Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Chicken and Rice Salad Veracruz - Outdoor Wednesday Hawaii

From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...Lady Luck was with me when recipes for the Kraft From Your Kitchen to Your Country Contest were judged. This very simple recipe was our ticket to Hawaii and the gorgeous Na Pali coast on the island of Kauai. The first picture was taken from the Kalalau Trail, forever etched in this grandmother's memory as one mother of a hike. Tough doesn't begin to describe the rock scramble that's called a trail. Effort and exertion aside, it was a wonderful day that ended with dinner in a "place called Hanalei." Puff had vacated the premises years ago, but the teriyake wasn't half bad and the beer was really cold. The contest that took us there is one that was brand oriented. That means it required the use of a lot of the sponsor's products. This version of the recipe calls for generic ingredients. It's simple to make and really good. In the "real" world, I use brown rice, homemade vinaigrette and left over chicken to assemble this. It works just as well with products from the grocery store. Here's the recipe. Chicken and Rice Salad Veracruz...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite Ingredients: 3 large navel oranges 2 cups instant rice 1 (14.5-oz.) can low-fat chicken broth 1 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 1 cup Italian dressing, divided use 2 teaspoons Dijon-style mustard 1 teaspoon granulated sugar 1 tablespoon orange juice concentrate, undiluted 1 pound chicken breast strips or shredded deli chicken 1 bunch green onions, white and tender green, chopped 1 cup slivered toasted almonds 1 (10-oz.) package mixed salad greens Salt and pepper to taste Directions: 1) Remove zest of one orange with a microplane. Add to a 3-quart saucepan with rice, chicken broth, salt and pepper. Stir to mix. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat; Cover and cook for 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Let sit, covered, for 5 minutes longer. 2) While rice cooks, peel oranges, remove pith and cut oranges into segments. Set aside. 3) Pour salad dressing into a 3-quart bowl. Add mustard, sugar and orange juice concentrate; whisk to combine. Remove 1/4 cup dressing for later use. Set aside. Add rice to bowl. Toss to combine and set aside to cool to room temperature. 4) Add chicken, green onions, almonds and orange segments to rice. Toss gently to combine. 5) Toss packaged greens with reserved 1/4 cup dressing, arrange on salad plates and top with chicken-rice salad. Yield: 4 to 6 servings. This recipe is being linked to Outdoor Wednesday, an event sponsored by Susan at A Southern Daydreamer.

54 comments :

Mary | Deep South Dish said...

That photo is amazing! And your recipe brought you there? Awesome and delicious too.

Taste of My Life said...

It is so beautiful! The picture taken is great and also the recipe!

The Quintessential Magpie said...

Mary, I love to travel with you, and that shot of Hawaii is breathtaking. I've never been. I love that you get to travel with these contests. I'm awed at your cooking ability.

Happy Outdoor Wednesday...

XO,

Sheila :-)

noble pig said...

It sounds delicious! And any recipe that can take you the islands is a winner in my book.

Hootin Anni said...

I love Hawai'i!!! If it wasn't so darned expensive to live there, I'd have my little shanty on the beaches, thank you very much!

The Chicken and Rice salad sounds delish!


My Outdoor Wednesday is flowers with a 'passion'. Come over if you can find time. I'd love your company today.

And, hope the day treats you well!!!

Selba said...

What a stunning picture... Hawai is so beautiful... nice salad :)

Martha said...

A beautiful place and a great recipe.

Donna-FFW said...

Oh that photo has me in awe. Gorgeous! What a fantastic recipe. It sounds wonderful.

Anonymous said...

Wow! that's the only way to go to Hawaii! The recipe sounds awesome.

Schnitzel and the Trout said...

How great that all your culinary works reward you! And, we are rewarded by being able to read your blog. Got another contest in the brewing?

Country Wings in Phoenix said...

Now Mary, I am beginning to think you need to start your own food channel. You are so good, and the dishes are so absolutely scrumpous. I love the pic of Hawaii. Someday I hope to visit there. Thank you for sharing on this glorious day we have been given. Please stop by and say hi, I would love to have you read my post today. I love to see you visit. Country Hugs, Sherry

My Little Space said...

Yeap, it's outdoor Wednesday! I've not yet try making salad with rice. It sounds delicious to me. Do I need to chill up the rice before mixing it with other ingredients?

Chef Fresco said...

WO! I have got to start entering more contests. Not fair. looks great.

Seams to Sew and Quilt said...

You have beautiful photo's and that I may have to try this recipe, it looks yummy.
Vera

Pam said...

I really need to enter more contests - I want a trip to Hawaii! The salad looks delicious and simple to make...love that.

LV said...

One of the truly beautiful parts of the world, Hawaii. Glad you shared these shots with us. I do not do much cooking anymore, but the recipe sounds really good.

SavoringTime in the Kitchen said...

So we have an award-winning recipe here! What glorious photos of Hawaii and what a special trip as this recipe was your ticket :)

~Susan

Kathleen said...

That is wonderful you won that trip!
Congrats!

Mary Bergfeld said...

