Apples of Gold

Kindness and Hospitality
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Kindness and Hospitality

kindnessI came across this poem that I think speaks to the kind heart of a cook, especially one who spreads joy and blesses others with her hospitality.   

 

The Kind Heart

Kindness brings such great comfort to our lives.

Even the littlest acts of kindness

have a way of spiraling into so much more.

Kindness is at the heart of cooking

and at the heart of making life great.

In little acts of kindness is the magic to transform

our lives into something wonderful.

Hospitality and bringing  joy to others through your gifts of food and making them feel special is an act of service.  When you think of hospitality as serving others it will bring  joy to you and your guests.  If you show hospitality for what is in it for you there will never be joy.  Use hospitality for God’s Glory and to make others feel welcome and special when they come to your home.  Having a friend over for coffee and listening to her, bringing your family together over a simple dinner/supper, a fancy dinner party, or a fun picnic are all showing  hospitality and kindness.  Hospitality is about making someone feel special by doing something a little extra to say to them, I am glad you are here and you bring  joy to my life.  Who can you serve this week with a joyful heart, making them feel special with your service of hospitality, kindness and great food?

 

 

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Cissy’s Chicken Salad

Cissy's Chicken Salad
The Best I Ever Made

I have been making this chicken salad for many, many years.  I am so happy to share it with you.  It is simple to make and oh so delicious.  I like serving it on a bed of mixed lettuce with hearts of palm, tomatoes, boiled eggs, chunks of cheese or whatever I have in the fridge.  As  you can see,  from the picture I didn’t have much in the fridge this day.  This is one of the favorite recipes of the Apples of Gold Ministry. It is my go to recipe for serving at a ladies luncheon, any kind of shower, picnic or going to an outdoor concert.  As a salad,  with all the yummy sides I like to box it in a to go box for outdoor concerts.  It is a good way to take a whole meal in one container and you can easily pack it in a cooler.  Take along some crusty bread and some of your favorite dressing for the lettuce.  My favorite to serve with it is  homemade Italian dressing.  Then all you need is a dessert that is easy to transport.  You might try my Graham Cracker Cookies.   I am so glad warm weather is finally here.  We had a hard winter  in Atlanta.  But with the warm, sunny days we are all thinking of out door dining and we have lots of great outdoor concerts locally.  Can’t wait to make this meal and go.   Who can you invite for a picnic or maybe just take over a big bowl of chicken salad to a friends house?   Spread some Joy with Cissy’s Chicken Salad.   Enjoy!!!

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I like chicken tenderloins, they are easy to cook and then chop in Small Food Processor
I like chicken tenderloins, they are easy to cook and then chop in Small Food Processor
Slivered almonds that have roasted at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. Brings out the flavor of the nuts.
Slivered almonds that have roasted at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. Brings out the flavor of the nuts.
Measuring cup that makes measuring mayo, honey anything sticky easy. Just Plop out.
Must Have Measuring Cup that makes measuring mayo, honey anything sticky easy. Just PLOP out.
Chop chicken in your handy small food processor.
Chop chicken in your handy small food processor.
Cissy's Chicken Salad
The Best I Ever Made
Chopped chicken, toasted almonds, pineapple tidbits, mayo and dried cranberries ready for mixing.
Chopped chicken, toasted almonds, pineapple tidbits, mayo and dried cranberries ready for mixing.

 

 

Cissy's Chicken Salad

Cissy’s Chicken Salad

Basic Chicken Salad Recipe to start with and then add your favorite items. "Make It Your Own"
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Servings: 7
Course: Main Course
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups chicken (3 breasts or one 2 lb. bag frozen chicken tenderloins) cooked and finely chopped
  • 1 8 oz can pineapple tidbits, drain off 1/4 of the juice. Use remaining 3/4 in the recipe
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise (My favorite is Duke's, light or regular)
  • 1 cup sliced almonds of slivered almonds (I like to toast them at 350 degrees for 6 to 8 minutes) Careful they burn quickly.
  • 1 cup dried cranberries (optional)

Method
 

  1. Boil chicken till it test to 180 degrees or boil chicken for 5 minutes turn off and cover with lid. Let set for 20 minutes. This is a good way to cook chicken that will not overcook it or dry it out..
  2. Use small food processor to chop chicken or finely chop by hand.
  3. Combine chopped chicken and remaining ingredients in a large bowl; stir well. Salt to taste
  4. Serve as a sandwich or over a bed of lettuce with your favorite salad items.

