noodles especially add texture and a nice splash of color to the table. The amount you cook depends entirely on how many servings (and/or sizes of servings) that you will need. (*Be sure not to overcook the noodles).

Once the spiral noodles are cooked and well drained, add a little margarine or butter so that the noodles do not stick together. Then either let stand or refrigerate until cool.

In the meantime, dice a 1/2 pound of marble cheese into small, bite-size cubes.
Dice approximately a 1/2 to 1 cup of fresh garden chives or green onions.

When the noodles have cooled sufficiently, add the cheese and chives and then blend in enough mayonnaise to taste. (*The noodles must be cooled in order that the cheese cubes will not melt in the salad.)

It is quick and very simple to make, and will be sure to please the entire family. It's also an excellent way to stretch any meal a little further, especially if you have guests.

Enjoy!