Elizabeth's Chicken Salad

Another wind storm and the peaches are gone from the front yard.  Lucky for us more are ripening in the backyard. For this great summer salad, I replaced the grapes and added freshly picked peaches.  A fabulous switch.

During the past week I have tried out a variety of organic chicken and have been less then impressed.  I am back to Empire Kosher organic chicken - worth every penny.  Best of all it doesn't have the funky bits shoved in it.  Ugh!  I hate having to dive into the carcass to pull out the inners.

Elizabeth's Chicken Salad

from The Fiddlehead Cookbook

adapted

Poached Chicken

1 1/2 cups water

1/2 cup dry white wine

1 sweet onion quartered

2 organic carrots cut into 2 inch pieces

1 organic celery rib cut into 2 inch pieces

1/2 lemon

5 parsley springs

1 garlic clove lightly crushed

1/4t black peppercorns

4 springs fresh thyme

2 large whole kosher organic chicken breasts

~ place all ingredients but chicken in pot over high heat

~ place chicken on top of vegetables

~ when liquid comes to a boil reduce heat to low and cover

~ simmer gently until meat is cooed through 15 to 20 minutes

~ remove chicken from the pot and allow to cool

~ you can toss the stock or strain and save for another use

~ cut chicken into 1/2 cubes

~ cover and refrigerate until ready to make salad

Chicken Salad

4 cups cubed chicken

4T extra virgin olive oil

4T raspberry vinegar

2T low fat sour cream

2t dijon mustard

4 freshly picked peaches or organic peaches

1/2 to 3/4 cup toasted chopped walnuts

sea salt and black pepper to taste

3 cups shredded romaine lettuce

~ in a large mixing bowl add chicken

~ whisk olive oil, vinegar, sour cream and mustard in a small bowl

~ add to the chicken and mix 

~ add salt and pepper to taste

~ plate 1/2 cup lettuce per plate

~ top with chicken mixture

~ sprinkle nuts and arrange peaches

from our garden: peaches, thyme, parsley, lemon

Dehydrated Peaches

A day of rest and catching up after two weeks of non-stopping fun filled, exhausting, kid fueled activities...aahhh.  Stepping back prior to the craziness, I had my moment of zen in the form of dried peaches.

Our cup (bowl) runith over unfortunately, they don't just pop open into perfect halves like apricots.  So the juice ran down my hands, swirled around my arms and sprayed my counter.  Next time I will device a better way.

 Another helpful hint I forgotten, cut everything the same size.  Impossible!  I am not that persnickety.  Although it makes timing that much easier, oh well live life and don't let odd sized peaches muddle your day.

Dehydrated Peaches

peaches
4 cups of water with the juice of one lemon squeezed into it

~ pit and cut peaches into equal size portions (is that even possible?)
~ place peaches into water solution - this is suppose to stop discoloration (works ok and is easy enough)
~ drain peaches
~ place on drier leaving space for air flow
~ dry in dehydrator on dried fruit setting (120-140 degrees)
~ should take 6-20 hours (mine took 18 hours)

storage: I place mine in a freezer zip lock bag in the freeze.  I should have used my plastic bag air sucking device (brain fart can't remember name...that is what kids do to you), but I was too too lazy and the easy way is just fine.