Crunchy Chicken Salad

Ingredients:

• Cooked, shredded chicken breast
• Diced Granny Smith apple
• Chopped celery
• Coarsely chopped walnuts
• Mayonnaise
• Splenda
• Craisins or dried cherries or dried raspberries, finely chopped (optional)

No, I’m not telling you exactly how much of each ingredient you need. It is a very personal decision. Obviously, some will like it sweeter (more apple and/or Splenda) than others. Some will like it more crunchy (walnuts and celery) than others. If you put too much celery, it will make it taste bland, so add a little at a time. My personal mix is to have 1/2 cup apple and 1/8 cup each of walnuts and celery for each 2 cups of shredded chicken, and at least 1/2 cup mayo and 3 packets of Splenda. The amount of each ingredient is variable, depending upon your personal taste.

Start with as much chicken as you think you want. Add apple, celery, and walnuts sparingly. For a sweet dressing, add a little Splenda to the mayo. I like enough mayo for the salad to be very creamy, but you might like it drier. Taste a forkful and adjust as you see fit.

Garnish with something bright and cheery, such as really finely chopped craisins or dried or fresh raspberries. This is the perfect summer salad. It is cool and crunchy and very satisfying.

You can also use plain yogurt instead of mayo. This is also good with curry powder added to it. Go wild and add a little chutney, too, to complete the east Indian experience.