Tuna Macaroni Salad

Macaroni salad is a favorite in our family any time of the year and with the addition of a can of tuna, a side dish becomes a main dish. Tuna and macaroni are pantry staples in most homes so dinner can quickly and inexpensively be prepared with what is readily available. A wonderful plus with most salad recipes is that almost any ingredient can be substituted with whatever you have available. Keep it simple. The most important thing is the family gathering together for the evening meal at the end of a long day. Blessings...

Recipe:

1-1/2 cups elbow macaroni
3/4 cup mayonnaise, I use lite
2 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
1 tbsp. wet mustard
1 tbsp. sugar (if needed)
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. black pepper
1 cup sliced celery
1 cup chopped sweet green or red pepper
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
1 can (6 oz.) tuna, drained and flaked

1. Cook pasta according to package directions; drain and rinse under cold running water to cool.
2. In a large bowl combine the mayo, vinegar, mustard, sugar (if using), salt and pepper.
3. Add remaining ingredients and toss to coat. Cover and chill to blend flavors.

Yield: 6 cups
218 calories per cup if using lite mayo
2 gms. fiber

Low Calorie Italian Tuna Salad

A few years back when my husband wanted to lose some weight I went on a hunt for some new low calorie recipes to add to our menu. The weight loss took several months and he grew very tired of low calorie meals, but the effort paid off with the loss of about twenty-five pounds. My husband is a meat-and-potato guy, so this was very tough for him, but he really appreciated my efforts in the kitchen. It was fun and challenging to be as creative as possible to help him stay the course.

This recipe for Italian Tuna Salad is one of the recipes I tried. I made a few changes to better suit our likes. The salad dressing I use is lite, not fat-free, so my calorie count is a little higher than it would otherwise be. We still are enjoying this salad, after weight loss, during the hot summer months. The vegetables, hunks of white Albacore tuna and beans cause it to be a hearty and satisfying salad even when not looking to lose weight. Blessings...

Recipe: 

1 can (15 ounces) cannelini beans, rinsed and drained
1 cup chopped sweet red pepper
1 cup chopped green pepper
1/4 cup chopped onion, red or white
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/4 cup sliced green onions
1/2 cup sliced ripe olives
2 garlic cloves, minced (about 1 tbsp.)
2 tbsps. minced fresh parsley
1 cup lite Italian Salad Dressing
2 cans (5 ounces each) solid white Albacore tuna (about 2 cups meat)

Combine all ingredients in a large salad bowl; cover and refrigerate for at least an hour to blend flavors.

Yield: 6-1/2 cups
175 calories per cup
3.5 grams fiber per cup

In Praise of Soup and Sandwich Dinners

On a busy day, or at the end of the week, it is a blessing to cut dinner prep short and put soup and sandwiches on the table. This week was particularly busy and by last evening there were a few leftover items in the fridge that I could combine with a Tuna Melt Sandwich, and I knew all would be well because my hubby loves Tuna Melts.

I first encountered a Tuna Melt years ago in a restaurant in southern California when I was away at school. I never even thought about making them at home until I had a family and going out for a tuna sandwich was no longer in the budget. They are so good, easy to prepare and my family liked them, so they became a mainstay on our menu plan.

Here we are having them alongside what remained of the Pinto Bean Soup that my friend and I had for our lunch this week. This recipe is posted on 1/9/2010. We also finished up the Fresh Raspberry Pie that was posted on 6/18/2013. Have a wonderful weekend, and if it is a busy time, enjoy some soup and a sandwich for dinner. Blessings...

Recipe:

Canned tuna made with a bit of mayonnaise to moisten and bind it together.
Slices of medium Cheddar cheese
Slices of fresh tomato
Bread of choice

1. Spread the amount of tuna filling you wish on one slice of bread, top with slices of tomato and then top this with slices of cheese topped off with the second slice of bread.
2. Butter the top slice of bread and place in a frying pan or on a griddle, buttered side down. Butter the second slice of bread.
3. Cook over medium-low heat until bread is toasted to a golden brown. Flip over to brown second side. Sandwich is done when bread is beautifully toasted and cheese is melted. Yummy!