Saturday, May 11, 2013

Tea Room Recipe #19 - Victorian Tea Room (Warm Springs, Ga.)

This week's recipe comes from a tea room I visited about 20 years ago, the Victorian Tea Room in Warm Springs, Ga. Warm Springs is best known as the home of "The Little White House," the place where President Franklin D. Roosevelt hoped to find a cure for his polio. Warm Springs today is a charming town filled with cute gift shops, restaurants and antique stores. Many years ago I ate in the tea room, although I remember it more for having "ladies who lunch" type fare than afternoon tea.

I had been trying to find a well-priced copy of this book (doesn't that sound better than "cheap"?) for years now, and I came across this one at What's in Store for just $4 recently! This book was published in 1991, and according to the introduction it features the most-requested recipes from the tea room at that time.

This recipe is called Tea Room Macaroni Salad, and having tried it I can see why it was a favorite. This is one of those contains-everything-but-the-kitchen-sink type recipes, and with all these great veggies and a bit of ham, I knew it was going to be quite tasty, and it was. I especially like that it is dressed with mayonnaise and Italian dressing.

Tea Room Macaroni Salad

1 pound small elbow macaroni (I used shells instead)
1/4 cup celery, chopped
1/4 cup onion, chopped
2 tablespoons bell pepper, chopped (I used a yellow bell pepper to vary the colors in the dish)
2 hardboiled eggs, chopped
1 small cucumber, diced
1/2 cup diced ham
1/4 cup sliced black olives
4 tablespoons sweet pickle relish
1 large tomato, diced
Salt and pepper to taste
1/4 cup Italian dressing
1 cup mayonnaise

Cook pasta according to package directions and drain. Toss with remaining ingredients and chill until serving time. This recipe says it serves 6-8, but I'd say 10-12 is more like it!

10 comments:

  1. This looks delicious. Love your blog.

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  2. Oh... I have this one too, and it's in exactly the same shape as yours! Unlike you, I haven't had the opportunity to enjoy tea/lunch here, alas.

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  3. This looks like a great recipe for a "ladies lunch". Thanks for sharing.

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  4. I like this recipe. I copied and pasted it. I will make it for my children.

    Cecilia


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  5. Looks tasty and would make a nice luncheon salad to serve.
    Happy Mother's Day Angela.
    Judith

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  6. I get so inspired and so hungry after reading your wonderful blog. I am saving this recipe. Thank you. Happy Weekend!

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  7. Reminds me of a childhood favorite!

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  8. I am always looking for a delicious pasta salad and this does sound quite good.

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  9. Hi Angela, this recipe looks great! I like how you include a photo - it makes it all seem possible. I have to catch up on my reading - we've been driving over to Statesboro lately (on the weekends), visiting Nick (Keith's been fixing Nick's car, etc...)
    Can you believe it? Nick just finished his 1st year at Georgia Southern. We're really proud of him - he's majoring in Environmental Engineering (his decision: he heard a news story on National Public Radio, that the Engineering field is expanding and that employment opportunities are good - I told him I wouldn't make it through the 1st class!)
    He made it through finals - he's been studying so much.

    I always think of you and Alex on the drive over to Statesboro - we pass a town called McRae! Have you heard of it? It's not too far from Dublin - I would love to stop and visit, but, Keith is on the 'Express, non-stop' tour! Hope you have a great week, Joanie

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  10. I made this salad for a potluck this evening. It is definitely a recipe worth keeping. Delicious! Thank you so much for posting it.

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