Fabulous Fall Chicken Salad Recipes

Steps:

• Choose a heavy pot or Dutch oven with a tightfitting lid. It should be large enough to hold the chicken snugly, but not much bigger. Fill pot about 2/3 full with cold water, but don't put the chicken in yet. Boil some extra water in a teakettle.
• Add scallions and peppercorns to water, cover and bring to a rolling boil. Turn off heat and slip chicken pieces into the hot water. If needed, add boiling water from the kettle to cover chicken with water by 2 inches. Replace the lid and let chicken rest in the hot water for about 2 hours. Do not turn the flame back on: The pot will retain enough heat to cook chicken thoroughly and safely. (To test, cut into 1 piece of chicken and check the meat near the bone. If it is still pink, return the pot to low heat, bring the water to a simmer and simmer 10 minutes more.)
• Lift chicken out of the pot. Remove and discard bones, skin and fat. Pat the meat dry with paper towels, then cut or shred into small bite-size pieces and transfer to a bowl. (Meanwhile, simmer cooking liquid until tasty, strain and refrigerate or freeze to use as chicken stock.)
• In a bowl, whisk together juice of 1/2 lemon, mayonnaise and sour cream. If using, whisk in mustard or brine. Taste and adjust the seasonings and thickness to your liking. Pour over chicken, scraping the bowl clean with a rubber spatula.
• Add celery, onion if using, nuts, herbs and salt and pepper. Toss gently but thoroughly. Refrigerate, covered, at least 4 hours. Taste and add salt and pepper as needed. Sprinkle with herbs before serving.

Steps:

• 1. Place chicken breasts in a large pot with chicken broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until chicken breasts are thoroughly cooked.
• 2. Cool slightly and then either shred or cut into small chunks.
• 3. Meanwhile, mince the celery and onion. Quarter the grapes. Dice the apples.
• 4. Mix the mayonnaise and coleslaw mix together. Fold in the chicken and all the prepared ingredients along with the curry powder. Mix well. If desired, add salt and pepper to taste. (I do not use any salt in this recipe--only freshly ground pepper; you can also increase the curry powder to 3/4 teaspoon if you wish a stronger flavor).
• 5. Refrigerate at least 2 hours before serving to allow flavors to blend. Keep refrigerated.

Steps:

• Remove meat from rotisserie chicken. Chop into bite size pieces. Add to large bowl; set aside.
• In a medium size bowl, add the next 9 ingredients; mix to blend. Add lime juice, adobo seasoning and black pepper to taste. Add to chicken and combine to distribute all ingredients evenly. Taste for seasoning and correct, if necessary. Chill for 1 hour before serving.
• NOTE: Concerning the seasonings, I don't always add exactly the amounts given, it's all a matter of taste.
• Tip: I sometimes add a bit of sugar, if I went over too much on the lime juice or if I want a hint of sweetness. I add about 1/2 - 1 tsp sugar.
• Another Tip: If you go over too much on the salt, add a few more drops of lime juice. Both lime and lemon juice, make the saltiness disapear. Of course test it bit by bit when adding lemon or lime juice, because you don't want to over power with the juice flavor. This tip is one of the secrets of the restaurant trade.