I Love Chicken Salad

I really really love chicken salad. Panera makes a great one. I would omit a bit of the mayo but that's just because I am not much of a mayo girl. Bruggers is super tasty too (even better on a toasted everything bagel). If I go out to eat lunch at a sammy-type place and they offer chicken salad, you can almost guarantee I will order it. Love it.

My favorite recipe is a delicious mango chutney chicken salad from the JL Washington cookbook. Oh, it's to die for! But yesterday I read Mom x 2's recipe for chicken salad and was inspired to branch out and try something new. I didn't use her exact recipe because I have this terrible habit in life of telling myself, "oh I'll remember that later." But of course I never do. What really inspired me was that she just used a grocery store rotisserie chicken. Now most of y'all are reading this thinking, "um, PPC, that's nothing new or inventive." Perhaps. But it never before occurred to me, so I was excited to further simplify an already simple meal.

Apparently everyone who shops at Price Chopper (we've made up and I shop there regularly now) decided they too needed one of those chickens. I had to wait for the chicken man to pluck one off the turning thingy- the counter that normally houses them was totally empty. I also used these funny scallion type things that a neighbor picked wild- I don't know what they are called but they look similar to a scallion. Anyway, here's my recipe-ish (because you know I didn't measure anything- so I am just guessing):

Easy Chicken Salad

- chicken (picked from one grocery store rotisserie chicken- use the whole thing)
- 2 scallions chopped- use white and green parts
- 1 large palm of green grapes, cut in half
- 1 large palm of dried cranberries (or cherries or blueberries or whatever you have on hand)
- 1 large palm of walnuts (toasted in pan first- watch carefully- they burn quickly)
- 1/3 cup mayo (I used fat free)
- 1/3 cup sour cream (I used fat free)
- pepper to taste (chicken is plenty salty so you likely won't need to add any extra)

Mix together. Chill. Enjoy over lettuce or in a pita bread pocket with mesclun mix (this is my fav way to eat it at home!). If you need/like more moisture, add more mayo and such. Super easy and yummy.

Thanks for the inspiration Mom x 2! Dinner was great last night! Perfect for an easy, no-cook meal.