Well, my son is visiting with relatives and I realized just how little I’ve been cooking this past week. A bite or a nibble here and there, getting my work done but where are the meals that I’m so used to preparing throughout the days and nights?! Soooo, as reality has hit me today, I realized I need to make something tasty for me. Isn’t that how it goes so many times, we’re fine cooking for others, our families, our friends, our kids, that we sometimes forget “oh yeah…I eat too!”

So I just whipped up some chicken salad, a tomato and basil salad vinaigrette and yes I checked to make sure these tomatoes were safe to eat and if you have any questions about your tomato purchases, run a search, the FDA and other government sources are listing safe states and regions to buy from, stay knowledgeable!

Two easy ways to make chicken salad is to buy the chicken prepared from your grocers. Many grocers carry rotisserie chickens that are fresh and already seasoned, all you have to do is the pull the chicken apart and cut into bite size pieces. One chicken will make enough salad for six people. Also Oscar Mayer and other leading brands make grilled boneless chicken strips that are ready to use, just open the package and add the following.

For two- six ounce packages of chicken add:
1 heaping tablespoon of heavy mayo
½ of a large cucumber, peeled and cut into small chunks
About 20 red seedless grapes sliced in half the long way
About 4 leaves of fresh basil, finely chopped
And depending how much your chicken has already been seasoned, a little sea salt and fresh ground pepper to taste.

Serve on fresh marbled rye, pita or your favorite bread and moms pita can be really fun and not so messy for the kids, just cut off the top 1/3 of the pita and stuff 

That’s all there is to this refreshing pallet pleaser and you can make this up a day ahead also to marry all of the flavors together.

Some great variations:

Vegetarian-substitute the chicken for tofu cubes and add 2-4 mashed roasted garlic cloves, you can also eliminate the mayo if you’re vegan and drizzle extra virgin olive oil over mixture.

Have fun and experiment, the recipe above is tried and true but go with your mood every now and then. Chopped parsley, roasted garlic or peppers, diced green or purple onion, perhaps a touch of freshly chopped tarragon or dill and don't forget almonds, walnuts or cashews too.

Whatever you choose, by your self or with more, enjoy….enjoy the process of preparing great foods and the satisfaction of dining well.

As always, have a blessed and wonderful week!
Sue