Chicken Wild Salad

I recently reviewed the book"Aviator's Wife" by Melanie Benjamin. I was quite taken with the novel as well as the author's words in the epilogue.

And finally, I leave you with this;  As a historical novelist, the most gratifying thing I hear is that the reader was inspired, after reading my work of fiction, to research these remarkable people’s lives further. This is what historical fiction does best, I think; it leaves the reader with a desire to know more. I hope my novel accomplished this.

I thought the author successfully accomplished her mission in this book. This was one book that I thought much about the characters and all the drama that unfolded in their lives. Many late hours were spent researching the family for more information and the Lindbergh kidnapping. 

It's the birthday of poet and essayist Anne Morrow Lindbergh who was born in Englewood, New Jersey June 22, 1906. Her father was the ambassador to Mexico and a partner in J.P. Morgan Stanley Financial Firm. He was Charles's financial advisor. Anne's household growing up fostered achievement.

Charles and Anne were married in 1929. He taught Anne how to fly and in 1931 she got her private pilot's license. They went on together to explore and chart routes between continents flying over Canada, Alaska, and Siberia. The trip became the subject of Anne Lindbergh's first book, North to the Orient (1935). Both that book and her next book about flying, Listen! the Wind (1938), became best-sellers. She went on to write two novels, a book of poems, and a book of essays, Gift from the Sea(1955).
Anne received numerous awards and honors throughout her life for her contributions to literature and aviation.  
Anne lived till the age of 91. Due to a series of health setbacks Anne spent the last ten years of her life living with her youngest daughter Reeve.  
Reeve has written several books about the Lindbergh family and her mother's last years living with her family on a farm in Vermont.

Chicken Wild Rice Salad

Cook's notes: A versatile salad with options.  Turkey can be used instead of chicken. . Using deli rotisserie chicken is a time saver. If looking for a vegetarian dish add in more wild rice with cooked corkscrew pasta. Dried cranberries can be substituted for dried cherries or use red grapes. Substitute avocado slices for pea pods or sugar snap peas 

Following recipe serves 4-6 but can be increased easily for a larger crowd 

Basic Sauce: 

• 1 cup Miracle Whip
• 1 TB. sherry
• 1/4 tsp. dried ginger
• 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tsp. soy sauce

Salad Ingredients:

• 3 cups cooked chicken
• 3 cups cooked wild rice
• 1 small package dried cherries or cranberries
• 2 cups pea pods or sugar snap peas
• 1/3 cup slivered almonds or walnuts 
• 3/4 cup green onions

Directions:

• Cook wild rice day before and store in a plastic container or zip loc bag. Wild rice freezes well and can be used at another time for soups and side dishes.
• Mix up basic sauce and blend well with a whisk
• Chop chicken and green onions
• Blanch pea pods(bring water to boil, add pea pods, boil 1 minute, drain and then add to ice water for 1 minute, pat dry)
• In a large bowl add all ingredients except sauce-add in sauce till chicken mixture is moistened. If more sauce is needed follow basic recipe above and add in,
• Chill at least 4 hours and serve over lettuce with tomato wedges