Ham Pasta Salad

This salad was an easy main dish meal that I was able to make earlier in the day when things were not too crazy, tossing it in the fridge to chill until supper time where we enjoyed it after a long hot Summer day of playing. It was also a great way to use up some of the many tomatoes we have been picking in our garden this year. Also, I used my food processor to chop the sweet pickles, it was quick and easy and they were perfectly minced for the salad.

Ham Pasta Salad

1 lb. shells pasta

2 cups cooked cubed ham

8-10 small sweet pickles, chopped, juice reserved

4-6 roma/plum tomatoes, seeded and chopped

1 cup light mayonnaise

1/2 cup reduced fat sour cream

2 1/2 tsp. beef bouillon granules

1 TBSP. white vinegar

1/2 tsp. salt

few dashes ground black pepper

1/2 tsp. garlic powder

Cook shell pasta al dente according to package directions. Drain and run under cold water to cool. In a large bowl, mix together the well drained pasta, ham, chopped pickles and tomatoes. In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, beef bouillon granules, vinegar, salt, pepper, garlic powder and 1/4 to 1/2 cup of reserved pickle juice (add it to taste). Fold into the salad and toss gently until evenly coated. Chill 4 hours or overnight to allow the flavors to blend.
Makes about 10-12 servings.