Kids in the Kitchen with Cranberry Chicken Salad

My sons arrived home from Boy Scout camp this afternoon, sunburned and happy. They had a great time! My youngest was telling me about the fried chicken he prepared on a camp stove as part of the Cooking merit badge. Yes, fried chicken…on a camp stove! (Maybe for teenagers frying anything in oil is best done outdoors.) Honestly, I’m looking forward to having him cook more often for his dad, brother, and me.

I highly recommend getting kids involved in the kitchen. Healthy food habits, learning to work with others, and basic kitchen know-how are examples of good life skills. Kids of all ages can take part in meal preparation. If you have little ones, they can set the table. Older kids can wash and chop vegetables and fruit. Tweens and teens can assist with meal planning and preparing side dishes and even entrees. The recipe below can involve the whole crew.

Cranberry Chicken Salad
1 rotisserie chicken, debone and cut in pieces
½  lb. penne pasta, cooked
3 stalks of celery, thinly sliced
1 sweet onion, chopped
½ C Miracle Whip Salad Dressing
1 C Brianna’s Poppyseed Dressing
½ C Craisins
½ C smoked or salted almonds

Combine chicken, pasta, onion, and celery in a large bowl.

In a separate bowl, mix Miracle Whip and poppyseed dressing. Stir into salad.

Add craisins a few hours before serving. Garnish with almonds.

NOTE: The salad may be made the night before, just stir in more dressings before serving.  Don’t add the Craisins/dried cherries until just prior to serving as they turn the pasta red!

If you’re looking for a salad that will please kids and adults alike, this is the one. The mix of chicken, pasta, sweet onions, and celery with a creamy dressing will suite the taste buds of everyone in your family. Try serving it on a bed of salad greens for an additional flavor boost. Enjoy the salad and preparing the meal with your kids.

© 2012 Becky Danielson. All rights reserved.

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Photo by petra cigale on Unsplash

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