Thursday, May 31, 2012

Cha Cha Chicken Salad

I unmolded it on my crystal cake pedestal that I received as a gift.
This recipe has been in my stash for a long time!  I have a confession to make.  I am a hoarder...not of "stuff", but of recipes.  I have been saving recipes since I was in high school.  I would, even back then, cut recipes out of the newspaper.  I still do this.  I'll save them from magazines, copy them at the hair salon, etc., etc.  This is one of those recipes!!  I made it the other night because I had some leftover chicken.  Everyone thought it was a dessert when I put it on the table.  Really, it's that pretty!  I loved it and thought it would be perfectly wonderful for a ladies luncheon.  My DH sometimes hates it when I change things up. As for  me, I LOVE trying new things.  If you're like me and want to try a new chicken salad, I hope you try out this Cha Cha version!!

My "new" snack sets I got @ 4 for $5.00!! Fun for serving berries in the cup !
I bought these at a once- a- month Trade Days we have near us.
Recipe is from Southern Living, June 2007

Ingredients:
8 oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened
1 cup mayonnaise
2 tsp. curry powder
1 tsp. salt
6 cups chopped cooked chicken (1 ½ rotisserie chicken)
8 oz. can crushed pineapple (do not drain)
2/3 cup orange-flavored sweetened dried cranberries (I used plain)
1 cup chopped roasted, salted almonds
Garnishes: fresh herbs, blackberries, raspberries, sliced peaches

Directions:
1. Whisk together cream cheese and next 3 ingredients in a large bowl; stir in chicken, pineapple, and cranberries just until blended.

2. If desired, spoon mixture into a plastic wrap-lined 8-inch round cake pan (See NOTE); cover and chill at least 8 hours or up to 24 hours. Invert chicken salad onto a cake stand, and remove plastic wrap. Gently press chopped almonds onto sides of chicken salad. Garnish, if desired.   I used blackberries around the outside and some basil and a red raspberry on top.
NOTE:  I made 3/4 of this recipe and it completely filled my 8" cake pan.  If you make the whole recipe, you may need a 9" pan or even a springform pan.
How about a glass of Apricot Lavender Iced Tea
from my pink depression glass pitcher?

I am sharing this with:

Mix It Up Monday!
On the Menu Monday
Tea Time Tuesday at Rose Chintz Cottage
Your Cozy Home Party
Tasty Tuesday                                                                    
The Bunny Hop
Let's Dish!
Tablescape Thursday
Full Plate Thursday
Foodie Friday
Weekend Potluck
Link 'n Greet Party
Seasonal Sundays

34 comments:

  1. Looks like a great dish Kitty! I soooo understand about guys not wanting to try new things, my sons would eat the same 5 dinners in rotation if they had it their way! And of course I'm lovin' your fun piggy chalk board:@)

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  2. OOOO - so pretty for sure. I would love those cranberries in there. I am with you in hoarding recipes. I drive myself crazy because I can't find one among my many 'keepsake'places for storing recipes. I feel like I could spend a year organizing all my recipes. It's soo fun to try new things...my hubby never complains and that really helps. Thanks for sharing another de-lish dish.

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  3. Sounds wonderful! I'm your newest follower!
    Hugs,
    Anne

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  4. YUM- and looks great, Kitty!

    Thanks so much for sharing!

    Your new snack sets were an awesome frugal find, well done!!

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  5. Hmmmm, definitely wonderful for a ladies luncheon...or any time. Looks beautiful!

    Pat

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  6. I just love chicken salad so am willing to try ANY version. This one sounds delicious, thanks!!! XO, Pinky

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  7. Kitty~ Your Cha Cha Chicken Salad looks delicious! I have a page/recipe stash too and saved this from a back issue of SL! We had it for a Christmas party this past year but it's much more timely and perfect for spring or summer, especially garnished with your blackberries! I reduce the curry to 1 1/2 teaspoon for the none curry lovers. It seems like an unlikely pairing of ingredients but it's wonderful! Have a good week :)

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  8. Hi Kitty,
    You sound like me, I save recipes forever and ever. This one sure needed to come out of the box, it looks delicious and I will be trying it very soon. Thanks for sharing your awesome food!
    Miz Helen

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  9. Hi Kitty
    You're right - you bring the main course and I'll supply the dessert. I like this recipe and I have a luncheon coming up in a couple of weeks so I'll be making Cha cha chicken.
    Judith

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  10. Kitty, this recipe sounds delish! I love chicken anything so I will have to try this. Thanks for sharing your recipe and I love your pink depression glass pitcher filled with iced tea; pretty!

    Blessings,
    Sandi

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  11. what a great way to serve the chicken salad! I love the name!!!

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  12. Your chicken salad looks great, Kitty! Love your snack trays too. Very cute! And that depression glass pitcher - wow, how stunning!

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  13. KItty, what an interesting recipe! I know what you mean about being a recipe hoarder too!
    Thanks for bringing your not-ordinary chicken salad to ON THE MENU MONDAY!

