Chicken Salad for a Christmas Tea

My mother-in-law, Gen Lutzke, was invited to a Christmas tea and needed to contribute a dish or plate of food.  I came to her rescue with a plate of my homemade tea buns filled with chicken salad on fresh spinach greens.  Following are my favorite recipes for chicken salads.  These salads can be served year-round on buns or a bed of lettuce.  For a macaroni salad, increase the dressing portion of the recipe and add cooked pasta.

Carrot on top for a little "crunch"!

Tarragon Chicken Salad       Makes 4-5 one-cup servings
4 cups cooked, diced chicken
1/4 cup celery, diced
1 Tablespoon diced onion
1 Tablespoon tarragon leaf
1/2 tesaspoon dill weed
pinch white pepper
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon sugar
pinch nutmeg
1/2 cup Miracle Whip (or Hellmans Mayo with 1 tsp vinegar)
1/4 cup sour cream
6 oz cream cheese
Mix cream cheese, Miracle Whip and sour cream until smooth.  Add spices and mix well.  Add celery, onion and chicken.  Mix and chill.

Curried Cajun Chicken Salad (not too spicy)        Serves 6
6 cups cooked, diced chicken
1 cup diced celery
1/2 cup diced onion
Dressing
1/2 cup Miracle Whip
1/2 cup Mayonnaise
1/2 cup sour cream
1-1/2 Tablespoons sugar
1-1/2 teaspoons sweet curry powder
1/4 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
Toss chicken, celery and onion together.  In separate mix dressing ingredients until smooth.  Combine dressing with chicken mixture.  Chill.

Tropical Chicken Salad           Makes 4-5 one-cup servings
4 cups cooked, diced chicken
1 cup banana chips
1.5 cups mandarin oranges, drained
1 20-oz can pineapple chunks, drained
1/2 cup flaked coconut
Dressing:
1 cup Miracle Whip
1 Tablespoon poppyseed
1 teaspoon curry powder
salted peanuts or cashew pieces for sprinkling on top when serving
Toss together chicken, banana chips, oranges, pineapple and coconut.  In separate bowl, mix dressing ingredients until well-blended.  Combine both and chill.

Chicken Waldorf Salad        Serves 4-6
4 cups cooked, diced chicken
2 large apples, 1 red and 1 green, peeled and diced
1 cup diced celery
1/4 cup chopped walnuts
Dressing:
1 cup mayonnaise (part sour cream, if desired)
1 Tablespoon honey
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
Toss together chicken, apples, celery and walnut pieces.  In separate bowl, mix dressing ingredients.  Combine both and chill.