Dear Fredacharm and Lynn_d, Thank you both for such kind words. I am sorry for both your losses. I wish I could reach out and hug you! I felt so goofy over that chicken salad episode. It seems like the rest of my family has moved on. I wonder if moving to another place would help or hurt? Ever place I drive I can hear my people in my head, Grandmomma,'you kow old so and so had the biggest zinnias ...Daddy You watch out walking down this hear road cuz them folks got loose dogs...Momma, and you know over there lived so and so who's realted to you thru so and so...' Maybe I should put myself up for adoption '50yo w/4 hounds cries a lot but makes great chicken salad and know's Pitt county geneology ready for adoption'.. Its been 2 1/2 years since Dad left me and 1 1/2 since Mom left. Dad's birthday is comming up soon. I dont understand how long it goes on. I have many days where I am just sad, but not freaking out. Then there are those other days. I just loose it. Worst is when it happens when I am out someplace or if I am not alone. Thank you for understand. God Bless you both. Vicki

Nanny wrote: "So, when Natal, or I, or someone else added those cranberries or nuts to their recipes, it was not to disobey your request, but to show others how their recipes were prepared. It's very easy to omit ingredients from any recipe, which is what I presume these women expect you to do." Thank you for replying, I wasn't going to come back into the topic but it's been bothering me all day because all I did was jokingly say "Ick" to a food I don't like. What I notice here is that others have made rude comments about Miracle Whip, a food *I* use, but were they called out on their "rudeness" to me? No. Why is it ALWAYS me, especially when I go out of my way to let you all know I'm laughing, just as I would if you were sitting before me. I'm not laughig AT you, I'm laughing at an ingredient in food! I have to disagree with you about people adding the ingredients that I specifically asked NOT to be added. Just as everyone goes into other's topics and apologizes for "hijacking" it, this was MY topic, and MY question. I'm not saying this to be mean, but I was the one who wanted some recipes which do not use fruits and nuts. Unless it was a fruit salad. :) So yes, when I get a reply I expect it to be for ME, and others are more than welcome to chime in. It's no different than if you did a topic on the other forum asking for painting advice on any color EXCEPT black, and everyone replied showing you their black rooms. lol. So I don't see how it was wrong for me to RME when I got the recipes with fruits and nuts. When we do a topic asking a specific question, should others reply for the sake of themselves, or to answer the OP's question? Lastly, I cannot believe how the word "Ick" offended others when no offense was meant at ALL. You all don't know me, but I'm known as the "Peace maker". Sure, I get my feelings hurt just like everyone else does, and I hate arguments especially if they're so trivial as me laughing and saying "Ick." I find it extremely rude to correct people on something so minor especially when it's obvious there was no intent on insulting anyone. I said it good heartedly. Just as I said the word "Yankee." Others have been calling themselves Yankees on this board all the time, but when I say it, it's considered offensive? I just get the feeling that some people here, but not all and just a minority, love to nitpick and bicker with others ad nauseum. We were having a fun and fascinating conversation about sandwiches and Miracle Whip vs. Mayonaise, until... I even found a place that sells the Mayo the "southerners" here like that I can order it online. Now, as far as being southern, I think I said this before. Both of my parents were born and raised in southern Virginia, and moved here to Oklahoma after they married. My father is a graduate of VA. Tech. Every single person in my family except my brother and myself are from Virginia. My uncle had a tobacco farm. I grew up with parents dipping cornbread in Buttermilk. ICK!!!! lol. See? I'm laughing about it, I still laugh at it to my mom when she does it! It's not a derogatory term because it's FOOD. But if you were to serve it to me, I'd be polite and eat it and if I didn't like it, you'd never know. Talking about food tastes is one thing and to turn it into nasty, nasty personal insults is another. Which I know you didn't do. I do however take offense because you are insinuating I am not "sophisticated" because I don't like fruit and nuts in my sandwiches. What? You have no idea what I eat. BTW, if anyone even cares at this point, I decided to make some Vegetable Bars and Tuna Salad finger sandwiches. :)

Ellen, try roasting your chicken breasts. I read that in Cook's Illustrated when we first had the deli, so I tried it and never poached them again. The best flavor comes from using the bone-in (usually called chicken breast quarters). It's easy to remove the meat from the skin and bones after cooking and cooling and the fat from the skin really adds to the flavor and the meat is more moist. Roasted Chicken Salad Preheat oven to 400° Coat a rimmed baking pan with cooking spray. Place chicken breasts skin side up, spray with a little cooking spray and sprinkle with kosher salt. If using skinless, boneless breasts (I prefer skin-on, more flavor) you should still spray and salt. Roast to 160° internal temp., about 45-55 min, depending on size. Remove from oven, drain grease and cool. When cool enough to handle, remove skin and bones, cut into cubes about ½ inch in size. Mine are pretty irregular. Refrigerate until well chilled. Version #1 DRIED CHERRY AND PECAN 4 C cut up chicken breast meat 2 C celery, sliced thin or coarsely chopped (I do mine in a food processor) 1 C dried red cherries 1 C coarsely chopped toasted pecans Toss together in a large bowl. Add dressing to desired consistency. Better a little wet rather than dry, as chicken will absorb dressing as it sits. Dressing: 1½ C mayo (Hellman's preferred) ¼ C Kikkoman's soy sauce 1 tsp powdered ginger 1 tsp celery seed 1 tsp ground pepper Combine to use in dried cherry salad. Version #2 HERB CHICKEN SALAD 4 C chopped chicken breasts 6 green onions 1 C loosely packed flat leaf (Italian) parsley 1 tsp salt 1 tsp black ground pepper 1-2 C mayo Place chicken in a large bowl. Chop green onion and parsley very fine or pulse in food processor, add to chicken and toss. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and stir in mayo to desired consistency. Add more salt and pepper if needed. Nancy

Just another idea. If a cold chicken salad would be okay, this one is fabulous! Chicken Salad Ina Garten (posted 8/09 by Annova) 2 split (1 whole) chicken breasts, bone in, skin on (1-1/2 lbs) Good olive oil Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper 1/2 cup pecan halves 1/2 cup walnut halves 1/2 cup good mayonnaise 1/2 cup sour cream 1 Tbsp chopped fresh tarragon leaves, divided 1 cup green grapes, cut in 1/2 Lettuce leaves, for serving Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place chicken breasts, skin side up, on a baking sheet and rub them with olive oil. Sprinkle generously with salt and pepper. Roast for 35-40 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through. Set aside until cool. When the chicken is cool, remove meat from the bones and discard the skin and bones. Cut the chicken into a 3/4" dice. Meanwhile, place the pecans and walnuts on a separate sheet pan and toast in the oven for 7 to 8 minutes until golden. Set aside to cool. For the dressing, mix together the mayonnaise, sour cream, 2 teaspoons* salt, and 1/2 tsp pepper. Fold in half the chopped tarragon leaves. Place the diced chicken in a bowl, add the pecans, walnuts and grapes. Pour the dressing over the chicken and toss well. Sprinkle the remaining chopped taragon leaves on top and serve on a bed of lettuce leaves. Annova's note: *Be careful with the salt. Some people think this is way too much. I added whatever I thought I needed as I went along. Linda