Cherry Almond Chicken Salad!

If you've been reading this blog for a while, you know that chicken salad shows up every now and then (because I love it). Well, it's back in a new way, with the sweetness of chopped dried cherries and the healthy crunch of slivered almonds. And oh, what a delicious sandwich it makes! Or, pile it up in the middle of a wedged tomato, or eat it with a fork right out of the bowl (guilty!).

The recipe is simple-as-pie, and without further adieu, here it is, because I am sure you would much rather make it than read about it!


CHERRY ALMOND CHICKEN SALAD

8 oz. cooked chicken breast, cooled and finely chopped
2 tablespoons chopped sweet onion (likeVidalia)
2 tablespoons slivered almonds, chopped a bit
2 tablespoons celery, finely diced
2 tablespoons dried cherries or cherry-flavored dried cranberries, finely chopped
a couple grinds of black pepper
enough mayonnaise to hold it all together

In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine all ingredients except mayonnaise. Stir in mayo, a tablespoon or two at a time, until it's the way you like it. (Mayonnaise is a personal thing - I like just enough to hold it together).  There you go!

Toast some nice, whole-grain bread, slice a ripe tomato, and tear off some pretty lettuce leaves, and you have the makings for an amazing sandwich!

This was my lunch... the sandwich was my dinner! I LOVE this stuff!

And for no reason, thought you might like to see one of my baby tomatoes, happily growing among the petunias!

Gettin' along!
Just after I snapped this photo, a Hummingbird came to visit the pink petunias!

And before I go, I'll tell you something, I miss my boys! Katie and Bill took the boys to Mystic, CT (or as Henry says "Neticut") for a mini-vacation visiting friends. They're doing the whole seaport thing, and I am sure they're having a great time, long overdue, and well-deserved. As I was leaving my house this morning, I realized that there were yogurt hand prints on my French door leading to the staircase, and I just don't have the heart to wipe that away until I see those boys again. How crazy is that? I just love looking at those tiny handprints and they're going to stay until I see those little guys when they come home!

Henry (left) and Peter (right)... Missing them more than my luggage!!!

Have a great weekend, my friends!

June Showers

Sarah's bridal shower cupcakes

As I delivered cupcakes to my friend Catherine's house today, I could sense her disappointment in the rain that was falling as her guests were about to arrive.  Catherine was hosting a bridal shower for her friend Sarah.  There was a flurry of activity as Sarah's bridesmades were quickly converting the outdoor party to an indoor event.  The tent was outside, quiet with tables and chairs that wouldn't be used, and the inside of Catherine's home was transformed into shower-central as the girls worked hard to switch gears. The house is a gorgeous Victorian in downtown Saratoga Springs, so very little was needed to create a beautiful environment.  I arrived with 40+ cupcakes and a stand to display them.  The girls worked around me as I set up the stand in the center of Catherine's massive dining room table.

Cupcakes for Sarah's bridal shower at Catherine's lovely home...

After making sure the cupcake set-up was ready to go, I bid them all a happy shower, got in my Jeep and headed east to Greenwich, New York, where I picked up a lay-away purchase at "Just Because," one of my favorite little boutiques.  They carry Vera Bradley products, Woolrich and Tribal lines of clothing, among others, and very pretty jewelry.  For my birthday in March, I'd put a larger Vera Bradley tote on lay-away, (just the right size for my own gear and any "Grandma" items I might need to take along) and for whatever reason just never got back there to pick it up.  Today was the day (so happy belated birthday to me!).  In addition to clothing, the store carries a good variety of things, including baby gift items, kitchen linens, handbags, and nice little gifts-for-self (!) as well as greeting cards.  They offer free -- and very pretty -- gift wrapping.   It's just a fun place to visit every now and then.  Usually, I head in that direction with a sister or a friend, but today I was on my own, so after shopping I went in to the little cafe next store (it has a new name - I'll check and let you know) where I ordered a chicken salad sandwich to go.  I am a HUGE chicken salad fan, and I like theirs because it has Craisins, green grapes, and is lightly seasoned.  They don't use much mayonnaise (also a plus) and I ordered it on their own home-baked wheat bread.  Simple. I hadn't taken time to eat all day, and was hungry but didn't want to go the drive-thru route. This was so much nicer, and I was surprised to find a serving of Lay's classic potato chips in the bag with my sandwich, which are just about the lightest, crispest, best potato chips, in my not-so-humble opinion!  The sandwich was so pretty that I took a picture of it!

Not quite fast food - chicken salad sandwich

Now I'm trying to decide what to do with the rest of my precious Saturday. Katie, Bill, and the boys are at a birthday party.  Russ isn't here this weekend. Oden, the big black lab is hanging out in my apartment while his family is away, and it's quiet as can be.  I could actually do nothing for a little while, but I'm not sure I know how!!!

I hope you all have a wonderful Saturday, and enjoy the rest of your weekend!