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Summertime and the livin’ is easy. I love to do outdoor dining in a relaxed and casual way for summer entertaining. Alfresco dining isn’t limited to just backyard BBQ’s. I love packing a basket of snacks and grabbing a blanket for an impromptu picnic. Find your spot at the beach, the park, your favorite hiking trail, or tailgating at the ballpark. Some of my go-to basket items are fresh baguettes, assorted cheeses, fresh fruit, fig jam or apricot jelly, and my favorite mousse liver pâté. This basket is reserved for special occasions and/or people. For most other outings, it’s my chicken apple almond salad with tarragon served on a bed of arugula, my mustard vinegar dressing potato salad, and blueberry muffins for a bit of sweetness. My chicken salad is always a hit so I thought I would share it.
1 Rotisserie Roasted Chicken, skin removed and meat shredded
1 stalk of celery finely chopped
½ cup of finely chopped onion (your choice of red or white)
¼-⅓ cup of dried cranberries (reconstitute in water or apple juice to plump up before adding to dish)
¼-⅓ cup of slivered almonds (I like toasting the almonds but not necessary for recipe)
1 small apple (peeled or unpeeled) chopped into small pieces
½ -1 cup of good quality mayonnaise (use amount for your preference)
Salt and pepper to taste
1 tablespoon dried tarragon *
Place shredded chicken in a large mixing bowl.
Add chopped celery, onions, cranberries, almonds and toss.
Add mayonnaise to your preference and mix to coat and combine.
Sprinkle with salt and pepper, add tarragon, and mix well.
Chill at least 30 minutes to set the flavors.
SERVING SUGGESTIONS: Serve on a bed of greens or with croissants or sliced bread for sandwiches.
TIP: The general rule for substituting fresh herbs for dried herbs is to use three times the amount of chopped fresh herbs for the dried herbs called for in a recipe (and vice versa).
TIP: You could also add washed sliced grapes for a Waldorf Salad spin but I am not a fan of grapes.