Poppyseed Chicken Salad

The other day I had a hankering for chicken salad.  I have no idea where it came from and the funny thing about it, I have only had chicken salad once in my life.  But, I had to have it.  I was too lazy to even look up a recipe so I just adapted my Chicken with Dried Cherries Pasta Salad recipe to a chicken salad recipe.  

The results, my friends, amazing.  I would eat this stuff slathered on an old boot.  But, I think it does taste best on soft whole wheat bread with two layers of Romaine lettuce.  It would also be great on crackers as a little snack or lazy dinner.  Let's get it going...

Start with chopping up a few green onions

And celery.  That's all the chopping that is needed. Did I mention this recipe is super easy?

Then you get started on the dressing.  One cup of Mayo...I used the "light mayo" and it was great.  Ps. how tan is my hand!?  (Disclaimer: it does not look like that in real life).

Add a tablespoon of powdered sugar

Some poppy seeds

Salt

A good amount of black pepper

Splash of vinegar, I used white Balsamic

And dried mustard.  Give it a good stir. Taste and make sure you don't need any more salt and or pepper

Okay, I kind of cheated but it was worth it.  I shredded two rotisserie chicken breasts.  I love them.

Add in the green onions, celery along with some dried cranberries and almonds.

Add the dressing a little at a time until you reach your desired amount.  I used every drop and it was perfection.  It as if it was meant to be..which is good because I really didn't know what I was doing.

Then the sandwich construction begins.  Bread, lettuce.

Top with a good amount of the chicken salad.

And Romaine again.  Double Romaine is essential.

Other slice of bread.

Mr. Schwartz was standing over my shoulder when I was making this saying, "so what do you put in chicken salad...." and basically cringed after every addition.  Dried cranberries set him over the edge but he agreed to try it.

The verdict: He loves.  And so do I.  And I love him too.  It's just a big o' love fest.

Poppyseed Chicken Salad
(Makes enough for 4 sandwiches with a good amount in each)


1 cup Mayo, light is okay
1 tablespoon powdered sugar
3/4 tablespoon (just estimate) poppy seeds
1 teaspoon salt
10 cracks or so black pepper
Splash (1-2 teaspoons or so) white vinegar, I used white Balsamic
1/2 teaspoon dried mustard
2 rotisserie chicken breasts, shredded

2-3 green onions, finely chopped

2 ribs/stalks of celery, cut pretty finely

1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup sliced almonds
Romaine, for sandwich
Whole wheat bread, for sandwich

In a small bowl, combine the mayo, powdered sugar, poppy seeds, salt, black pepper, white vinegar and dried mustard.  Give it a good stir to combine and taste for seasonings.  Add additional salt and pepper to your taste.

Add the chicken, onions, celery, cranberries and almonds into a large bowl.  Add the dressing, a little at a time, until you reach your desired amount.

To construct the sandwich, place a piece of bread, then a layer or Romaine lettuce, then slather on the chicken salad, top with more Romaine and the other slice of bread.

Enjoy!

Recipe by: Mrs. Schwartz

Cheesy Broccoli and Chicken Pizza

If you follow me on twitter or know me personally, you are aware that this is a very busy time for me at my "day job."  Between preparing for the school year to begin and squeeze in some fun things this week I haven't had a chance to catch my breath.  

Last night I was in need of making something to fit three criteria: 1. EASY 2. HEALTHY 3. SATISFYING.  Not only did I want to make something for Mr. Schwartz and I for dinner I remembered this contest that called for the "Ultimate Weeknight Dinner."  Flash back to my school days, I'm a total procrastinator...the deadline for the contest is today.  Old habits die hard.  : ) 

First we make the cheese sauce.  This is the only part of the recipe we really have to "make."  Start by melting a bit of butter (this looks like I lot, I modified the recipe below) in a sauce pan on medium heat.

Once the butter is melted, add some flour.

Stirring constantly, cook the flour taste out of the flour.

Add some milk and stir.  Reduce the heat to low.

Grate some cheese

And shred some chicken.  I used a rotisserie chicken but you could use any type of chicken you prefer.

Another time saver--ready to bake pizza crust.  I'm a bigger fan of Trader Joe's ready  made pizza dough but, TJ's is not close to my house :(.  This did just fine.

Prepare the pizza peel with a bit of cornmeal.  If you aren't using a pizza stone, flip a jelly roll pan upside down and add the cornmeal to that.

Roll out the dough the best you can into a "pizza like shape."

This is the "pizza like shape" I came up with.  Let's just call it "rustic."

Add the cheese to the sauce

Along with some cayenne pepper.  Add as much or as little as you would like.  We like things spicy and for now we don't have any kiddos at our house.  If you do, just scale back on the cayenne.

Cook up some broccoli, I just popped it in the microwave for about a minute--I despise soggy broccoli.

Then assemble the pizza...spread the cheese sauce on the dough

Top with a generous amount of chicken

Then the broccoli and additional shredded cheddar cheese.  I guess in my rush to eat this I forgot to take a picture.  Pop this in a preheated oven at 450 degrees for about 11 minutes.

This cheesy wonder will be the result. Do you see that roasted goodness on that piece of broccoli--I die.

This is the perfect weeknight dinner...it includes everything protein, veggies, dairy and starch.

If anything can get kiddos to eat veggies just call it pizza and put cheese on it.

You can thank me later.

Cheesy Broccoli Chicken Pizza

For the cheese sauce:
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
1/4 cup flour
1 cup milk
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
3 generous shakes of cayenne pepper (optional)

Start by melting the butter/margarine in a medium sauce pan on medium heat.  Once it is melted, add the flour.  Stir constantly for about 3 minutes or until the gummy flour taste is cooked out of the flour.  Whisking constantly to avoid lumps, add the milk.  Once this is incorporated, turn the burner down to low and add the cheese and cayenne.  That's it, cheese sauce is finished!

For the pizza: 

Cheese sauce 

1 Roll refrigerated pizza dough

2 tablespoons cornmeal

2 chicken breasts (I used rotisserie chicken)

1 1/2 cups broccoli

1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. 

Place the broccoli in a microwave safe bowl and cook on high for about a minute.  Shred the chicken into large bite sized pieces.  

Roll out the pizza dough into your desired shape.  Place on a pizza peel or inverted jelly roll pan that has been generously dusted with the cornmeal.  Spread the cheese sauce over the dough.  Top with the chicken, broccoli and cheese.  

Place in the oven on a pizza stone or directly in the oven if using a jelly roll pan.  Bake for about 10 minutes then check on the pizza.  It should be turning golden brown and the cheese should be melted.  If it needs a few more minutes add a minute at a time.  Mine took about 11 minutes.  

Remove from the oven, slice and enjoy! 

**Note, you can switch things up very easily with this recipe.  Adding ham and using swiss cheese would be great!  Get your kids involved and let them make individual pizzas to their liking.  Flip one side of the pizza over on top of it's self, pinch the edges together and make it into a calzone.  The possibilities are endless!!**

Recipe by: Mrs. Schwartz