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  14. Hi Kitty,
    that is a funny name for a delicious salad. Sounds really yummy and the Apricot Lavender Iced Tea looks tempting, too.
    Best greetings, Johanna

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  15. Oh, goodness. this sounds wonderful! A must try for sure! Happy Tea Day!

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  16. Oh this looks soooooooooo good and you have it presented beautifully. Almost looks too good to eat. Thanks tons for joining TTT. Hugs, Marty

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  17. Your Cha Cha Chicken Salad looks too pretty to eat! I know my family would love this! Thanks for sharing the recipe. And your Apricot Lavender iced tea sounds delicious! Have a wonderful week!
    Blessings,
    Lisa

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  18. I don't know why men are like that about food. My dad had trouble adjusting from his mom's food when he married mom. Now that I like to cook and cook some of the meals in our home, he says he doesn't like the meal if he knows I've made it. It can't be bad since he cleans his plate....and sometimes mom and I aren't, um, completely honest about who made what. It's totally physiological, as when he thinks she makes it, my food is fine. *hee hee*

    I love the presentation of your chicken salad and it sounds really yummy! Thanks for linking up to Your Cozy Home Party!

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  19. Oh! Thanks for the recipe. I love chicken salad and this looks perfect for a tea or luncheon.
    Nancy

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  20. That sounds delicious and looks beautiful. I think I'll have to try this one. I can relate to being a recipe hoarder. I have some that date back from my high school days, too. I now clutter up my computer hard drive with recipes instead of my drawers and cabinets!

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  21. Oh, yeah...THIS I could do!!! I love curry in chicken salad, and the dried cranberries sound good, too. I'm going to Costco this weekend, so I'll pick up a rotisserie chicken to give it a try! As for men and food changes, I hit the jackpot on that one. My Dad will eat everything you put in front of him. He grew up on a farm back during the Depression, so he learned to not be too picky. My husband, too, will eat everything whether he truly likes it or not. He's a doctor and accustomed to eating hospital food "back in the day" before me, so his palate is far from refined. He can't even tell you what he ate an hour later!!!! He just sits there, eats it, thanks me, gives me a kiss and goes on about his little business. Hallelujah!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's a good thing that you are a recipe hoarder rather than a dish hoarder like me. Recipes take up a lot less space, especially if you scan them into your computer! Thanks for this recipe, Kitty, and have a wonderful week!!!

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  22. I save recipes too. This sounds so yummy. I love the spices used in it. Another for the must try file. You certainly do have a wonderful knack for sharing the best.. Have a great week, xo marlis

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  23. My grandmother saved every recipe that came her way, and I wish I had them now. My mom went through them and tossed many. Now she saves them too, so maybe that will be my destiny. I love reading cookbooks, but I'm not really a cook! Your recipe looks good. Although my hubby will eat anything once, my son would eat the same thing every night. No changes to the recipe allowed! Have a wonderful evening! Linda

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  24. Kitty, I am with you! When I would babysit as a young teen, I would read their cookbooks and then when I was in college and couldn't stand studying for another minute for finals, I would head to the library and read cookbooks. I too have been cutting recipes out for ages. I buy cookbooks and don't even have to try any of the recipes, I just love reading them! It is a fun addiction to have.

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  25. I am most definitely saving this one! I used to do a congealed chicken salad much like this, but this sounds even better.

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  26. Kitty, this does sound good. I like anything with curry, and even use it in a peanut butter spread for my sandwich. Your snack set and crystal cake pedestal are lovely!

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  27. Love the snack sets, great price.
    Thanks for linking them up to Let's Dish!
    Have a great weekend!

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  28. Yummy! You always have such great recipes, Kitty...

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  29. Pineapple and cranberries! That sounds wonderful! Thanks for sharing this recipe. I have a luncheon coming up and would love to give it a try!

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  30. Hi Kitty!

    Well if you've seen my last post you know for sure that I am not much of a cook but I do love to eat! This dish looks really pretty and would be a big hit since chicken salad is so popular at lady's luncheons.

    It looks easy to prepare and can't be too fattening. I know my husband would like it... I just may try it!

    xoxo Bunny Jean

    ps. Love those little snack sets.

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  31. Love the ingredients. Sounds magical.

    Thanks so much for being a part of Seasonal Sundays.

    - The Tablescaper

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  32. Lovely salad. It would be great if you linked it in to today's Food on Friday which is collecting salad recipes.

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  33. Hey,
    I am in a bit of a rush here. I made the cha cha chicken salad last night but i also added sour cream to it. I added the crushed pineapples without draining. The salad was a little liquidy so i added some macaroni to it. It has been sitting in the fridge for over eight hours but still isn't set. Can you PLEASE tell me how to fix this problem asap. I have a dinner tonight so i only have a couple of hours to fix it. Waiting for a reply desperately!!!!

    Thank you!

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