Smooth, cool, refreshing... (Big Bruiser Avocado-Chicken Salad)

Everyone, I know it's been a while! I CAN EXPLAIN!!!!!!!!!!!


See, believe it or not, I try to cook something new ALL THE TIME... and not all of it is fit for company! Not all of it would I feed to any of you, nor any of YOURS! And isn't that the point of cooking? Not just to cook for ourselves, but to cook for others, for "communion" with one another. Hey- it's been going on since Adam and Eve shared a tasty apple...


So, I have a few items to share with you all- great things are coming, light, refreshing, EASY, and FULL OF FLAVOR!! Not only that, but they're even... dare I say it? Ok,... softly. Get close to the screen... 'cuz I'm going to whisper... closer... CLOSER!!!! 


It's healthy! YES INDEED PEOPLE! Bikini season is right around the corner, and some people should be in a bikini, and the rest of us not so much! And NO ONE should be in spandex!!! (have we not all seen the photos of the Walmart customers?) But, this will help us all feel fit, confident, energetic, and as though we're cheating on our diets (believe it or not)!


So, I'm going to start with something today, that's served room temp, and very simple to prepare. It's very versatile- you could serve this on top of Romaine lettuce as a salad, with tortilla chips (not too many now!), on a pita... you get the gist! Heck, in a pinch, you probably have enough supplies in the house to make this TONIGHT!

The finished product, sittin' all fancy and stuff!
(GIMME A FORK AND SOME DORITOS!!! RIGHT?)

Big Bruiser Avocado-Chicken Salad

• 2/3 cup of homemade mayonnaise (see link: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/anne-burrell/homemade-mayonnaise-recipe/index.html)
• 1/3 cup red onion, diced
• 4 green onions, diced (whites and greens)
• Two chicken breasts (cooked how you like*)
• Two avocados, in big chunks
• 1/2 C chopped cilantro, loosely measured (a couple handfuls at least!)
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Two pinches of cayenne pepper
• 1/4 C lemon or lime juice
• Lemon/Lime wedges on the side
• Sliced cucumber, pita chips, tortilla chips, endive leaves, Romaine lettuce leaves (whole)

You'll want gloves for this!

Bruisin' the bird and the avo-CADOooo... take that!
(does my arm really look that hairy? Scary...)

1. In a large bowl, cut chicken in to large chunks and then break in to smaller pieces with your hands.
2. Add diced onions, cilantro, mayo, lemon juice cayenne, salt and pepper (this is a recipe that drinks in the salt- go easy, but you'll need a lot).
3. Remove the seeds from the avocados and peel- cut into large chunks. Put in bowl to play nice with everyone else... now comes the fun part!
4. Get yer hands in that bowl, and MASH with your fingers, pushing that avocado into every nook and cranny of the chicken, massaging the bird, and bruising the avocado, making it creamy and smooth.
5. Put plastic over the top, making sure it touches the mixture and seals out all the air. Place in fridge for 30 minutes for all the flavors to mingle, co-habitate, fight and get married!
6. Grab some veg or crackers or chips, and dig in! 

Curried Chicken Salad

I like a quick sandwich from time to time. To be honest, I actually love a hot, messy sandwich stacked high with cheese and meats, and- oh, I'm off course already! I appreciate having something quick on hand to stuff my face with, but I have to have variety- GOTTA HAVE IT! Peanut butter and banana is OK, but too sweet. I usually have cooked chicken leftover from something at least once a month, so I generally have chicken salad of one kind or another about that often as well.

I like to spice things up and go for maximum flavor in every bite whenever I can which is why I put this recipe together. It's got spice, sweet, creamy, crunchy, savory- each time I sink my teeth in to it. And, since summer has arrived (well, we think it's here in Seattle, but it may be fleeting!) grapes and apples and celery will all be available fresh and on sale at most supermarkets. Chicken will be on sale periodically too- especially around July 4th and Labor Day weekends. You may not want to wait that long though!

Curried Chicken Salad

2 C chicken, chopped (I prefer to use dark meat- thighs mostly. It's not as dry, and it's generally cheaper anyways)
1/2 C chopped celery
1 C chopped apple
1/2 C chopped onion
1 hard boiled egg, chopped

3/4 C mayo (light mayo works fine; we just need something creamy and binding- the majority of flavor isn't from the mayo)
1/8 C + 1 t apple cider vinegar (thins the mayo just enough, and adds a bit of twang to it all)
2 t lemon juice
1 t cumin (adds a nice smokey flavor)
3-1/2 t yellow curry powder
Salt and pepper to taste

Set aside your choice of any or a combination of the following:
1/2 C chopped dried cherries (less if combining with other items in this list)
1/2 C raisins (less if combining with other items in this list)
1/4 grapes*
1/4 sliced almonds (almonds and curry go great together!)
 
1. Quite simply, add everything in the top list to a big mixing bowl, and combine until everything has a good coating. By the way, I have come to appreciate mixing bowls that have a rubber bottom so they don't slide all over the counter!
2. *If you are going to use grapes, don't add them to the initial mix. They will make the chicken salad too watery, and potentially go bad before you can eat all of the chicken salad. Instead, when you're ready to make a sandwich or salad, or two, scoop out as much chicken salad as you need, and mix in some grapes to just that much.
3. Add your combination of the lower list (raisins, almonds, etc.).
4. Serve over greens or in a sandwich.
5. Smile and gloat as everyone else has bologna or PB and J!!!