Meggen’s Chicken Salad

Moms love it when the table looks beautiful.

Okay, It’s been a long quarantine. We’re all getting a little tired of cooking, cleaning, working from a crowded home, Netflix and the whole darn thing. But you know who is really tired- mommy. She is really tired. And I’m going to let you in on a little secret- she needs a day off in a big way. Pretty much my favorite Mother’s days have been laid back- just a quiet house to myself or sneaking off to Montana to work in my garden for a long weekend and binge watching old movies. So, I’m going to lay out a Dream Mother’s Day that you can plan even while in Quarantine with little fuss. I’m an expert on moms- I am, after all, a seasoned mother of 27 years. Gasp!

Moms loves Chicken salad

Meggen's "made with Love" Chicken Salad

  • 5 chicken breasts, bone in skin on, roasted

  • 2 cups red or green seedless grapes, washed and halved

  • 2 stalks celery chopped

  • 1/4 cup Dijon mustard

  • 1/2 cup 0% fat plain Greek yogurt- Fage works really well

  • 1 1/2 cups toasted pecans, chopped

  • 1/2 cup purple onion, chopped fine

  • 1 cup golden raisins

  • 1 tsp kosher salt

  • 1 tsp ground pepper

  • 1 cup mayonnaise

  • 1 tsp Herbs de Provence

Method

  • On a sheet pan lined with parchment paper, drizzle olive oil over chicken breasts. Sprinkle with a bit of salt and pepper. Roast at 375 degrees until done- about 30-40 minutes. Let cool. Remove the skin and bones. Tear the chicken into small 1-2 inch pieces, tearing so that the dressing will have little pockets to soak into. Set aside.
  • In a large bowl, combine chopped nuts, grapes, raisins, celery and onion. Mix well. Stir in chicken.
    In add mayo, yogurt, mustard, salt and pepper and herbs to chicken mixture. Let cool at least 1 hour. Overnight is best. Serve over a bed of fresh bibb lettuce.
  • Taste the salad for saltiness and if you have enough dressing. I do not like “wet” chicken salad, so I add my mayo in 1/4 cup portions at a time.
Make mom my KETO pancakes- all the yumminess- no carbs!

Dream Mother’s Day-

Start off the day by letting mom have a nice quiet walk- alone. While she’s out, make her a cup of her favorite tea or coffee, make the bed for her, pop a small vase of fresh flowers on her bedside table. Put other flowers around the house for her- maybe in the powder room, the kitchen table, next to the kitchen sink. Then whip up my KETO pancakes with strawberry sauce and fresh berries and leftover yogurt (from the chicken salad recipe) drizzled with strawberry sauce. It tastes decadent but is super healthy. Serve with a tall glass of sparkling water topped with thin slices of lemons and juice. So elegant.

Moms love a sweet treat- no judging today

The let mom have a nice long shower while you tidy up and make her a loaf of banana bread. Don’t have time to bake, do curbside pick up at a local bakery of fresh croissant or muffins. Support local! Then let mom have a quiet place to binge watch her favorite show- season finale of Outlander is this Sunday! If mom wants to read, set up a clean, quiet place for her to read or pick up the latest magazines she loves- Vogue, Veranda, Elle Decor, Hound & Horse- whatever mom likes.

Moms love bubbly

While mom is having quiet time maybe wash her car, the dog or knock out the laundry as a family. Was there a big chore mom’s been putting off- maybe take care it out for her.

Let her have restful time.

No questions.

No ” hey mom, where is my backpack? “

Then in the afternoon- instead of a fancy gift , (I’m at that wonderful place in my life where I really prefer not receiving gifts, but rather time spent with beloved friends and family) perhaps do a potting project with mom. Load up the car and run to the local garden shop and get a few herbs and create a large pot of herbs for the kitchen. Maybe mom would like a rose bush or a potted palm for her reading corner. Think about just getting a simple packet of seeds and planting lettuces. They are super simple and grow fast.

Finally, serve mom up a wonderful dinner of my chicken salad recipe- posted above, more fruit, and some sweet rolls, crackers and a wedge or two of brie or a round of goat cheese. Be sure to celebrate mom with a bottle of her favorite wine or champagne. Set the table with her best china, silver and linens. Put out the good stuff for mom- no paper plates or napkins- mom deserves the best! Fill a glass pitcher with water and more thin lemon slices, and pour mom a big glass of wine. After dinner, the family could go for a drive- drive by her best friend’s house, take a look at a house you used to own, mom’s dream house, drive by grandma’s house and drop off extra flowers or banana bread.

Have a wonderful day celebrating all the women in your life.

Mom wants ALL the flowers! These beauties are from Velvet & Twine.

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4 Comments

  1. margaret arthur says:

    Mums would love flowers or banana bread dropped off……