A Classic

This is a copycat of my mom's recipe for chicken salad. I couldn't find hers the day I wanted to make it so I through this together and it is fabulous. Simple, but classic. If you want you use 3/4 C fat free yogurt and a few tablespoons of mayo. I'll post up a picture later.

Chicken Salad

2 ½ C cooked chicken, cubed
1 C celery, chopped
1 C seedless grapes, sliced
½ C sliced almonds
Pinch of salt
¾ C mayo
¼ whipping cream, whipped

Asian Slaw

I am not a coleslaw person. Maybe it's the cabbage, or the mayo..I don't know. I do however love asian slaw. I fell in love with this stuff when I had it at Rumbi's. However, not very many islanders where I live. I told Ryan we needed to draft some so we could get some good hawaiin style restaurants out here. So if your feelin some asian slaw, give this a try.
I forgot to take a photo, but here is a blurry snapshot of the leftovers.

Crunchy Asian Slaw:

1/3 c cider vinegar
¼ c sugar

2 T canola oil

2 T honey

2 T soy sauce

1 T olive oil, or sesame if you have it

¼ c slivered almonds

¼ c sunflower seeds

1 package ramen, crushed

8-10 c shredded napa cabbage

1 bag of shredded carrots,

3 scallions, sliced

Combine cider vinegar, sugar, oil, honey and soy sauce in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave for 2 minutes and stir.
In a small sauté pan, heat olive oil over medium high heat. Add almonds, sunflower seeds, and noodles to toast, stirring constantly. Once you see the mixture turning golden, remove from heat.
In a very large bowl, add the cabbage, carrots and shallot. About 15-30 minutes before you are ready to serve the salad, toss the dressing and noodle/nut mixture with the cabbage.

Curried Chicken Salad

I have never really tried to much curry until I married my husband. Now, I still have only tried it once or twice and it's never exactly my favorite dish. This recipe however is amazing. I mean this lady is amazing all together. She cooks the most healthy, simple and yet still delicious recipes.

We served ours with store bought naan. It was okay. Let me tell you a secret though, it is way, way better home made. I will share my secret recipe a later time.

Spinache Salad

My sister sent me a recipe for spinache salad that had a long list of stuff to put in a spinache salad along with some dressing. We picked out favorites and I made a few alterations to the dressing and we don't have it in us to switch it up. You can put whatever you want, and it would be good...as long as you don't forget the bacon. Yup, you heard me, bacon is a MUST. Don't try to skip it or you'll be real sorry.

Spinache Salad:

1 bag spinache, rinsed and dried
1/2 craisens
2 green apples, diced
1/2 red onion, diced
1/2 lb bacon, diced
1 1/2 cup sweet and spicy pecans

Mix all ingredients and top with dressing.

Sweet and Spicy Pecans:

3 tablespoons light corn syrup
1 1/2 tablespoons sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon generous fresh cracked pepper
1/8 teaspoon cayenne
1 1/2 cups pecan halves

Preheat oven to 325°F Spray baking sheet with nonstick spray. Combine corn syrup and next 4 ingredients in large bowl. Stir to blend. Add pecans; stir gently to coat. Transfer to baking sheet. Place large piece of foil on work surface. Using fork, stir pecans to coat with melted spice mixture. Bake until pecans are golden and coating bubbles, about 10-15 minutes. Transfer to foil. Working quickly, separate nuts with fork. Cool. (Can be made 3 days ahead- store airtight at room temperature).

Art City Salad Dressing:

1/3 cup oil (vegetable or olive)
1/3 cup rice wine vinegar
1/3 cup sugar
1 Tbsp. Raspberry jam (more to taste)
1 Tbsp. Poppy seeds

Blend ingredients in a blender
If you are sick of the same darn salad try mixen it up, here are some suggested courtesy of my sister:
Spinach, Baby Spinach, Green Leafy Lettuce or Greens Craisons
Grated Cheese-Swiss, Parmesan
Sunflower Seeds, Sesame seeds, Sliced Almonds, Cashews, pecans etc.
Mushrooms, avocado, grape tomatoes Mandarin Oranges, pears, strawberries, seedless grapes, mangos
Bacon Purple onion, green onion, minced sweet onion ChickenPick Ingredients, Chop, Mix, Serve