Chutney Chicken and Pistachio Salad

$6.72.  That's what I spent on a new cookbook called Simple Suppers.  I told myself I have enough cookbooks and didn't need to buy one when we were at Sam's Club today.  But, I browsed through this one and found several good ideas and thought what the heck.  Let me digress by saying it's been a crazy week and weekend so simple and flavorful ideas really appealed to me Saturday afternoon.  Wednesday, I took off for Los Angeles.  My broker/dealer was having a women's conference.  Their first ever.  I was a speaker on the marketing and networking panel.  Probably because I'm so shy - lol.  Ok, probably not.  It's because I do a radio show and a ton of seminars on Social Security.  I know, you probably think hearing about that is like watching paint dry.  But, we're a bunch of geeks and we like to talk to each other about these things.  So, I got to LA and waited for my luggage.  And waited.  And waited.  Finally, just about the last bag out was mine.  Then, I hailed a cab and headed to Santa Monica. Now, I'm used to traveling with Connie.   Both my broker/dealer and the producers group I'm with encourage us to bring our spouses to events.  Not this time.  Women only.  Men weren't welcome for the most part.  So, I was schlepping the suitcase, my purse and a ten ton briefcase with all my Social Security notes and my laptop.  Ugh.  I got to the hotel and checked in and zoomed to my room and changed clothes and headed for the reception for Peggy Fleming.  Yes, that Peggy Fleming.  The ice skater.  She's totally lovely.  We were all assigned three other women to meet.  They worked really hard to find folks with similar interests that we didn't know.  Well, I got Amy who runs the radio show for Dean and Sarah who manages his office got me.  We all had a good laugh over that.  Thursday morning started really early.  There was a networking breakfast at 7:00 and I had to log onto the office to work well before the breakfast started.  I walked back into my room at 9:49 that evening.  Actually, let me confess that in between the end of the program and 9:49, NPC treated some of us to some wonderful sushi.  Salmon carpaccio with shaved truffle.  Yellowtail with chiles.  Crunchy tuna rolls.  Albacore tuna with avocado.  Oh, my, it was wonderful.  And, the company.  Just incredible. 

Friday morning it was back to work.   The conference lasted until about 1:30.  At that point, I schlepped all of my gear a couple of blocks up the street to NPC's office.  Now, let me show you my friend, Robin and the view from her office.

Now, let me ask you exactly how much work you'd get done if you had that view.  I know, me too.  Zero, zip, zilch.  How incredible is that?  My flight didn't take off until 10:30 pm so after I'd had an opportunity to visit with all my buddies, Robin and I took off on a tour.  We headed up to Topanga Canyon and THE valley.

 See the hummingbird?

Along the way, we met up with her hubby and son.  Andy decided he wanted to go with us to see the PLANES.  Wow!  When you're a little shaver, the planes are pretty darned exciting things!!  Is he a cutie or what? 

On our way out of the valley, Robin took me to In'N Out Burger.  YUM!  I landed at 6:00 am Saturday morning.  Very happy to be home and to see my sweetie and to get some sleep!!!  I crawled out of bed about late in the morning and dug into the office and got a lot done.  About the middle of the afternoon,  we realized that the play at Civic Theatre started at 5:00 and not the normal 7:00.  Time to get into panic mode.  We headed to Sam's, got home and unloaded that stuff then Connie went to the grocery and I started in.  I had an hour to put all the Sam's stuff away, make chili, prep sausage for sausage and kale lasagna, prep mushrooms for chicken/mushroom pot pie and figure out something for a really late lunch.  New cookbook to the rescue.  Didn't think I'd ever get back to that did you?  I know.  Connie says I'm like an ancient civilization:  BabbleOn...  Bada bing, bada boom. 

Turns out I'd bought a rotisserie chicken for the chicken and mushroom pot pie.  But, I only need half.  And, I had all the other ingredients on hand for this chicken salad.  I'd read the recipe on the way home and thought if I could get everything else done, I could quickly fix this.

What did we think?  Fantasic flavor.  I loved the mix of textures and flavors and colors.  I ate mine on a bed of lettuce and Connie wanted his slapped between two pieces of bread.  We both loved it.  Lana's will stay my go-to chicken salad.  But, this will absolutely be made on a regular basis.  There wasn't a single thing I'd change.

Chutney Chicken and Pistachio Salad
serves 4

Ingredients:

2 c diced chicken
1 lemon
1/2 c mayonnaise
1/4 c mango chutney
1 T dijon mustard
1 c seedless red grapes, halved or quartered (depending on their size)
2-3 stalks celery, chopped
1 small red onion, finely diced
1/3 c pistachios

Directions:

Mix the dressing.  In a small bowl, combine the mayonnaise, chutney, dijon mustard, 1 T of lemon juice and 1 t of lemon zest.  In a large bowl, combine the chicken, grapes, celery, onion and pistachios. 

Gently toss the chicken mixture with the dressing.  Serve on a bed of lettuce or in a sandwich.