99: Ensalada Mixta de Macarrones

Ingredients:

For the pasta:
1/2 pound elbow macarroni
6 cups water
1 Tablespoon salt
1 Tablespoon olive oil

For the dressing:
1/2 cup green olives, stuffed with pimentos, finely chopped
1/2 cup red bell pepper, finely chopped
1/4 cup white onion, finely chopped
1/4 cup radishes, finely chopped
1/4 pound ground sweet ham
1/2 pound Gouda
1/2 cup toasted almonds, crushed
4 hard boiled eggs, chopped
1 1/2 cups mayonnaise
2 Tablespoons white vinegar
2 Tablespoons mustard
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1. Boil the pasta in the water with salt and oil for 10 minutes.
2. When pasta is ready, run it under cold water and let cool.

3. While the pasta cools, chop the olives, bell pepper, white onion and radishes.

4. Chop the hard boiled eggs and add to the other chopped ingredients.

5. In a food processor, grind the ham and add the Gouda.

6. Toast almond slices over low to medium heat.

7. When the pasta has cooled, add all the chopped ingredients, along with the mayo, vinegar, mustard, salt and pepper (wet ingredients plus salt and pepper should be mixed in the food processor).

8. Mix well and serve cold.

Makes approximately 12 servings.