Light Chicken Salad Boats

Today I’ve got a quick and easy recipe using some of my favorite ‘ready’ ingredients from the grocery store.  My Mom, singlehandedly makes the MOST delicious chicken salad EVER.  Ask anyone.  I promise.  Until I can shake her down for the recipe I’ll leave you with this lighter, healthier and certainly speedy version.  These ‘boats’ are suitable for lunch or snacks.  Enjoy!

Chicken Salad Cucumber Boats

by Cristen     www.foodandswine.com

Makes 4 portions

2 C chopped chilled or warm rotisserie chicken (chopped to 1/2-1″ cubes)

4 stalks celery, chopped into 1/4″ pieces

4 Laughing Cow Creamy Swiss Wedges

4 tsp sour cream (I use Anderson Erickson “Chive” sour cream dip)

1/2 C quartered grapes or blueberries sliced in half

2 tsp chopped fresh dill

4 mini cucumbers, cut in half lengthwise, seeds scooped out with a spoon

1/4 C pecan halves, roughly chopped

kosher salt

Combine chicken, celery, Laughing Cow wedges and sour cream in a small bowl.  Mix well until combined.  Add grapes/blueberries, and dill. Fold gently until incorporated. Spoon mixture evenly into cucumber halves.  Sprinkle evenly with chopped pecans.  Top with a tiny pinch of salt if desired.  Serve immediately.  Makes 8 halves, 4 servings total.

Today we were out for a drive and saw the nicest little barn.  Boy I’d love to have one like this someday… (family bucket list #7 item is: “Seek out, purchase, move and restore a historical barn”.  So many of these barns are disappearing from the backdrop of our state and it is sad.  (This one isn’t going anywhere, just an observation in general after a few recent in-state road trips.)  Anyway… this barn is nearby and I think it is great!  I’d love to see it opened up!  I’m drooling over the cupolas.