Curried Chicken Salad

With Valentines Day right around the corner, I am already thinking of a Valentines Day Tea  Party…My daughter Elizabeth and her little Winston will be here.   You know me… this is my happiness; to have my children and grandchildren coming and going and coming back again.  My Creativity is stirring  and  I am thinking….what will we do, what I will serve?   I realize that I have been hungry for Curried Chicken Salad sandwiches, among other things.  So I made up a batch for Steve and I… for now…while I think about our happy Valentines Day yet to come and the rest of the Tea party ideas…and well,  I'll am still working on the rest, but here is the chicken salad recipe for now.

2 Chicken Breasts; cooked and cubed

1 small onion; chopped

2 stalks of celery; finely chopped

3 Tablespoons Capers

1/4 cup chopped almonds or cashews

2 hardboiled eggs, chopped and

2/3 cups mayonnaise

1-2 teaspoons Curry Powder (I used 2).

2 teaspoons Red Palm Oil (optional) and 1 teaspoon lemon juice; mix all together.

It is good….

and hits the spot….

and helps inspire the rest of my tea party plans.

Today it is tucked nicely in this healthy low-carb  bun...

which tastes very good..

open faced might be nice for the tea party… or perhaps a thin soft bread with the crusts removed and cut in triangles… I will let you know.

Curried Chicken Salad

Ingredients:

1. 2 Chicken breasts; cooked and cubed
2. 2 stalks of celery
3. 1 small white onion chopped
4. 3 Tablespoons capers
5. 2 hard-boiled eggs chopped
6. 2/3 cup mayonnaise
7. 1-2 teaspoons curry powder
8. 1/4 cup chopped almonds or cashews
9. 2 teaspoons Red Palm Oil
10. 1 teaspoon  fresh lemon juice
11. Salt and pepper to taste

Optional additions: chopped apples, cranberries, raisins or grapes

Instructions:

Put all ingredients in a large bowl.  Mix together.  Use for sandwiches or on top of greens for a salad.  This makes a great S meal for Trim Healthy Mama cooks.  I used  the low carb flax buns to make the sandwiches above.  

Update: Here is the tea party link where I made these as tea sandwiches

Flax Sandwich Buns

These Sandwich buns only have 3.5 grams of Carbohydrates each.   They also have 8 grams of protein in every bun, which is twice what your typical hamburger bun has.  They are perfect for reducing your carbohydrate, sugar and starch intake, while satisfying your bread loving side. They are Trim Healthy Mama and low carbohydrate compatible.  This recipe is a variation of a recipe that came from the book Trim Healthy Mama  by Serene Allison and Pearl Barrett.   The simple, healthy ingredients include Flax meal, eggs, Parmesan cheese and olive oil, resulting in a nutty, grain bread, enhanced with the flavor of Parmesan cheese.  They are very good even if slightly different in texture to your standard hamburger or sandwich bun.  A typical hamburger bun has 22 grams of carbohydrates (and that's for a small bun).  These take 5 minutes to make and 20 minutes to bake.   It is nice to think there is such quick and easy alternative that is so low in carbs and actually good for you; and what a tasty way to add more flax into your diet.

You can buy Flax meal, but I use a coffee grinder to grind Flax Seed into Meal.  That way, I can store the seeds in my refrigerator and they retain all of their healthy benefits longer.

Measure 1 1/8 cup Flax meal into a bowl.

Add 3/4 cup of Parmesan Cheese.

Add 2 teaspoons baking powder and 1 teaspoon garlic powder and whisk all together.

 Add 6 eggs,  mix well then add 3 Tablespoons Olive oil and 3 Tablespoons water.

Mix together unit well blended.

Scoop  into "Muffin Top" pans.

 You can also  pour batter onto a Parchment Paper lined cookie sheet; spreading  each out to the approximate bun size that you desire.

Bake in a 325 degree preheated oven for 20 minutes.

 They come out looking really pretty from the "muffin top" pan.

 They also do very nicely on a cookie sheet.

 Yum.

 Now you have a wonderful low carb Hamburger bun….

or sandwich bun.

They also make a nice open faced sandwich; just slice open the bun and use each side in the open faced fashion.

Flax Sandwich Buns

Ingredients:

1 1/8 cup Flax meal

3/4 cup Parmesan Cheese

2 teaspoons Baking powder

1 teaspoon garlic powder

6 eggs

3 Tablespoons Olive oil, 

3 Tablespoons water

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.  Mix together dry ingredients and stir until well blended.  Add eggs and whisk well.  Add Olive oil  and water and whisk together  thoroughly.  Spoon into greased  "Muffin Top"  pans, or  onto a parchment paper lined baking sheet.  Bake for 20 minutes.  Cool and slice.

