Mom’s Easy Macaroni Salad

Ingredients

• 2 cups dry macaroni pasta
• Salt
• 1/4 cup chopped spring onion or green onion
• 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice or vinegar
• 1 hard boiled egg, chopped
• 1 roasted red bell pepper, chopped
• 1 tablespoon fresh chopped parsley
• A generous amount of mayonnaise
• Several pinches of paprika
• Freshly ground black pepper to taste

Directions

1. Bring at least 2 quarts of well-salted water to a boil, using 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt for each quart of water. Add the pasta and cook it as directed on the package, stopping when it is al dente and still has a little bite. Take it off the heat, drain it, then rinse under cool water until the pasta is no longer warm.
2. As the macaroni cooks, place the chopped onions in a small bowl. Pour the lemon juice or vinegar over the top so the onions can mellow a bit while everything else comes together.
3. Transfer the cooked macaroni to a large serving bowl, then add the onions and the remaining ingredients. Stir until everything is evenly combined, then taste and adjust the seasonings as needed.