I was first introduced to chicken salad in college when I headed home with my best friend turned roommate turned maid of honor Kacey. We could always count on a few things when we made the trip from Kirksville to St. Louis: no-bake chocolate oatmeal cookies (I have yet to taste any as good as Mama Burk's!), at least a dozen new and hilarious stories, and chicken salad from Dierbergs.
Kacey and I would sit at the kitchen island with her mom who would entertain us with tales of her crazy co-workers, her crazier neighbors, and her craziest family members, while she and I would pile chicken salad onto soft bread that went immediately into our mouths--no need for plates, napkins, or utensils!
It's been almost six years since Mama Burk passed away and to say she continues to be missed and loved is an understatement. While a lot of things remind me of her (the best being her pretty fantastic daughter who she'd be so stinking proud of!), chicken salad remains near the top of that list!
When my mom made this chicken salad last time I was home, I was struck by how similar it tasted to the one from Dierbergs. Large chunks of chicken? Check! Light on the mayo? Check! Grapes? Check (I swapped green for red to make it more like Dierbergs' version)! Pecans? Check (my addition, also in an attempt to recreate)! I don't know if the original version featured tarragon, but the herb absolutely brought everything together--don't exclude it when you make this!It's been almost six years since Mama Burk passed away and to say she continues to be missed and loved is an understatement. While a lot of things remind me of her (the best being her pretty fantastic daughter who she'd be so stinking proud of!), chicken salad remains near the top of that list!
I'm so excited to make this recipe time and time again, not only because I have a serious obsession with how good it is, but also because of the memories it evokes! Kace--when ya coming over for chicken salad?!