Recently, I was the winner of Mimi’s, Mimi’s Kitchen, Girard’s Dressings giveaway. We have been using Girard’s Light Champagne Dressing for a couple of years now and we love it. So I was excited to try some of their other flavors.
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Mimi posted several great salad recipes on her giveaway post, including this one for Chicken Apple Salad. She used Girard ‘s Apple Poppy Seed dressing and it is a perfect fit for this salad. It is sweet, like a raspberry vinaigrette, but light and really compliments the fruits in the salad.
I changed up Mimi’s salad a bit. I used green onions and Parmesan and added the candied walnuts I fell in love with posted on Our Best Bites. As with most salad recipes, it’s easy to make it your own and use whatever flavors/ingredients you like. I served this as a main dish with some hearty whole grain rolls.
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Chicken Apple Salad with Candied Walnuts
Ingredients
- ½ c. chopped walnuts
- ¼ c. sugar
- 2 chicken breasts grilled and diced
- 4 slices of pre-cooked bacon chopped
- 2 cups mixed greens
- 2 green onions chopped
- ½ cup chopped celery
- ½ cup dried cranberries Craisins
- ½ cup shredded Parmesan cheese
- 3 oz. package apple chips
Instructions
- Combine the walnuts and sugar in a medium skillet. Cook over medium heat stirring constantly until the sugar starts to liquefy. Continue stirring constantly until the liquid reaches a golden color and coats the nuts.
- Remove from heat and spread candied nuts onto a greased cookie sheet or plate and allow to cool completely. Stir occasionally as it cools to break up large pieces.
- Toss remaining ingredients in a bowl and serve with your favorite dressing. I used the Girard's Apple Poppy Seed dressing.
I also made a spaghetti toss recipe that came with the dressings. It used the creamy balsamic vinaigrette, which was delicious as well and would be perfect for any pasta salad. Thanks Mimi for hosting the giveaway!
Other salad recipes you might like:
Perfect Pasta Salad, Barbara Bakes
Coucous Salad, Mimi’s Kitchen
Spinach Mandarin Poppy Seed Salad, Our Best Bites
Greek Chicken Pasta Salad, Wives with Knives
Pam
I love the textures and flavors of this salad… it looks delicious.
Mimi
So glad you enjoyed the salad dressings. I’ll be adding walnuts next time I make this.
Mimi
Monet
This is my first time visiting your blog…and I’m so very glad that I found you! Beautiful photographs and wonderful recipes! This salad looks fresh and delicious. I love pairing apples with walnuts…such lovely crunch!
sweetlife
perfect salad, i love the mix of fruit and nuts…yummy
will look for this dressing..
sweetlife
The Southern Cookbook
Salad looks wonderful! I’ve seen that salad dressing before, but I’ve never tried it. Next time I go to the market I will def. try this. I love salads 😉
Cakelaw
What a great salad – and I am loving the sound of candied walnuts.
Kim
I just received my shipment of salad dressings and the apple poppyseed was the first one I used. I’m definitely going to have to throw this recipe together. Love the sweet, crunchy, saltiness of it all.
Joanne
I’ve seen all of these Girard’s dressings around the blogosphere and they have intrigued me so much, mainly because of delicious recipes like this one! I love all of the textures and flavors that this salad has!
Megan
I love fruit and nuts in my salads but I never thought of apple chips. You’ve just succeeded in making me crave salad. That is not an easy thing to do! It was those terrific pictures you take that did it! 😉
Cristie
Congrats on winning the goods. What wonderful flavors you have mixed into your salad, could I have a nice serving right now? I have a favorite Girard Dressing that I can’t live without, have you ever tried their White Balsamic Vinaigrette?
Alison @ Ingredients, Inc
This looks amazing, and I love walnuts in anything!
Joie de vivre
Looks wonderful and healthy! Thanks for your comments on my blog. My plan is to gorge on peaches this week so that I’m ready to try another fruit next week when they disappear for the year. 🙂
rebecca
wow lovely salad looking forward to seeing you use spices in baking it will be first class
Anna Johnston
Fabulous photos, scrumptious salad. I’m with girlchef – it’d make an awesome lunch salad & a little glass of white wine. Mmmmm, tasty stuff.
Blond Duck
I love this salad!
girlichef
This is an absolutely gorgeous salad! A perfect Autumn lunch …with a bottle of wine and some friends… lovely! 🙂
Barbara @ Modern Comfort Food
The seasonal shift to fall salads is such a flavor treat, and you’ve got a goodie here. It’s perfect for a light main course but, without the chicken, would also make a great accompaniment to, say, a roast pork dinner. Congrats on your win too!
Beth
What a yummy-looking salad! You had me at the candied walnuts!
Tracy
This looks so fresh and light, and chock full of good stuff. Yum!
marla {family fresh cooking}
Congrats on your win! Gosh, I bet each bite of this salad is amazing. Love all the goodies tucked inside-candied nuts, bacon & cheese. Nice!