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November 12, 2012 ·

Chicken Salad

entertaining· Fellowship· Food· recipes

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I’m very excited to be helping with a SURPRISE virtual Baby Shower for Rachel at Rachel Cooks!  It’s been such a long time since  I’ve been able to be a part of a BABY SHOWER!  Yeh!

 

I am sure every family has their traditions when it comes to Baby Showers and how to throw them.  In our family the one thing besides punch and baby bootie cupcakes (that my mom is a genius at making!) that was always on the table at a baby shower was my moms Chicken Salad, served with her delicious buttery rolls.  So I just knew I had to bring my momma’s Chicken Salad recipe to Rachel’s Baby Shower!

 

What are some Baby Shower traditions your family has?

Another family tradition is to use the good china!  Not sure why, but no paper plates where allowed.  Maybe it was a subtle reminder from the older generation to the new, “Honey, this the last time your going to be eatin off the fancy stuff for awhile!”  The glass punch bowl always made an appearance, with some sort of sherbert laden punch.  When I was a kid, I always volunteered to be the punch bowl helper, and then I would O.D. on the sticky sweet punch!  Those where the days!

So to keeping with our families tradition, I’m sharing my Mom’s Chicken Salad, but with a Michigan twist since Rachel and I are both Michiganders!   I added cherries (which I normally put in my chicken salad) and apples.   Not only does it taste fantastic, it makes the Chicken Salad so pretty!

Besides how delicious this salad is, the best thing is it’s better if you make it the day before, which is perfect for party planning,  you can have your main dish all finished a day ahead, and have extra time to set a pretty table, and prepare silly baby shower games!  Which I  loose miserably at every time….for the record I have four kids!  Those games are rigged!

This is what you’ll need to make our chicken salad:

 

 

Here’s how you do it!

Bake 6 chicken breasts, allow to cool, and then chopped into small pieces.  1 cup each of dried cherries, apple, celery, and onion add to chicken in a bowl and toss together.

 

 

Dressing: 1 cup mayonnaise, 1 cup sour cream, the juice of one lemon, 1 tablespoon sugar, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper (more if you like), 1 tablespoon dried dill, whisk together, pour over ingredients, and fold together.

 

 

Now for my favorite part. Toast 1 cup of pecans, (walnuts, or almonds work too).  Rough chop the nuts after you have toasted them, add 3/4 of the nuts to the bowl and stir them in, reserve the rest for garnish.

 

I served the Chicken Salad in the amber colored iris bowl my grandma gave me.  It only comes out from behind my glass cupboard for special occasions!

 

I think Chicken Salad looks so pretty pilled high in this bowl.

 

 

[print_this]

Chicken Salad
Serves 12-16
6 boneless skinless Chicken Breast
salt and pepper
1 cup dried Cherries, rough chopped
1 Apple, chopped into small pieces
1 cup chopped Onion
1 cup chopped Celery
1 cup toasted Pecans, Walnuts, or Almonds, rough chopped
Dressing:
1 cup Mayonnaise
1 cup Sour Cream
juice of 1 Lemon (or 2-3 tablespoons lemon juice)
1 tablespoon Sugar
1 tablespoon dried Dill
1 teaspoon Salt
1/2 teaspoon ground Pepper

1. Place chicken breasts in baking pan, and sprinkle with salt and pepper, bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Remove from oven, let cool, cut into small pieces.
2. Chop cherries, apple, onion, and celery add to bowl with chopped chicken, toss.
3. Dressing: Whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, dill, sugar, salt, pepper, and the juice of 1 lemon.
4. Pour dressing over chopped ingredients, and fold together.
5. Toast 1 cup of nuts, and rough chop, add 3/4 of the nuts to the salad and stir. Reserve the remaining nuts for garnish.

Place chicken salad in refrigerator for at least 1 hour before serving. Best if made a day before serving. Serve with croissant or buttery rolls. Also makes pretty mini sandwiches if you are doing sandwich trays.

