![\"Quantcast\"/](\"//pixel.quantserve.com/pixel/p-4b9_74YSZoHNM.gif\")
For some reason I’ve been having a really hard time transitioning to more “warm weather” recipes this year. Life has just been so busy that I’ve found it really difficult to be creative in coming up with things to make. Chicken soup and pot pie during June when it’s 100 degrees outside just isn’t all that appetizing. 🙂
When I saw all of these Kraft coupons roll out on the Walmart website recently one of them reminded me of a recipe that I used to make years ago. It’s called Family Reunion Macaroni Salad and I originally got it out of one of the Kraft Food & Family magazines. About three or four years ago Kraft used to send the magazine out for free (they charge for it now) and it was one of my favorite go-to resources for finding new recipes. I loved how simple most of them were and that they were made with ingredients that I didn’t have to search all over the place for.
It was the $1 off Kraft Miracle Whip or Mayonnaise coupon that reminded me of the Family Reunion Macaroni Salad recipe. I’ve always been more of a Miracle Whip kind of girl (I like the tang) and this recipe has just the right amount of it!
I headed out to Walmart the other day to pick up the ingredients to make the salad and as you can see it was a pretty gloomy day! Good thing I remembered to bring my umbrella because it was also pretty busy so I had to park in the back of the lot.
It had been a little while since I had last visited this particular Walmart, but I didn’t have much trouble locating my first ingredient: Miracle Whip! There were quite a few sizes and types of bottles to choose form so I had to take a moment to find one that would meet the minimum size requirements for the coupon (22oz).
After getting my Miracle Whip in the cart I swooped in to pick of the other salad ingredients and was on my way to the check-out stand after taking a look at some of their colorful 4th of July tops. I also resisted the urge to buy some of the pretty spring flowers, so I’m pretty sure that qualifies me for a gold star. 😉 Make sure to check out my Google+ album for a play by play of this shopping trip!
Have you had a hard time transitioning to warm weather food this year? What are some of your favorite summer meals?
Tonia@thegunnysack says
That sounds like a delicious recipe and I love that you saved money on your purchase!
Hazel says
ooooohhhh … just found this link that tackles the issue of the brown spots, yay! Plus, they had an extra step that the recipe I used didn’t have. Might just be a play with eggs weekend because I sure do love debilled eggs! Yeah, debilled!
https://unsophisticook.com/hard-boiled-eggs/
Leah Frank says
Hazel:
Thank you so much for the wonderful suggestions and the idea of baking them. I love this and have already printed the link you provided. I cannot wait to try this. I am assuming there is no issue with baking them at altitude. I always laugh when I watch cooking shows that say put your potatoes in 1/2 hour before your meal. It is always one hour in Colorado. I usually do mine in the microwave in the summer because I don’t want to heat up the house. They don’t taste the same but saves heating up house. However, I will definitely do the eggs and bake them first thing in the a.m. Thanks again!
Leah Frank says
Yes it is a challenge but this recipe looks really good I can’t wait to try it. Today I found that Annie’s makes a gluten free Deluxe Mac and Cheese. When I checked online this product got positive comments. I used my coupons to purchase the ready made hard boiled eggs at Walmart. Thanks for posting that coupon because I hate trying to peal hard cooked eggs. Half of my egg stays in the shell. I purchased the rest of the veggies at Sprouts. They are having some great prices on produce. I plan to chop in a hand chopper and slightly microwave until tender. I will let you know how it turns out.
Hazel says
eek, Leah … that sounds like such a challenge, I hope it helps cure what ails you.
Have you tried adding salt to the water? My mumzie always put about a teaspoon of salt in the water and it will help with the peeling. I can honestly say I’m not sure if it works or not, but I psych myself into thinking it does so therefore, it does, haha.
Plus – the fresher the egg, the harder it is to peel.
I also tried something I saw on Facebook which is baking eggs. I tried it with one egg (in a mini muffin tin so they don’t run away) and it worked dandily – except for a brown spot. Then I tried a dozen and didn’t cook them long enough so finished them by boiling. It’s something a person needs to play with to get the right time down and I haven’t tried it again so I have no clue.
The baked eggs seemed easier to peel although not as pretty to look at with that goofy brown spot. Seems like each egg had one brown spot. I really liked the concept tho, no playing around with pots and water – just plop the eggs on the muffin tin throw them in the oven.
Leah Frank says
I am really having a hard time transitioning to summer time foods. My Drs. have restricted my diet to no uncooked vegetables and low gluten. I love salads but am not allowed to them which makes it difficult to come up with summer time recipes. Thanks for the great article. I am going to try and modify your recipe to fit my diet. I also love Miracle Whip. I grew up on it and never had regular mayo. because my Mom always bought Miracle Whip. I have now had both and still love Miracle Whip. My favorite summer time recipe was my Mom’s potato salad. Since her passing I have tried to replicate it but still can’t get it just right.
Jennie says
Wow Leah. That is quite the restrictive diet! You’ll have to let me know if you’re able to turn it into something you can have…I so hope you’re able to!
Hazel says
It’s a family tradition to have Strawberry Shortcake as dinner once a year during strawberry season. No, there’s no dessert served after that dinner. That’s a bummer because I’ve always felt Prime Rib would be a great dessert for that meal.
I hear ya on the not wanting the warm foods. I even blew off the Chef Boy-Argh-Dee Q on ibotta. For me to blow by potential Beef-A-Roni is dangy dern near unheard of!
Jennie says
Hahaha! Love that! 🙂