Cooking for Seven

{Chicken Scampi}

Back in January ‘09, I was approached about doing some photography for an  e-cookbook. I was super excited. This February things started to take shape, and I photographed five of the awesome dishes in March.

Allow me to introduce you to Nourish Me Naturally.

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……As I glanced through Simply Summer by Angela Tunner, this recipe caught my eye. You see, I’m a sucker for anything involving coconut. Not only does it taste so wonderfully exotic, it is also very healthy. Granted, the sweetened shredded coconut used in this recipe is not the most healthy variety of coconut products, but it still tastes delicious.

……This recipe is perfect for that scorching summer day when you don’t feel like adding any extra heat to the house. You could cook the chicken the night before, or on some day that’s pleasantly cool. It is very filling, so you can serve it as your main dish. Or spread it on a piece of you favorite bread to create a very different chicken salad sandwich.

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Mango & Coconut Chicken

From Simply Summer

Ingredients:

• 4 cups torn or shredded cooked chicken (about 3 medium chicken breasts)
• 1/2 cup shredded sweetened coconut
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 3 tablespoons Major Grey mango chutney*
• 1/2 cup plain yogurt (I used sour cream)
• 1/2 cup coarsely chopped Italian parsley
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
• Pepper, black, to taste

Directions:

1) Place the chicken pieces in a medium bowl. Add the shredded coconut, lemon juice, mustard, chutney, and yogurt and toss until well combined. Add the parsley and toss to combine.

2) Stir in the salt and pepper. Taste and adjust seasonings, if necessary. Serve immediately or refrigerate until needed.

Serves 4

*Angela’s Tip: Major Grey is no a brand of chutney, it is a style of chutney. Look for it under various brand names in your supermarket in the condiments or ethnic section

We first tried this recipe about five years ago, for a tea party. It was a hit (at least among the female tasters), and it has been our chicken salad of choice ever since.

This recipe is creamy, yet not too greasy; rich, but balanced with fresh vegetables, sweet fruit, and toasted nuts.

It is excellent all on its own, but it makes a special little treat when served on buttered and toasted bread.

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:: Waldorf Chicken Salad ::

Adapted from The New Best Recipe

Ingredients:

Chicken

• 2 large whole, bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts (for the best taste) or boneless, skinless chicken breasts (for ease of preparation)
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• Salt

Salad

• 2 medium celery ribs, cut into small dice
• 2 medium scallions, white and green parts, minced
• 1 large crisp apple, cored and cut into medium dice
• 6 tablespoons chopped, toasted walnuts
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• 2 tablespoons juice from 1 lemon
• 2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley leaves
• Salt and ground black pepper

Directions:

1) For the chicken: Heat the oven to 400 °F.  Put the breasts in a foil-lined lined baking sheet. Brush with the olive oil and sprinkle generously with salt to taste. Roast until a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the breast reads 160° F, 35 to 40 minutes. Cool to room temperature. If using bone-in skin-on chicken breasts, remove the skin and bones and discard. Shred the meat.

2) For the Salad: Mix the shredded chicken and celery, scallions, apple, walnuts, mayonnaise, sour cream, lemon juice, and parsley together in a large bowl.  Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve. Can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 1 day.

Serves 6 as a main course

To make the sandwiches:

• Your favorite bread for toasting, cut into triangles.
• Butter
• Lettuce
• Waldorf Chicken Salad (see above for recipe)
• Chopped green onions, for garnish, optional

1) Toast the bread, either in a toaster or under a broiler. Spread with butter. Allow to cool slightly.

2) Place a piece of lettuce on each triangle. Carefully spoon a portion of chicken salad on top of each. Garnish with green onions. Serve immediately.

Note: The sandwiches can be covered and refrigerated for a short while. The longer they stand, the soggier the toast will become.