When it's too hot to run the oven...make chicken salad

I am not sure what climate you might be reading from, but yesterday was a scorcher here in Kansas City.  I believe the temp reached 98.  A temperature that is way too hot to be running the oven or opening and closing the door to run outside to the grill.  I wondered what we could do for dinner that didn't involve take-out, deli meat, or PB & J.  Josh and I both love chicken salad sandwiches so I thought that would suffice for a cool, summer evening meal.

I don't have a recipe for my chicken salad.  It seems to be a hodge podge of some of my favorite seasonings and "add-in's" depending on how I'm feeling or whose eating it.  In the past, I have made chicken salad (+/-) with craisins, slivered almonds, grapes, apples, celery, and onions.  I have also used a rotisserie chicken which holds a lot of flavor and seems to be a crowd pleaser but most often times I just sear chicken breast in the skillet.  It just depends on what you like.  

Here is what my chicken salad consisted of today:

• 1.5 pound of white chicken breast cut into chunks
• Olive oil
• Italian Seasoning
• Salt
• Pepper
• Fresh garlic
• Grapes
• Green onions
• Plain Yogurt
• Mayonnaise 

I drizzled 3-4 tbsp of olive oil over the chicken in a bowl and added a dash of the Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and a squeeze of fresh garlic before stirring.  Be sure to stir well to make sure all the chicken is covered with the seasoning and olive oil.  Next, transfer the chicken to a skillet until the chicken is fully cooked, then let cool.  

While the chicken is searing in the skillet, cut up your additional ingredients.  In this case, it was green onions and grapes.  However, you can add whatever you want.  After the chicken  has cooled to room temperature, use a knife or chopper to dice the chicken to the size or  consistency of your choice.  Once you have chopped all the chicken, add your additional ingredients (grapes, onions, celery, etc) and add one soup spoon full of mayonnaise and one soup spoon full of plain yogurt and stir.  Now your chicken salad is ready for chilling and two slices of bread :)

I hope you enjoyed this post from my kitchen.

Until next time...

-K-

#chickensalad #lovelanguage