Apple Pecan Chicken Salad

After enjoying a salad much like this at a local restaurant on occasion...we began having a copycat version at home.  Apples and spicy pecans combined with chicken and greens and a vinaigrette dressing make a delicious full-meal lunch.  Pick up a rotisserie chicken at the grocery store...or throw a few chicken breasts on the grill.

Apple Pecan Chicken Salad

• 8 cups mixed greens or baby spinach
• 1/3 cup sliced red onion
• 1/3 cup crumbled blue cheese (or feta)
• 1 Granny Smith apple, chopped (or add some chopped red apple for colour)
• 1/2 cup spicy sugared pecans* (recipe below)
•  1 1/2 cups rotisserie chicken, skin removed and cut into bite-size pieces 
• Apple vinaigrette dressing* (recipe below)

1. Layer greens, onion slices, blue cheese, chopped apples and spicy pecans on a salad plate.
2. Top with chicken pieces.
3. Drizzle dressing over salad to taste.

Dressing:

• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup
• 1 1/2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
• salt and pepper to taste

1. Place dressing ingredients in a small jar.  
2. Put on lid and shake.

Spicy Sugared Pecans:

• ½ cup white table sugar
• 2 cups pecan halves
• generous pinch cayenne

1. Heat sugar, nuts and cayenne in heavy medium skillet over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally with wooden spoon. 
2. After several minutes, the sugar will begin to look sticky...and then begin to melt.  Stir continually, coating the nuts with the melted sugar.
3. When sugar is completely melted and turned amber in colour, remove from heat  and spread nuts on a foil lined pan. 
4. Allow to cool and break into pieces.