Martha Socolar from Baltimore was looking for a recipe for a pasta salad with turkey that she said was printed on a box of Mueller's shell pasta in the mid-1990s. She said the recipe was on the box for a long time but she never copied it down. Sue Housel from Eldersburg, Md., shared a recipe for a Mandarin turkey pasta salad that she cut from a box of Mueller's pasta shells many years ago that she hoped might be the one that Socolar was searching for.

Even if this is not the exact recipe that Socolar remembers, it is one that she and her family are likely to enjoy. The addition of the Mandarin oranges gives the salad a bright taste and along with the ginger and almonds adds a slight Asian twist. While very quick and easy to make, especially if you have any leftover turkey or chicken, this is not your run of the mill pasta salad. A perfect addition to a summertime picnic but equally good any time year.

Mandarin Turkey Pasta Salad

Makes 6 servings

1 can (11 ounces) mandarin orange segments

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1/2 cup plain yogurt

2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon pepper

7 ounces small pasta shells, cooked, drained, and rinsed with cold water

4 ounces smoked turkey or chicken breast, cut in 1/2-inch cubes

1/2 cup sliced almond

1/2 cup sliced green onions

1. Drain oranges, reserving liquid. In a large bowl, stir together mayonnaise, yogurt, mustard, ginger, salt, and pepper until blended. Add pasta shells, turkey or chicken, oranges, almonds and green onions. Stir in about 2 tablespoons of the reserved orange liquid or to desired consistency. Cover and chill before serving.