Grilled Chicken Salad Sandwiches & Kale Chips – An Autumn Picnic

Let’s go on a picnic!

Not a tree picnic, seeeleeeee.

Basically, this is the deal. We have probably 3 1/2 hours left of stunning autumn weather before it turns icy and cold and miserable and abominable snowmany. (Which, can I just say, I used to call it “abdominal” a long time ago. And by “long time ago” I mean last week. HAHAHA. oh.)

We need more picnics in our lives, dag nabbit!

 

Buuuut I’m pretty sure we could do without the words “dag” and “nabbit.”

Do you like to picnic? I have to be honest, I’m not exactly stellar at it. The whole sitting on the ground for a long period of time thing? Dudes, I think my legs fall asleep faster than most human beings’. AND, I feel like the older I get, the more my bladder shrinks. When I was but a ripe lassie gallivanting around in the puddles of youth, I had a bladder the size of Montana. Now? It’s like the size of a toe nail.

Oh you don’t want to hear about my awkward bladder shrinkage? Weird.

BUT LISTEN. Something in my heart rang loud and clear last weekend.

It rangeth and rangeth like the tender bells of time passage and it spoke to me, “Go forth into the world, oh ye of tiny toe nail bladder. Do not be afraid. Enjoy the colors, the temperature, the wine, and the grilled chicken salad sandwiches. For if you fail this, you’ll morph into a crotchety old maid.”

I’m still trying to figure out that last part.

So off we went! Into the wild, untamed elements of the Earth. Also known as the local park down the street.

And UM, apparently Aaron has forgotten the rule of looking at the person when you cheers them. Awesome. Now we’re going to have like, 17 years of bad luck. This explains my Casper looking hand.

And the possible rash on my neck that is starting to freak me out.

 

Oh, there I am! Pretending that my legs haven’t fallen asleep.

Sip, lick, sip, sip, lick. Lick, lick, lick.

Charlie liked the grilled chicken salad sandwich too.

 

You guys, it was so gorgeous and perfect out and I just want to freeze time because it’s just so beautiful and I’m scared of ice and detrimental weather and waaaaaaaaaah.

I love the fall so much my pancreas hurts. And I know you do too. So maybe take a peepsie at my leetle fall menu below and picnic your face this weekend?

This gold tree with its weird little balls wants you to.

And oh! Before I forget, the winner for Aida’s cookbook Keys to the Kitchen IS (drum roll please)  . . . Marie who said, “The keys to my parents’ house :)” Yay, Marie! Noice jorb!

For the Grilled Chicken Salad Sandwiches:

(for 4 sammies)

* 2 chicken breasts
* 2 Tbs. all-purpose seasoning
* 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
* 1 celery stalk, finely chopped
* 1 gala apple, cored and finely chopped
* 1/3 cup pecans
* 1/3 cup dried cranberries
* coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
* 2 twin baguettes, sliced in half
* 1 cup arugula

Preheat grill to medium high. Sprinkle both sides of the chicken with the all-purpose seasoning, a good pinch of salt and pepper. Grill until you get good grilled marks on both sides, and the chicken is cooked through. Remove from grill and let rest 10 minutes. Cut into small cubes.

In a large bowl, combine the grilled chicken, celery, apples, pecans and cranberries. Add the yogurt and toss to combine and coat everything. Season with a small pinch of salt and pepper.

Scoop into sliced bread and garnish with arugula.

For the Kale Chips:

* 1 bunch dinosaur kale, cut into bite-sized pieces
* 1 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil
* 1 good pinch of salt

Preheat oven to 350. Evenly arrange the kale on a large baking sheet. Lightly drizzle with oil and sprinkle with salt. Bake kale until crispy, abouuuut 15 minutes. But keep an eye on it.

For the Rose Hip Tea: (No seriously. We’re basically hippies.)

* 1 cup rose hips, dried (either outdoors in a bag for 3 weeks, or in a dehydrator for 3 days.)

Once the hips are dried, place them in a food processor and pulse until tiny threads separate from the hips. Then transfer to a sieve to separate the threads from the hips.

Bring a pot of water to boil. Stew rose hips (in a tea ball if you have it) for 15 minutes. Serve hot.

 

I LOVE THE FAAAAALLLLAAAAA.

