Cherry Pecan Chicken Salad

This week, Food Network Summer Fest has challenged participating bloggers to work with the wonderfully sweet, perfectly in season: cherry.

I am blessed to be able to share two recipes this week…the first can be found on my other website: Ingredient Challenge Monday (trust me, you WANT to check this one out).

Because it is so hot, I have given my oven some time off and am doing everything I can to enjoy healthy homemade meals that do not require me to heat up the house in the process.

To keep from having to turn on the oven to cook the chicken, I did a little cheat (I am allowed that every now and then, right?)…I picked up an allergy-free rotisserie chicken from the local big-box store.

Remove the skin and chunk the chicken; a pre-baked rotisserie is the ideal solution for a quick meal without ever breaking a sweat.

If you are not comfortable with this idea, feel free to bake up your own chicken ahead of time, let it cook and chunk it as directed.

This isn’t your ordinary chicken salad…from flavor to nutritional value; this recipe is one worth making over and over again.

Cherry Pecan Chicken Salad

4c Chunked, Cooked Chicken

2c Cherries, halved with seeds and stems removed

1 c Crushed Pecans

½ c Easy Vegan Ranch Dressing

½ c Honey

2 Ripe Avocados, diced

In large serving bowl, mix together chicken, cherries and crushed pecans. Set aside. In medium mixing bowl, whisk together ranch dressing, honey and avocados. Pour dressing over chicken mixture; toss until salad is coated evenly. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Serve with sliced cucumbers, over your favorite lettuce, with crackers or simply leave as-is.

Makes 6 servings

Enjoy!

Please be sure to stop by and visit all of the charming cherry recipes available from this week’s Summer Fest:

What’s Gaby Cooking: Cherry Chocolate Truffle Ice Cream

Big Girls Small Kitchen: Cherry Cornmeal Cake

Cooking With Elise: Roasted Cherries with Lavender and Almond Panna Cotta

Daydreamer Desserts: Cherry Crumble Cake

Ingredient Challenge Monday: Black Forest Ice Cream Done Two Ways

Spices and Aroma: Dilkush with Cherries

FN Dish: The Ultimate Cherry Pie

Daily*Dishin: Simple French Cherry Clafouti