I’ve been told that I make the best chicken salad in these parts. And hopefully other parts too! The trick is toasting the pecans first. My toaster oven does that job for me.That brings out their wonderful flavor. The other trick is there must be a sweet element. My number 1 choice is candied sweet pickles. They are a tad hard to find.I also use these delicious pickles in my potato Salad, ham salad,and deviled eggs.Email me if you want To know where I buy my Sweet pickles. Chopped granny smith apples is a good 2 nd choice plus some halved red grapes.I make thus recipe quicker starting with a rotisserie chicken, all white meat and dark meat chopped.I use my food processor to chop but not to fine. You don’t want baby food chicken salad!

In the south, there is an  abundance of ripe, juicy,   delicious Tomatoes. A tomato pie is a wonderful way to use some of the tomatoes for a lunch meal or a dinner side or a side dish. Either way they are just divine. I add a clove if crushed garlic and  fresh basil In the  cheese mixture .