Hope you enjoy!

[/print_this]

 

 

All the best to you Rachel! Can’t wait to your little guy arrives!!

Love, Sheila

Thanks to Brandy and Brandi for hosting this super fun Baby Shower today for Rachel at Rachel Cooks!

Be sure to check out what everyone else brought to the party!!!!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Liz @ The Lemon Bowl says

    November 12, 2012 at 7:56 am

    I want to come over and eat chicken salad with you. 🙂

  2. Katrina @ In Katrina's Kitchen says

    November 12, 2012 at 8:02 am

    If we’re being honest…I still love the sticky punch 🙂 Mmm this chicken salad is a winner!!

  3. [email protected] says

    November 12, 2012 at 8:28 am

    Oh my goodness, that sounds delish! Rachel will love it. 🙂

  4. Sarah Caron says

    November 12, 2012 at 8:55 am

    I love the addition of cherries and apples — that must really make the chicken salad pop! Sounds delicious.

  5. 30A EATS says

    November 12, 2012 at 9:12 am

    What a great dish to bring to the baby shower! I love the addition of cherries and dill!

  6. carrian says

    November 12, 2012 at 10:07 am

    Oh, that seriously looks like the bomb.com

  7. Tara @ Chip Chip Hooray says

    November 12, 2012 at 10:21 am

    Loving your pretty china! This would be a fun addition to the party. 🙂

  8. Rachel Cooks says

    November 12, 2012 at 12:15 pm

    Thanks for sharing this family tradition with me for this amazing shower! You are all the best! I love chicken salad, this is so perfect. Thanks again xoxox

    • Sheila says

      November 12, 2012 at 1:31 pm

      Rachel, So excited to be able to do it! Can’t wait till that little man arrives ; D hang in there girlfrand!

  9. Nutmeg Nanny says

    November 12, 2012 at 12:26 pm

    This is one delicious looking chicken salad! I love the addition of pecans and dried cherries! Thank you so much for participating in the event and I’m so sorry for the mix up yesterday.

    • Sheila says

      November 12, 2012 at 1:29 pm

      NO worries! Thanks for including me ; ) xoxox

  10. Heather | Farmgirl Gourmet says

    November 12, 2012 at 12:27 pm

    Chicken Salad is one of my all time favorites. It’s so perfect in every way.

    • Sheila says

      November 12, 2012 at 1:30 pm

      My husband is with you on that one! Thanks for stopping by.

  11. Jennifer @ Mother Thyme says

    November 12, 2012 at 1:12 pm

    This is the perfect baby shower dish! When I was pregnant with my twins I wanted chicken salad at my shower served with croissants so this recipe brings back very special memories. 🙂

    • Sheila says

      November 12, 2012 at 5:41 pm

      How fun is that! A girl after my own heart ; ) Thanks for stopping in!!

  12. Barbara | Creative Culinary says

    November 12, 2012 at 2:05 pm

    I love a chicken salad like this…the addition of fruit has become a favorite of mine and this looks terrific.

    • Sheila says

      November 12, 2012 at 5:40 pm

      Thanks Barbara!

  13. Cassie | Bake Your Day says

    November 12, 2012 at 2:27 pm

    I adore chicken salad! And when planning a shower of any kind, I always turn toward chicken salad for easy people-pleasing food. I love this!

    • Sheila says

      November 12, 2012 at 5:40 pm

      That’s my girl ; ) Chicken Salad can be switched up so many ways to please who ever your feeding. One of my favorites is to use curry and put grapes in it!

  14. Bobbi says

    November 12, 2012 at 3:41 pm

    Yum, this looks so delicious 🙂 I just ate lunch, but my mouth is STILL watering! This might just be on the menu for lunch tomorrow!!! Thanks!!