Notes

I like to roast the nuts to bring out their flavor.  You can also use pecans or walnuts.
Cool chicken salad to bring out the flavors.
Make it your own by adding some of these suggestions.
1/2 cup finely chopped celery
1/2 teaspoon curry powder along with 1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon dried tarragon for a completely different flavor
I would not use curry and tarragon together.  As you can see this is a good basic Chicken Salad recipe for you to start with and then add what your your family would like.  Be creative.
It will be “The Best You Ever Made”    Enjoy 
 
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Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole

The Best I Ever Made
The Best I Ever Made

Here I go again with another casserole.  Maybe I should rename my blog site to “Casseroles for you and me”.  I can’t help it.  Having a casserole in the freezer makes me a “happy gal”.  I don’t have to worry “what’s for dinner”.  This is one of my go to casseroles.  It is so easy and kids to adults love it.  I’ll bet you will be like me and want to eat all the topping, right out of the bowl.  Yum!!!   Make one tonight, but you know me, make two or three – one for your family, one for the freezer and one to share.  The picture below shows an afternoon of cooking I did last week.   My nephew and his sweet wife had a new baby boy, Maddox.  So, since what I do is cook, I made casseroles.   Now, when they are tired and no one is bringing dinner, they can pop one in the oven and dinner is ready.   The great thing about making casseroles and delivering them frozen is that you can cook on your time schedule and they can heat and enjoy them on their time schedule.  Easy for all.   Who do you know that you can share the joy of “dinner is ready” with a casserole for their freezer or dinner that night?  Be a Blessing!

Burrito Supreme, Easy Shepperd’s Pie, Poppy Seed Chicken

 

I like using Frozen Chicken Tenderloins
Make sure to remove the tendons from the chicken tenderloins
Cut cooked chicken into cubes with Kitchen Shears.
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Sleeves of crackers in plastic bag.
Use mallet to crush.
Butter, crushed crackers and poppy seeds
Butter, crushed crackers
and poppy seeds ready
to mix together.

Cooked all bubbly and ready to serve and enjoy

Cooked all bubbly and ready
to serve and enjoy.   “The Best I Ever Made”

Poppy Seed Chicken

Delicious chicken casserole with a buttery, cracker topping
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Servings: 8
Course: Main Course
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 4 chicken breasts or 1- 2 lb. bag frozen chicken tenders
  • 1 can mushroom soup
  • 1 8 oz sour cream
  • 1 stick Ritz Cracker or Club Crackers, crumbled
  • 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
  • 1 stick butter salted

Method
 

  1. Boil chicken. Remove skin, debone, and cut up.
  2. Mix soup, sour cream and chicken.
  3. Pour into casserole dish.
  4. Mix crackers, poppy seeds and melted butter.
  5. Spread over chicken.
  6. Bake in preheated oven 350 degrees till hot and bubbly around 45 minutes to 1 hour.

Notes

I like to make 2 small 8X8 pans sometimes instead of 1 larger casserole. 
To Freeze:  Place in freezer safe container.  Make sure to cool completely before freezing.
To Serve:  Thaw and bake uncovered at 350 degrees till hot and bubbly around 45 minutes to 1 hour.
May be cooked frozen, add extra time. 
Tidbit Tip:  To cool casserole quicker before freezing, place lightly covered casserole in refrigerator or the freezer.  Once cool wrap tightly and freeze.    It freezes  great.   Yum, Yum.  Enjoy