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25 Responses to Grilled Chicken Salad Sandwiches & Kale Chips – An Autumn Picnic

  1. Villy @ For the love of Feeding October 26, 2012 at 7:07 am #
    Your photos make me love the Fall even more!
  2. Amy October 26, 2012 at 8:08 am #
    I want to live in that park. Just for 2 days. Once the snow comes, I cry. When that happens, you can come visit me in CA.
  3. brandi October 26, 2012 at 8:14 am #
    now i want a picnic for lunch! want to come visit and bring those sandwiches? :)
  4. Tracey @ Cooking With Love October 26, 2012 at 8:22 am #
    Just beautiful. I love everything about this post! Charlie is sooo sweet!! You're cracking me up about the bladder thingy. What till you get 40+, getting up more than once in the middle of the night when nature calls is for the birds! :)
  5. Stephanie @ Girl Versus Dough October 26, 2012 at 8:50 am #
    Um, can I come with you guys on your next picnic because it looks like so much fun (and so much yumness with the foodsies)? KTHANKSBYE
  6. Kathryn October 26, 2012 at 8:58 am #
    I want to go on a picnic!
  7. Heather @ Heather's Dish October 26, 2012 at 9:11 am #
    y'all are too stinking cute, and i'm going to steal all of the trees in KC. because little rock apparently needs more... ;)
  8. Heidi @foodiecrush October 26, 2012 at 9:13 am #
    What an awesomely decadent way to spend an afternoon, with your man, your pup and vino. I LOVE fall, my favorite season for sure and now your pics are making me happy and sad all at the same time. And your chicken salad is definitely a beaut.
  9. Mandie @ Oh So Decadent October 26, 2012 at 9:15 am #
    These look delicious, and I'm not normally a fan of chicken salad! Definitely love the pairing of wine, chicken, and kale chips. Will DEFINITELY be making these soon!
  10. Abby@ Totes Delish October 26, 2012 at 9:33 am #
    I LOVE picnics..ants not so much though!
  11. Heather Christo October 26, 2012 at 9:43 am #
    Could you guys be any cuter? Seriously.
  12. Averie @ Averie Cooks October 26, 2012 at 10:55 am #
    I love this post and wow, it sure looks fall-like and it's so pretty there! Love the big trees!
  13. nicole b. October 26, 2012 at 11:55 am #
    You and Aaron are too cute. I am gonna try this grilled chicken salad- yum!
  14. Candice October 26, 2012 at 12:28 pm #
    I always look forward to your posts--you are seriously my favorite food blogger, and I follow A TON of blogs. Your humor and voice is so great and entertaining--I love it! Thanks for doing what you do :)
    • Bev Weidner October 26, 2012 at 12:29 pm #
      Candice, I needed your words today, in a serious way. THANK YOU.
    • Tracey @ Cooking With Love October 26, 2012 at 1:06 pm #
      That WAS so sweet, and I feel exaclty the same way! :)
  15. Chung-Ah | Damn Delicious October 26, 2012 at 1:48 pm #
    I would love to go on a picnic with you, Bev. That is if you bring the sandwiches of course :)
  16. Liz @ The Lemon Bowl October 26, 2012 at 2:24 pm #
    Omg. You drink rose hip tea and make kale chips. I can't take it.
  17. Katie @ Blonde Ambition October 26, 2012 at 2:40 pm #
    These photos are all so lovely! And I love all the things you added to your chicken salad: Apples pecans and cranberries...ahhhhh yes, fall.
  18. Cassie | Bake Your Day October 26, 2012 at 4:20 pm #
    Are you two the cutest? This is an amazing picnic. The chicken salad -I'm in love.
  19. Dara @how_to_eat October 27, 2012 at 9:03 am #
    Beautiful pictures! Love Love Love me some kale chips! Now I need to go make them especially for a fall picnic!
  20. Laurie {Simply Scratch} October 27, 2012 at 9:17 am #
    I love fall tooooo! What a fun picnic and the food {of course} looks and sounds amazing!
  21. Stephanie @ Eat. Drink. Love. October 28, 2012 at 7:35 pm #
    Ugh, I am so jealous that your fall looks like that! Fall in AZ is just hot and boring! This is totally my kind of chicken salad though!
  22. Ardex Cd Fine Concrete Dressing October 29, 2012 at 6:21 pm #
    Gorgeous scenery and a delightful looking meal!
  23. Kristi November 28, 2012 at 8:51 pm #
    Oh my goodness, you are so hilarious I'm almost crying. My husband made me read your post to him out loud and of course I was completely unable to say "abdominal" after laughing so hard about it and just completely fell apart. Although I have a doctorate-level education I accidentally misused the word "cantaloupe" once when I really meant "antelope." Srsly. So I heart this post. Thank you to Jessica from howsweeteats for introducing me to your blog. Keep up the good suff =)

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