Mexican Pasta Salad Recipe

I have been seriously busy for the last few days.  The shelter is having a picnic and they asked me if I could make them some salads.  The hold these picnics occasionally in the park nearby.  The grill hamburgers and hot dogs and anyone in the area can come and eat for free. It's a very poor area of the city so lots of people come to get a free meal.


 I turned 10 heads of cabbage into slaw.

 I used all of my biggest pots.

 I made potato salad with 50 pounds of potatoes.  It took forever to dice the potatoes and I actually got a blister cubing them.

 I made macaroni salad using 10 pounds of dry elbow macaroni. All of these recipes are on my sidebar.

 Then I made up this recipe and I think it is the best of the bunch.  Mexican pasta salad. For a normal serving, boil 1 box of tri-colored pasta.  Add 1 diced onion, 2 diced tomatoes, 3 stalks of celery diced, 2 cups of corn, 1/2 cup of sliced black olives, 1/2 cup of sliced green olives, 1 small can of diced green chilies, 1 can of black beans and 1 cup of diced cheddar cheese.  Add salt and pepper to taste, 2 tsp. ground cumin and 2 tsp. of chili powder.  Zest 1 lime and juice it over the pasta.  Add 1/2 cup of mayonnaise and 1/2 cup of sour cream.  Add a bunch of chopped cilantro.

 Mix it all together and chill before serving. You could also add diced avocado or even some chopped lettuce to it.  If you don't keep cumin or chili powder in your spice cabinet, buy a package of taco seasoning and use some of that.

Comments

brokenteepee said…
I am sure it was an excellent picnic!
I have to make this! Thanks :)
Guillaume said…
I never thought there was such a thing as Mexican pasta. The things we learn following blogs.
jody said…
Oh wow! Thats alot of yummy salads! Soo nice of u to do.. Im sure that the word is out and lots more will show up because of your great cooking! Hope the weather is a bit cooler for you too. I sure havent been in the garden as much as in the past.. A bit wild! I do like the wild look tho.. Enjoy the rest of the day and thanx for being such a dedicated follower! I love hearing from you!!
Craig said…
My goodness that looks like a lot of work, but a great cause! The Mexican pasta salad looks wonderful.
Anonymous said…
oh my gosh Joyce, you are going to wear yourself out, beautiful salad, I'm making the Mexican one for sure that's really yummy sounding
Dee said…
The shelter is so lucky to have you. You are surely a saint!
TARYTERRE said…
Those salads all sound scrumptious. Bet everyone was doing a happy dance.
Sunnybrook Farm said…
As usual you have made some wonderful food and made me hungry again. You worked extra hard on this one!
Nellie said…
Oh, my! What wonderful contributions to the picnic!
Velva said…
Cheers to you!!! Your spread of picnics salads no doubt were a hit.

Velva
Barb said…
That pasta salad looks wonderful! You are doing wonderful cooking for the shelter.
Ooooo, that's a lotta slaw.
Anonymous said…
Must remember this next time I make a salad!

Have a great day!
Christer.
Mary Ann said…
My gosh, what an effort! I pinned this to my food board so I won't forget it!
Tournesol said…
Oh wow! That Mexican salad looks amazing, cant wait to try it. Ive never been disappointed with one of your recipes : )
Yep..the Mexican salad had me just from the photo..the ingredients is fantastic. Gotta try this for our party this Saturday!!
chickpea678 said…
Yum Mexican salad sounds delicious and good for you too! Can't believe you cubed 50 lbs of potatoes.
luckybunny said…
I cannot imagine dicing 50 pounds of potatoes. I have some sacks in my basement and can imagine the work that goes into that. Bless you for doing it, amazing. Going to try the pasta salad, sounds great.