Tarragon Chicken Salad

This is a great salad to serve when a group of ladies are getting together!  Make it in advance, put it in the fridge and let the flavors mingle together.  Then, when you are ready to serve, all you have to do is prepare the plates. 

What you need:

*Diced, Cooked, Skinless Chicken (2 cups)
*Red, Seedless Grapes (1 cup)
*Diced Celery (1 cup)
*Chopped Pecans (1/2 cup)
*Fresh, Chopped Tarragon Leaves (1/4 cup)
*Mayo (1/4 - 1/2 cup)

How to prepare Tarragon Chicken Salad: Cube the chicken, chop the celery and pecans, half the grapes and mince the tarragon.  Put all these ingredients into a large bowl, mix.  Add the mayo.  I'm not as fond of mayo as the celebrity chef, Paula Deen, so add as much as you like.  Mix.  Refridgerate.  Serve.

If using fresh tarragon, strip the leaves from the stem by holding at the tip and running your fingers down the stem from top to bottom.  Discard the stem.  Tarragon brings a slight licorice flavor which pairs wonderfully with the chicken.

 You can use canned, white chicken meat or leftovers.  If you don't have fresh tarragon, use a heaping Tablespoon of dried.  Walnuts or almond slivers can be substituted for the pecans.  Miracle Whip can be used in place of mayo.  Sliced strawberries can replace the grapes.  Use your creativity and make this salad your own.

I was in the midst of the move when I made this for a group of ladies at Alba UMC. I would have shown you how I usually serve this for a ladies luncheon if the house wasn't packed.  I'll have to settle for describing it to you.  As a young woman in Tulsa, I loved to go to The Garden in Utica Square. The Garden is no longer in business but their salad plate was wonderful and this is modeled after their salad presentation.  Zig-zag cut in half a large round tomato and an orange.  Put half of each on a plate and beside them add an appropriate sized iceberg lettuce leaf.  Place a generous spoonful of fresh fruit on the lettuce leaf.  On the tomato, place an ice cream scoop amount of tarragon chicken salad.  The orange gets a scoop of rainbow sherbet.  A compete luncheon on one plate, ready to share with your friends at your next gathering!