
Whenever I find myself in need of creative inspiration, I simply look to the
Kitchen Goddess group. This week, I came across a
killer app — mini celery boats stuffed with chicken salad and peas. I'm thinking these would make a great appetizer to bring to my next book club, since they're bite sized and not too messy.

Who says chicken salad has to be boring? This recipe re-creates the picnic classic as a vibrant and intensely flavored dish. The mayonnaise-based dressing is replaced with a quick vinaigrette made with mint, cilantro, and curry powder.

For a
boy's birthday party on Alcatraz, pack a portable feast of special dishes that wouldn't normally be found in the common ten year olds lunch box. Keep things simple with easy to eat chicken salad pitas. On the side offer a pasta salad packed with salami and cheese and small bags of chips (let each boy select their favorite bag of chips).

The country's current economic downturn has many of you ditching restaurant lunches in favor of a
brown bag from home. That's a good thing — but just because you're trying to save a few bucks doesn't mean you have to punish yourself with the same stale sandwich every day. Here are some meal ideas that you can pull together in as little time as it takes to wait in the lunch line.

This exotic variation of chicken salad is the perfect summer meal. It's filling, cool, crunchy, and delicious.
The mango adds a fresh sweetness and lime juice provides a subtle tartness.