Tomato Cucumber Macaroni Salad Recipes

Steps:

• Cook rotini as directed on package to al dante; Drain and run pasta under cold water.
• Drizzle italian dressing over pasta, mixing slowly so as not to break apart the pasta pieces. Add in tomatoes, black olives, cucumber, and 5 tablespoons of the feta cheese. Continue mixing ingredients until well-coated.
• Sprinkle remaining feta cheese over pasta mixture and top with almonds. (Instead of almonds I've used Melissa's Salad Sprinkles. This could not be located in RecipeZaar as a recognized ingredient but I wanted to record it in the directions as another option for a salad topper.).
• NOTE: If you don't care for feta cheese, try using Parmesan cheese instead. It tastes just as good and gives the salad a somewhat different flavor. Use only four to five tablespoons instead and mix in as given above.

Steps:

• Cook macaroni, according to package directions.
• Drain. Rinse with cold water.
• Mix all ingredients together.
• Chill 30 minutes.

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine ALL ingredients; toss to coat (adding more mayo and/or salad dressing to taste).
• Cover; refrigerate overnight to blend flavors.
• Stir before serving.
• Note: If you don't want to include the cooked hard-boiled eggs in the salad, I sometimes cook up 6-7 (or how many you desire), and just cut them into four pieces, and just lay them on top evenly around a large bowl with the pasta salad, so people have the option of having them or not-- and it makes for a nice presentaion-- if you are adding them into the salad, then 2-3 chopped should be enough.

Steps:

• For watermelon gazpacho, in a blender or food processor add coarsely chopped watermelon, 2 tomatoes, the bell pepper, the whites of green onions, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, 1 teaspoon lime zest, the lime juice, mint, honey, and crushed red pepper. Cover and blend or process until nearly smooth. Transfer to a large bowl. Chill, covered, 2 to 4 hours. Rinse blender or food processor.
• For cucumber soup, finely chop 1/4 of the cucumber and coarsely chop remaining portion. Add coarsely chopped cucumber, garlic, parsley, green onion tops, and remaining lemon juice to blender or food processor. Cover and blend or process until nearly smooth. Transfer to large bowl. Stir in broth, sour cream, salt, and pepper. Chill, covered, 2 to 4 hours.
• For tomato topper, chop remaining tomato into 1/2-inch pieces and add to small bowl. Stir in reserved finely chopped watermelon, finely chopped cucumber, and remaining lime zest. Chill, covered, until ready to serve.
• To serve, ladle about 1 cup watermelon gazpacho into each bowl. Top each serving with about 1/2 cup cucumber soup and swirl slightly. Top with tomato topper and , if you like, additional black pepper and mint.