Warm Chicken Salad (giveaway closed) NEW WINNER PICKED

Good evening foodie family!  First things first.  50,000 Facebook fans?!?!  Are you KIDDING?  Awesomeness.  Thank you!  I thank you for your kind and positive comments, sharing the recipes you think look great, telling your friends about Chefwannabe, and just being great friends.  Yes, I consider all of you friends, like my foodie family!  I can't tell you enough, how important you are.  So keep reading for some fun at the end of this post.  Now, for the recipe......

Quite possibly one of the most VERSATILE dishes you could have in your recipe collection!  Undoubtedly so actually. 

When I thought up this recipe, it was completely from memory.  I ate this once, literally 12 years ago and never got the recipe.  I didn't figure it could be to hard to replicate so I went for it and came out with this fantastic dish.  You could serve this as an appetizer OR as a main dish and here is how. 

Appetizer, serve with crackers or crostini, keep knives nearby, cut the chicken VERY small and use as a hot dip.  DELISH. 

Main Dish, serve with bigger chunks of chicken, and put it over some rice, or egg noodles, a side salad and a veggie.   Leave out the breadcrumbs and serve it hot on a crusty roll!

See what I mean?  It is rich, I won't lie, but that is why I suggested serving with noodles, rice, or crackers, etc.  I love a good versatile recipe and I think I have given you one with this dish.  Let's get started.  It will take you only a few minutes to put together.

2 lbs cooked chicken, cubed
1/2 cup of celery, diced small
1 small can water chestnuts, chopped
1/4-1/2 cup slivered or sliced almonds
6 ounces cream cheese, room temp
1/2 cup sour cream
1/4 cup mayo/salad dressing
1 cup shredded cheese of choice (I used cheddar) divided
/4 cup breadcrumbs
salt and pepper to taste

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.  In a large mixing bowl, mix together, chicken, celery, water chestnuts, almonds, cream cheese, sour cream, mayo/salad dressing, 1/4 cup of shredded cheese and salt and pepper.  Combine all ingredients well and place into a casserole dish you have sprayed with nonstick cooking spray.  I used a deep dish round casserole, just use what you think will work for you.  Top with the rest of the cheese and breadcrumbs.  Bake for 25-35 minutes depending on your casserole size.  You are looking for melty cheese and completely heated all the way through. 

 

50,000 GIVEAWAY!

Now for my surprise.  As you all know I spent a few weeks with family in NJ and PA. I had time to do some shopping at a couple of my favorite stores, Ikea, and The Christmas Tree Shoppe.  Before Facebook made recent changes I expected to hit 50k early in December so some of my shopping included a few Christmas items.  Well, as luck would have it we didn't get there until recently.  So I am giving away a little box of goodies from both stores.  Just a little thank you for all of your support.  I am not telling you what it is it, because they were to be little surprise Christmas gifts so I am keeping that part the same!  I wish it were a huge luxurious gift package, instead it is some of my favorite things, that make cooking fun for me and I hope they do for you as well. The entry form is below, you have 5 ways to enter, so get all 5 of your entries!!  You have until Friday at 9pm CST to enter!

Your "love to share" Chefwannabe

 

DANIELLE TAFT-WINNER 

I just emailed you. Please respond within 48 hours!

Entry-Form