The Pioneer Woman's Donut Story and a Trim Healthy Mama

"All I Wanted Was Donut"

This week, I am implementing some "new things" into my life.  Namely a book called "Trim Healthy Mama"… also known as "THM".  I ordered it after having read quite a bit about it on various blogs and on Pinterest.  My friend Cinnamon on "Knights and Maidens Gathering" has been talking about and following the THM book for several months now, and she got me intrigued.  I finally ordered it several  weeks ago.  I really like all that I am reading and am beginning to make out my recipe and grocery list for the week.  So here goes… I am blogging it… and now I am committed right?   I'm not saying I will do any "before and afters" on the blog; I'm not that brave yet… but I might mention how I am doing with it now and then, and will publish recipes at times that are compatible with it, along with some of my standard family recipes.  I am excited to begin.  I have not completely finished the book yet, but have gotten the "gist" of it, and it is right up my alley in terms of healthful habits and the food we eat, and I feel as if I can add it as a supplement to the "Eating Well" thoughts I have had in my own conclusions about food.  I am looking forward to balancing my hormones and blood sugar as well as loosing some weight.  While I was reading the THM book, I also happened to read Pioneer Woman's "Donut Story".  Now if you haven't read that story yet, get ready for a good laugh.  I can completely relate to her in this story… sounds like something I would do… so I couldn't resist linking it here as I begin my THM lifestyle…  a reminder that we are all human and…. well as I said we can all use a good laugh right?  Read it for yourself.  It's called  "All I wanted was a Donut" : To me laughter is a wonderful fuel for life.

Also, here is a link to Trim Healthy Mama.  Click on it and then click on their video if you want some info about it… they are cute girls, and I loved their video….I think you will be blessed by it as well.

Here's to a new Year of health and laughter.  Have a great week everyone.

New Year Fare

So, 2014 is underway.  I wonder how long it will take me to write 14 instead of 13 on all of my dates… it seems like every year it takes me a week or two to get it down.  Nathan and Family flew home on New Years day.  Russell flies out today.  It is already very quiet around here.  We are going to miss the joyful noises.   We have cleaned and organized car and home, and everything is almost back in order.  Steve and I both had to pause when we looked at that highchair... we put off putting that away for the moment....maybe tomorrow.

 Yesterday and today I am "un-Christmas decorating"; I think I am far behind many of you.  I have sometimes had impulses to "un-decorate" right after Christmas, but I rarely seem to be able to do it until after New Years.  Either way, it is always nice to get everything back in order again and tidy.   I love the New Year when it seems as if all things are new again.  It is nice to start fresh; like waking up to a new day. 

Here are some final highlights from our wonderful Christmas vacation.  They are really our New Years Eve highlights; the closest thing to a New Years Eve party we had.  We went to Garden of the gods in Colorado Springs, and to Focus on the family and "Whit's End".  It was a wonderful day, with another picnic, hiking and sightseeing.  On New Years day, Steve and I took Nathan and family to the airport in the wee hours of the morning, then did a few things in Colorado Springs some of which was "after" Christmas shopping.  We had some Christmas gift cards to spend, so we went on an date, and made a day of it.   Yesterday,  we cleaned and organized all day, then we made a barbecue rib dinner to enjoy with Eddie and Russ.  Russ's favorite meal is Barbecue ribs and garlic mashed potatoes, and we like to make at least one of those meals while he is here. 

Little "Cinnabun" likes it best when she is in the back pack with Daddy.

She loves to look around ….

… and in no time she is asleep.  She isn't one that likes to sleep much, but when she is in that backpack she goes right out.   Perhaps she feels that even though she is sleeping she is still a part of what is going on.

This lovely area in Colorado Springs is called "Garden of the gods", but to me it is "God's Garden".  It is beautiful.

Elon wants you to see the beautiful view.

The sign recommends that you stay on the trail incase rattlesnakes are present.  Good advice for life I think.

Its good to have grandsons.  They remind you of  life's simple joys.

"C'mon and check out this cave, Elon".

The red rocks are beautiful, interesting and fun to climb around on.

Nathan, Steve, Elon, Himilce and Asher.

Focus on the family was also a great place to bring the kids.

The boys loved sliding down the big slide that goes down 3 stories.

 

A doll house rendition of "Whit's End".  Focus on the family has created all sorts of fun for kids, based on their  radio show "Adventures in Odyssey".  It is delightful to the kids.  

This is an old airplane they can climb through.

Elon found the puppets and puppet stage.

He has a look that reminds me of his Daddy here.



Well, I am off to start my day; Finish de-decorating and make some muffins.  Steve's Mom and her cousin are coming to tea today, so I am going to get up and "at em".
Have a wonderful weekend everyone.