Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Chicken and fruit salad

Whenever I have a tea party, I like to set a pretty table with flowers and a variety of teacups and plates. While I'm at it, I also try to serve the food in ways that play up the "girliness" of it all. Here's an example in the photo below.


A chicken salad with fresh fruit which I served in a pretty teacup. Why put it on a simple plate as if a tea party was any old occasion? It's not! :)

I serve it along with several other items such as a quiche or mini frittatas, two or three kinds of finger sandwiches, sometimes a green salad or fruit platter, and of course, scones are always on the menu. That's all before I bring out desserts, but let's get back to the chicken salad for now...

This is probably one of my favorite chicken salads, and if you'd like to make it, well I'm happy to share the recipe. It's a simple recipe at heart but with a few little additions that make it quite special. Feel free to vary the ingredients a bit if you wish (as I often do).

In a large bowl, place about 2 cups of cooked and cubed chicken breasts, cooled. Add 1 to 2 stalks of celery (chopped), and 1 chopped apple. I use the packaged fresh apple slices from the grocery store for added convenience and chop several slices. However, if you're slicing your own apple, be sure to first mix the chopped slices in a small bowl with at least 1 tablespoon of lemon juice to prevent them from turning brown (that's another reason why I like the pre-sliced ones, they don't turn brown). Then add to the bowl with the cubed chicken.

Add 2 tablespoons of brown sugar and 1/2 cup of mayo. I've never measured the mayo so this is an approximate amount. You should start with less and increase the amount until you're happy :) with how it all looks. Refrigerate for at least one hour.

While it's in the fridge, take out 2 crunchy granola bars. I use Nature Valley roasted almond or simply honey roasted. Use whatever brand you like, as long as it's crunchy. Then, crush them inside a ziplock bag using a rolling pin.

When you're ready to serve the chicken salad, gently mix half of the crushed granola bars in the salad and 1 cup of drained mandarins. Then, serve the salad in either a bowl or individual teacups (it should make about 5 or 6), sprinkle the remaining crushed granola bars on top and serve immediately.

You could add all kinds of fruit such as seedless grapes (green or red), pineapple, kiwis, strawberries, as well as skip the granola bars and throw in some sliced almonds instead. The variations are just about endless.

Bon appetit!

29 comments:

Patty H. said...

That sounds good. I love fruitsalad and chicken salad.
Looks so good in those cups.
Blessings

RoyalTLady said...

Sounds delicious. BUT I tell you... I don't think I cud finish a tea cup of this salad... a sizable bowl would do.

I am a big eater...well fed... hahaha.

the voice of melody said...

RoyalTLady, I use small portions at my ladies' luncheons and tea parties because I serve lots of different things. Usually 5 or 6 different items and that's before I bring out the assortment of desserts. But, otherwise, yes I'd take a big bowl of this too! :)

Miss Janice said...

Hello and thank you so much for stopping by my site. I love your site and I just love your tearoom. I look forward to dropping back in soon.
Miss Janice

Darlene said...

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today. This salad sounds delicious but I am with royaltlady...I want a big bowl!!!

Donna said...

Oh, the salad sounds yummy, and it looks so pretty in the tea cup!

Thanks for stopping by my blog. I was scrolling down your blog and saw some other yummy recipes!

Have a great day!
Donna

Deb said...

Such a pretty presentation! It makes everything taste better doesn't it?

BECKY said...

Hi There! Just checking out your blog. Thank you for visiting mine. I love your beautiful pics and the story about the Target gift card. God is so good all the time! It also looks like we listen to some of the same music! Have a great evening.

Jess said...

Sounds lovely..and looks great too!

Have a great end of the week

Love, Jess

Tea Time With Melody said...

Seems like I am going to have to steal some of your ideas since everything I've seen so far is wonderful. :)

Kathi~Lavender, Lace and Thyme said...

It's almost too pretty to eat, a beautiful setting. Your recipe sounds wonderful, thank you for sharing.

Have a wonderful day,
Kathi :)

Tiffany said...

Thanks for commenting on my blog :) Is that your house in your profile pic? It is so beautiful!

the voice of melody said...

Melody, please take any and all of them! I'm happy to share. :)

Tiffany, yes that picture at the top is my tearoom in my home. I did a post about it a couple of weeks ago. Thanks for the compliment!

Gretchen said...

Oh, my...Hadn't heard of the granola/mandarin orange touch. Very nice! Such a sweet looking presentation, too.

Ohio_Momto3boys said...

Such beautiful place settings!

Susan B said...

Sounds like a very yummy recipe, and so easy to fix. (My kind of recipe!) It looks very pretty in the tea cup, and with the plate. Your teas must be lovely. Thank you for sharing!

Nanny Ree said...

Thank-you for visiting my blog & leaving a comment. You have a lovely home & I would love to come for tea!!!!!! I love your recipes but I am not sure what the equivalent for 1/2 stick of butter measures over here is as I would like to make the truffles for Christmas. If you get the chance read the book on Proverbs 31 I am trying to keep to a chapter a day so I can take it all in but I want to read it all at once lol!!!! Have a great day mine is almost over!!!!! Marie x

the voice of melody said...

"Proverbs 31", to answer your question about the equivalent of 1/2 a stick of butter, it is 1/4 of a cup. Hope that helps, and thanks for the kind words!

Robert Sagor said...

Thank you for stopping by my blog! I'm so sorry it has taken me so long to get back to you!. I scrolled down and saw your china cabinet, it looks to be the same "pattern" as my bedroom furniture, I find that pattern all over the place, I started out with a dresser, vanity, and chest of drawers, now I also have a storage chest, two nightstands, and a bookshelf!astru

Marion said...

Yum!! I was looking for a nice recipe to take to my Blanket Club meeting on Tuesday...I believe I've found it!! Thank you for this recipe!!!
Thank you for visiting my blog....I will link yours to mine......and also, I really like the Teacup idea! I've got many of my mom's teacups that truly don't get proper use!!
Take care
Marion

Confessions of a Plate Addict said...

Bonsoir Melody...Merci de me laisser un petit mot...et en français...ça me donne beaucoup de plaisir. Merci aussi de partager vos recettes..surtout les truffes! Mon petit-fils va les adorer. A plus tard...Debbie

Lynn said...

This sounds delicious and looks absolutely beautiful! Thank you for sharing. I need to think more about presentation when I put dinner on the plate :)

Anonymous said...

Hi Melody...Thank you for stopping by my blog today. I love meeting new people and there are so many nice people in Blogland. Your chicken salad sounds really good, I will put the recipe in my collection. Thank you.

Hugs,
Chris

Nanny Ree said...

Thanks for the info have a lovely day Marie x

Nikki said...

I love chicken salad!!

Thanks for visiting my blog. I see you are from the southeast too.

I do plan to visit your blog often. Your posts are great.

Nikki

Angela said...

Hi - I have just tagged you - please check my blog!

RoyalTLady said...

Ya, I could imagine the other delicacies served...but I insist to have a bowl of your chicken salad...it sounds so delicious!!!MMMMM yummy.

So...two bowls , please. One for me and the other for darlene.

Jenn said...

That is one dainty and classy looking chicken salad. I will have to remember this! Thanks =D

Love Being A Nonny said...

I love the tip about crushing up a granola bar. So simple, and yet, I've never thought to do it!!!