Sunday, March 29, 2009

Chicken Salad and Granola: Cook Once, Eat All Week

I love Saturdays. Even rainy, cold, not-quite-Spring Saturdays. In fact, I might love those the most, because they're the perfect excuse to wander through Whole Foods, grazing on niblets of cheese and sipping on fair trade coffee, fantasizing about all the delicious foods I have all day to lovingly create.

And it's even better when those delicious things will guarantee tasty and healthy breakfasts and lunches on the dreary, tired workdays.

I've grown a little tired lately of deli meat, and have vowed to stop calling a Venti drip coffee "breakfast." A few indulgent hours in the kitchen, and I had crunchy, homemade granola to sprinkle over yogurt in the mornings, and creamy chicken salad to eat on whole wheat for lunches at work.

Thus, I bring you: HOMEMADE GRANOLA and CHICKEN SALAD WITH GREEN GRAPES & WALNUTS.

GRANOLA



2 c. dry oats
1 c. crushed flake cereal, such as Special K Protein
1/2 c. raw pumpkin seeds
1/2 c. dried cranberries
3 T. honey
2 T. brown sugar
2 T. vegetable oil
nonstick spray

Preheat oven to 325. Mix all ingredients together in a bowl. Spread in a single layer on a baking sheet that is well-coated with nonstick spray, and bake for 15-20 minutes, watching closely so that it doesn't burn. Cool, and store in an airtight container.




CHICKEN SALAD WITH GREEN GRAPES & WALNUTS



1 large or 2 small chicken breasts
1/2 c. chicken broth
1/3 c. organic mayo
1/3 c. 2% Greek-style yogurt (such as Fage)
handful large green grapes, quartered
1/3 c. walnuts, roughly chopped
handful fresh parsley, chopped
juice of 1/2 a lemon
salt and pepper

STEP ONE:

In a shallow pan with a lid, cook the chicken breast in the chicken broth on medium-low heat, covered, until the chicken is cooked through (you're basically steaming the chicken). Save the broth for another use. Cool chicken on cutting board until it's cool enought to touch.



STEP TWO:

Mix the remaining ingredients in a large bowl (one with a matching lid works perfectly for storage later). When the chicken has cooled, chop into small dices. Mix into the sauce mixture. Refrigerate until ready to use.





This week, there will be no excuse for liquid-caffeine breakfasts and vending machine "lunches." Just fresh granola and yummy chicken salad!

Thanks for reading; more soon...
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