Monday, February 22, 2010

Homemade Chicken Salad



In the summertime, one of my family's favorite foods is my homemade chicken salad. So on an unusually warm day in February after weeks of bitter cold, we have a craving for homemade chicken salad.



I don't have a written recipe for this salad, but I can give you a few hints for making it extra tasty.

1. Boil a whole chicken with the inside package (liver, heart, gizzard) included. The insides of the chicken and the white and dark meat give a rich flavor to the chicken and so to your salad. Now, I don't actually chop the insides and include in my salad, but by boiling with the chicken, the flavor is there.

2. Use real mayonnaise.

3. I like to add pecans, raisins, and celery to my salad; although, this time I used almonds and dried cranberries instead.

4. I love to season with Cavender's Greek Seasoning. I used it on everything!

If I were to use a recipe, I guess it would read something like this:

1 whole chicken boiled in lightly salted water until done. Dice or shred chicken.
1 cup chopped celery
1 cup chopped pecans or sliced almonds
1 cup raisins or dried cranberries
2 boiled eggs chopped
1 tsp Cavender's Greek seasoning
Salt to taste
Mayonnaise (Add to desired consistency - about 1 to 1 1/2 cups)

We like to have ours with croissants and fruit. Do you put something different in your chicken salad? Let us know in the comment field.

I'm sharing with other wonderful foods at Tempt My Tummy.

10 comments:

podso said...

The salad sounds/looks delicious, but I have to comment on your photography. So beautiful especially of the fruit. Your recipe is similar to mine, and sometimes I'll add sunflower seeds or small diced bits of cheese. I didn't know about the innerds adding flavoring, will have to try that. Glad you had a warm day!

Kim's Treasures said...

Oh does that look delicious! That's what I'm serving for my daughter's bridal shower...that's what she chose...yummo! I saw on the news today, they had a cooking demo for kids, the cook put the chicken salad in ice cream cones to make it fun for kids to want to eat. It was a cute idea.

Glenda/MidSouth said...

Oh My! That looks and sounds good. I need to take note, as I usually do the grapes & pecans version. I am ready for some good fresh salads - way to many carbs in my diet lately. I have a tendency to do that when it is cold.
Have a great week.
Glenda

Maria said...

Oh the cranberries... that must taste FABULOUS!
love the idea of bringing summer to these wintry days!
~Maria

Tales From My Empty Nest said...

I love chicken salad. I want to try your recipe. It sounds delicious!! Thanks for sharing. Love & blessings from NC!

Amy Kinser said...

Marsha, this recipe looks devine. Thanks so much for sharing the recipe and the photo looks like you get just take a big bite right from my computer.

From the Old InkWell said...

I have to add that I often use grapes in my salad too. I can't believe I forgot to add that. Oh well, I told you I didn't have a recipe written down. :)

Just Call Me Grammy said...

That looks delicious! I have never used (or tasted) the Greek seasoning. I will have to check it out.

Brenda said...

Looks like a delicious recipe. I really like pecans in my chicken salad as well.

Cindy said...

I have that seasoning! I know how to 'pick a chicken', I'm going to do it! Gonna use Craisins, celery and pecans...but, don't hate me, Miracle Whip. I like the word miracle. Thanks!