Macaroni Salad a la Monterrey

Avispones Football Team! They won the league championship!
Memo is featured here with some of his teammates and friends.
He was 7 years old.

In 1980, Jorge was offered a job in Monterrey, Mexico. The company Hylsamex owned by Alfa, does mining and steel manufacturing. My heart goes out to old friends in Monterrey, Mexico that are fighting for their lives now in the wake of drug cartels and gangland turf wars on the streets of Monterrey. When we lived there, it was considered the richest and most successful city in Mexico. I read today that the city is held hostage now by the drug wars!!! Alfa was one of the largest employers in the city. The company had a country club we attended, discounted restaurant and our own medical facilities. It was terrific for a young family!

While in Monterrey, we rented our first home in the Colonia del Valle. Most of the wealthier people lived there and many Americans. I taught English at a bilingual school and the kids attended the same school with me. We really enjoyed our time there. One of my neighbors, who was married to a doctor and the boys played with Memo but whose name I have now forgotten, invited us over for a picnic. She served this salad which I really enjoyed. 

Macaroni Salad a la Monterrey:



Liz, Yako and I at the football field. Liz was 2 years old.



1 package elbow noodles

1 medium onion - finely diced

1 jar pimento - drained and diced

4 stalks celery - in strips and then finely chopped

1/4 pickle type relish 

1/2 cut of finely chopped ham

2 cups mayonnaise - I use Hellman's or Best

1 tbsp salt

1 tsp pepper

Cook the elbow noodles in hot boiling water for about 10 minutes or until tender to the squeeze. Drain, rinse off with very cold water to stop the continued cooking. Set aside. In a large bowl add the onion, pimento, relish, celery, ham and mayonnaise. Mix thoroughly then add the cold noodles. Add salt and pepper at this time just to make sure that the mayonnaise and relish has enough flavor. Just like any pasta salad, it is important to let is sit covered in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours to allow the flavors to marinade and be absorbed by the pasta.

I ask to please remember to keep those in Monterrey in your prayers. Most of those living there have nothing to do with the violence....they are the innocent victims!