Goldy's Curried Chicken Salad

I love reading. I read many books I consider serious fiction or literary fiction, books which invite me to think seriously about life, books which cause profound emotional responses, and books I learn from, especially about other cultures.

But now and then I enjoy a book which I have always referred to as a palate cleanser. A book for sheer entertainment without that much effort on my part. A book which focuses on narrative and plot, a page-turner, if you will. And I also enjoy these as audio books while driving.

A genre I especially enjoy, while cleansing my palate, or settling my mind and emotions, are the Gourmet Mysteries. A few authors I can name are Robert B. Parker (love those Spenser novels!), Rex Stout, Nancy Fairbanks, and Diane Mott Davidson.

I just finished a Diane Mott Davidson audio book featuring caterer and amateur sleuth Goldy Schultz. The recipes in Ms. Davidson's books are featured at the end of her books. Because I was listening to the book, I didn't get exact measurements for Goldy's Curried Chicken Salad, but I did jot down all the ingredients (I think) as soon as I got back in the house. So here is my interpretation.

Goldy's Curried Chicken Salad
4 - 5 cups shredded roasted chicken
1 small red onion, finely diced
1 can mandarin oranges, drained
1 can pineapple tidbits, drained
1/2 cup raisins
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup sour cream
2 Tbsp. mango chutney
Juice of 1 lime
1 Tbsp. best quality curry powder
Salt and pepper to taste
Salted Peanuts

Combine chicken, onion, oranges, pineapple, and raisins. In a separate bowl, combine mayonnaise, sour cream, mango chutney, lime juice, and curry powder for the dressing. Fold the dressing into the chicken mixture. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Chill the salad for several hours, or best overnight. Adjust seasonings if necessary and serve with salted peanuts.