Keeping on my lunch kick, today I did Martha’s Chicken Salad Sandwich from page 19 of her All-American section.
Martha’s recipe called for toasted white bread, but since I still had some lovely fresh pumpernickel left from the day before I used that instead. When I looked at the picture I realized that my egg salad and chicken salad sandwiches looked a lot alike. I guess that’s the thing with these traditional salad sandwiches, they kinda look alike, and let’s face it, if you don’t use a recipe with lots of different spices and herbs they can be a little bland. But Martha’s recipes are anything but bland! This chicken salad has a nice kick of tarragon and the sweetness of apples. I also added some raisins to the mix to sweeten it up just a little bit more and add some additional texture.
American food is a vast melting pot of different cultures and flavors. Chicken salad is one of those old fashioned lunch staples that we take for granted. But some of the best American food is the least pretentious. When it comes to a lunch like this, all you need is some chicken, mayonnaise and bread to use as a blank canvas that you can create your own masterpiece upon. Think outside the salt and pepper box. What are your favorite spices? Do you like a little heat? Then go ahead and add some cayenne pepper or even a dash of sriracha. Are you craving curry? Shake some in and go to town! You can even add some chopped up nuts and make it crunchy.
A simple lunch need not be a boring one. All you need is a little imagination and a good collection of your favorite spices in your pantry to make every meal sublime.