My Little Space - the dressing is added to warm rice so the flavors can be absorbed. The rice then sits, unrefrigerated, until it's at room temperature. The chicken, scallions
and almonds are then added and tossed to combine. At this point you refrigerate. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

Barb said...

Hi Mary, this looks wonderful! I love anything with rice in it. Yum!!

Barb

The Fajdich Times said...

Great photo. The recipe sounds so summer:)

bj said...

How wonderful that you came up with such a delicious dish that it landed you in this beautiful spot. Wow..

Fifi Flowers said...

GORGEOUS and YUMMY!!! Perfect combo!

Claudia said...

When ever i see a photo of Hawaii I almost want to say... no way you took this.

The landscapes there are simply just this gorgeous!

Great shot and recipe!

TTFN~~Claudia ♥

Anonymous said...

Beautiful photo and your Chicken and Rice Salad sounds wonderful.

Joan@anythinggoeshere said...

Both photos are beautiful and have a similar look! Isn't that interesting?

I was only in Hawaii 40 years ago this week during the touchdown from the moon landing. Got to see the guys returning to Pearl Harbor. Very crowded and very exciting.

Confessions of a Plate Addict said...

Wow Mary! I am so impressed that you won a trip to Hawaii with your recipe! The photo is amazing and the recipe sounds wonderful...so fruity and tropical! And I think that would have been one very difficult hike for me...but so worth it for the view!...Debbie

The Cooking Photographer said...

How amazing Mary! I am so happy you got picked!

How in the world do you do all this? I often think you are super woman.

Regina said...

Wonderful as always!
So great.

Mary @ Framed and Tagged said...

Congrats on winning that fabulous trip! The recipe looks delicious and I am going to try it.
Thanks for your visit!
Happy OW!

Maria said...

Love the photos. what a great salad!

Marta said...

Yay!! I can't believe you won tickets to Hawaii!!! You know, simplicity is the best, it's the most appealing in recipes. It makes them approacheable and people like that!
This dish looks so delicious!

Unknown said...

What a wonderful thing! Your photos are fantastic. Thanks so much for sharing.

Charla

Katy ~ said...

I am squealing in delight. I love the sounds of your recipe.

And that photo. That must be what heaven looks like, I think.

Brenda Pruitt said...

There must be some really good eating going on at your house every day! I bet people love to be on your invitation list. And the photo of Hawaii is lovely. Never been there, but it looks beautiful!
Brenda

Blue Creek Home said...

Gorgeous photograph. And the recipe sounds so good!
Rhodna

Southern Lady said...

What a wonderful prize for winning the contest! That's quite an accomplishment, but well deserved. Your Chicken and Rice Salad looks and sounds delicious, and I love the pictures of Hawaii. Hanalei sounds beautiful, but then all of Hawaii is.

Lori said...

This is a great recipe to bring to a picnic or a pot luck.

And I am just dreaming looking at that picture.

Signing Out said...

Your chicken salad recipe looks fabulous! How exciting that you won a trip to Hawaii submitting it to Kraft! I think it has more to do with talent than luck, though. :)

Jane

Candy said...

Beautiful lagoon and delish dish, what more does one need in paradise?

Thanks for stopping by, Candy

yyam said...

Fantastic picture Mary!I wish I was there!

And that salad looks amazing too! Thanks for sharing the recipe!

NKP said...

What a beautiful salad - and so wonderful that it transported you to paradise!!

theUngourmet said...

Wow! What an awesome prize! I don't think it was luck, more likely talent! You are such an amazing cook! Your husband must be so spoiled!

susan said...

Mary-Congratulation! I think it was more than Lady Luck. The recipe sounds good as does the "crockpot" chicken before it. I loved your pictures!

Christi @ A Southern Life said...

I love chicken and rice and I love Hawaii. Thanks for taking us on a lovely, tasty trip!

Christi

Ebie said...

Wow! a breath taking view! Love the combination of greens. And congratulations for a winning recipe! I am following your blog for more delicious recipes. Thanks for sharing.

La Cuisine d'Helene said...

I want to go to Hawaii. This is so nice that you went with a recipe that looks really good.

Deb in Hawaii said...

Isn't the Na Pali coast one of the most beautiful places in the world?! So nice that you won the trip there! The salad looks so fresh and delicious.

Irene said...

Mary, what a gorgeous shot of Hawaii. Your recipes continue to tingle though I've yet to whip out the apron..I'll keep on looking

Historical sites with charmine said...

THAT is beautiful!You got to experience all that because of a SIMPLE dish...HOW WONDERFUL!

My Little Space said...

Got it, Mary. And thank you very much!

Anonymous said...

Between the view and the salad... I would be in heaven!


xoxoxoxo
Donna Marie

Kim @ Starshine Chic said...

The photo of Hawaii just makes me want to go there more. But I'm not sure I'd be up to the hike you described. Your recipe sounds fabulous & pretty easy (right up my alley). I may have to give it a try. Thanks for visiting my blog & leaving me a comment.

Puna said...

Amazing! Hawaii and food! A great combination! Congratulations on your recipe. I love Hawaii you know...and I'm going to make that tomato brunch for my husband.

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