A Better Macaroni Salad

Name: A Better Macaroni Salad
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 40 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 pound macaroni, cavatappi, farfalle, or fusilli pasta; 1 cup mayonnaise, best quality such as Hellmann's or Duke's; 1 cup sour cream; 3½ tablespoons sugar; 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard; ¼ cup apple cider vinegar; ¼ cup water; 1¼ teaspoons salt, plus more for cooking the pasta; 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper; ¾ teaspoon onion powder; ½ cup finely diced or grated carrots, from 1 to 2 carrots; ¾ cup finely diced celery, from 2 to 3 celery stalks; 1 red, yellow, or orange bell pepper, finely diced; 6 scallions, light and dark green parts, finely sliced; ¼ cup finely chopped fresh basil