    • Sheila says

      November 12, 2012 at 5:38 pm

      This recipe makes a ton, so if just making for your family and not a party, you might want to cut in half! Enjoy ; )

  15. diabeticFoodie says

    November 12, 2012 at 5:05 pm

    I love your tradition of using china at baby showers. I’ve put grapes in chicken salad before, but I’ve never tried cherries. I’m definitely putting that on my list!

    • Sheila says

      November 12, 2012 at 5:38 pm

      I hope you do try it! It gets raves by everyone! Thanks for stopping by ; )

  16. Kathryn says

    November 12, 2012 at 5:32 pm

    I love that you brought one of your family’s traditional recipes to the shower, thank you so much for sharing!

  17. kita says

    November 12, 2012 at 7:15 pm

    OK, wont lie. I think its pure genius to have any dish ready a day ahead! I would have never through of that. Not to mention, Love me some chicken salad.

    • Sheila says

      November 12, 2012 at 11:10 pm

      I don’t know how genius I am…but Hey! I’ll take it! : D thanks for stopping in, come back soon! xoxoxo

  18. Melissa M says

    November 12, 2012 at 8:03 pm

    If in our boxes, I ever find my Herringbone Iris pattern carnival glass bowl with the matching candlesticks, I”m sending it to you!

    • Sheila says

      November 12, 2012 at 11:11 pm

      Melissa, You have what??!! OMG my dear…is it a family heirloom? Make some chicky salad and light some candles I’m on my way!

  19. Miss @ Miss in the Kitchen says

    November 12, 2012 at 10:57 pm

    I love chicken salad, it always makes me think of my Grandmother. My grandparents owned a restaurant and she always made chicken salad from the leftover fried chicken. I would love your Michigan-ized chicken salad with cherries and apples!

    • Sheila says

      November 12, 2012 at 11:11 pm

      OH hoho my my my! that is some good chicken salad right there, made with fried chicken…YUM!

  20. Deborah says

    November 12, 2012 at 11:00 pm

    This sounds like the perfect chicken salad!! I love that it is connected to tradition, as well!

  21. Donna says

    November 12, 2012 at 11:19 pm

    Oh, yum. I love chicken salad … and there’s gonna be some turkey around here pretty soon too!

  22. Marnely Rodriguez-Murray says

    November 13, 2012 at 8:13 am

    LOVE the addition of cherries in your salad! At work we add cranberry sauce to our chicken salad sandwich, but I totally love this way better!

    • Sheila says

      November 13, 2012 at 1:54 pm

      OH I have used cranberries in it too, when I find myself out of dried cherries. Thanks for stopping in, come back soon!!

  23. Mackenzie {SusieFreakingHomemaker} says

    November 14, 2012 at 8:47 am

    Chicken salad is a classic! I love the crunchy celery and the fruit! So yummy!!

  24. brandi says

    November 28, 2012 at 11:33 am

    what a gorgeous chicken salad! dried cherries and pecans are my favorite mix-ins

    • Sheila says

      November 28, 2012 at 11:39 am

      Thanks for stopping by E2g ; D Hope you had a awesome Thanksgiving weekend! Sheila

  25. Bobbie Lenzo says

    December 16, 2016 at 9:49 am

    For me, a major part of the problem was Will Ferrell.

Trackbacks

  1. Lemon Pepper Chicken Tenders says:
    April 3, 2014 at 10:37 am

    […] Our favorite and most versatile marinade is Lemon Pepper.  It’s quick easy and the flavors adapt well to most side dishes, and the left overs are perfect chopped up over a salad or made into chicken salad. […]

  2. A Spicy Perspective Turtle Pumpkin Ice Cream Cake - A Spicy Perspective says:
    September 29, 2014 at 12:22 pm

    […] Sarah from Sarah’s Cucina Bella ~ Apple Asiago Prociutto Bites Sheila from Eat 2 Gather ~ Chicken Salad Shelby from Diabetic Foodie ~ Cranberry Citrus Meatballs Susan from 30A Eats ~ Southern Cheese […]

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