Homestyle Macaroni Salad

Macaroni Salad was one of my grandmother's favorite dishes. This dish brings back wonderful memories.

INGREDIENTS

1 pound cavatappi or macaroni pasta

4 hard-cooked eggs, chopped

1 cup chopped celery

1/3 cup finely chopped red bell pepper

1 tablespoon minced jalapeño, optional

1/3 cup chopped red onion

1/2 cup buttermilk

1/2 cup mayonnaise

2-1/2 tablespoons cider vinegar

3 tablespoons snipped fresh chives

1-1/4 teaspoons salt

1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

DIRECTIONS

1. Cook pasta according to package directions. Transfer to colander and rinse under cold water; drain.

2. Meanwhile, combine remaining ingredients in a large bowl until well blended. Add cooled pasta and toss to coat. Makes fourteen 1-cup servings.

Make-Ahead Tip: Cover salad and refrigerate up to 24 hours. Let stand at room temperature 30 minutes before serving.

Nutrition facts per serving: calories: 210 total fat: 8.5g saturated fat: 1.5g cholesterol: 66mg sodium: 289mg carbohydrate: 26g fiber: 1g protein: 6g calcium: 3%