Tag Archives: make ahead meals

Chicken Cherry Pasta Salad

27 Apr

It’s so funny how the weather plays a roll in what meals I’m craving or up for making.  This weeks prediction of 70 degrees has me dreaming about grilling out, backyard games, and lots of sunshine!  I figured it was time to break out the summer recipe box and see what sounded good.  I opted for one of our favorite easy to make dishes, Chicken/Turkey cherry pasta salad.  I have made this with both “meats”  and it is equally as great.  I’ve also made it with smoked turkey from the deli, leftover turkey from a special meal, and roasted chicken… I think you could leave the meat out all together and it would be awesome too!  I’m awful at measuring this out, basically the amounts don’t really matter, but if you are a measurer, Here’s the scoop:

Ingredients:

SALAD

  • 1 pound rotelle pasta
  • 1.5-2 lbs diced cooked turkey or chicken breast
  • 1 cup dried cherries
  • 1 medium diced onion (I often use green onions)
  • 4 diced celery stalks
  • 1 cup toasted whole almonds or chopped pecans (optional)
  • 1/2 bottle of Brianna’s Poppy Seed Dressing OR recipe below (I usually go with the bottle)
  • DRESSING (if you don’t use Brianna’s Poppy Seed Dressing from a Bottle)
    • 2 cups mayonnaise
    • 1/4 cup sugar
    • 2 tablespoons champagne vinegar
    • 2 tablespoons water
    • 1/4 teaspoon finely ground black pepper
    • 2 tablespoons poppy seeds
    • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
      • This meal is also a really great meal to take to neighbors or friends as a “surprise I made you dinner” sort of gift!  Sometimes I just love surprising people with dinner, it isn’t hard to do and it makes their lives just a tiny bit easier!

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Chicken Wild Rice Soup

15 Apr
I know I know, it’s spring, we should be talking about grilling and salads and lots of fresh vegetables, right?  Well, I agree, but today a cold front moved in and brought some wind and the prediction of snow in the mountains so I decided to make some soup…  Plus, it’s easy to share with friends and that is exactly what I plan to do!  You might just be the recipient of a free dinner tomorrow!
  • 6 tablespoons butter
  • 1 tablespoon minced onion
  • ½ cup flour
  • 3 cups chicken broth
  • 2 cups cooked wild rice
  • 1⁄3 cup cooked chicken (I used 2 chicken breasts)
  • ½ cup carrot, finely shredded
  • 1/2 cup sliced celery
  • 3 tablespoons slivered almonds (optional)
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup half and half
  • 2 tablespoons dry sherry
  • snipped parsley or chives for garnish

Directions:

  1. Melt the butter in a soup pot.
  2. Saute the onion until it is softened.
  3. Blend in the flour and then gradually stir in the chicken broth. Stir constantly until it comes to a boil, keep stirring for one more minute.
  4. Add wild rice, chicken, celery, carrots, almonds, salt and simmer about 5 minutes.
  5. Add half-and-half and sherry, heat until just heated through.
  6. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley or chives.

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