Chicken salad is better when you add in whipped cream!
Women love to gather. The key to a good girlfriend get-together is good food! Whether you’re assigned salad duty, or tasked with the party punch, you want to serve up your very best.
Alex Daynes says there are three recipes every host should know by heart. So, we’re putting our trust in her to make the party food pop! Alex is a host at heart. She shared three of her tried-and-true party recipes that she always reaches for.
Orzo Salad
Bonus Tip: Add your pasta while it’s warm.
This pasta marries greens, pasta, and chicken. It’s a far cry from the basic pasta salads that are usually served up, but comes together just as easily!
Make this party food pop by adding the pasta in while it’s still hot. The warm pasta will meld all the ingredients together.
Don’t skip the fresh herbs! Freshly chopped herbs make this salad shine.
“Fresh basil, parsley, and dill go a long way in making the flavor of this dish,” Alex said.
PREP TIME 10 minutes
COOK TIME 10 minutes
TOTAL TIME 20 minutes
INGREDIENTS
- 2 cups cooked orzo pasta
- 1/2 cup chopped red onion
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/2 cup feta
- 1/2 cup pine nuts
- 2 cups cooked chicken, cubed
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
- 3 cups spinach
Dressing
- 1/3 cup olive or avocado oil
- 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 3 Tablespoons chopped fresh dill
METHOD
- Toss the cooked orzo pasta, red onion, cherry tomatoes, feta, and pine nuts in a large bowl.
- Stir in the cooked chicken, parsley, basil, and spinach.
- Whisk the oil, lemon juice, salt, pepper, and dill in a bowl and pour over the salad. Toss to coat.
- Serve warm, or refrigerate until ready to serve.
Chicken Salad
Bonus Tip: Whip your cream before gently folding it in.
Chicken salad is a party food must-have. But if you want to make your standout from the rest, one simple technique will help: whipping your whipping cream.
Whipping the cream before adding it in makes it lighter, airy, and even fluffy. Beat whipping cream in your stand mixer or with your hand mixer until it reaches stiff peaks, and then gently fold it into the mix.
“I’m telling you—when your guests taste this, they’re going to say: ‘Why is this chicken salad the best one I’ve ever had?’” Alex promised this technique makes all the difference.
PREP TIME 5 minutes
ADDITIONAL TIME 10 minutes
TOTAL TIME 15 minutes
INGREDIENTS
- 2 1/2 cups chicken, cooked and diced
- 1 cup celery, chopped fine
- 1 cup red grapes
- 1/2 cup slivered toasted almonds
- 2 Tablespoons minced parsley
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup whipping cream, whipped
METHOD
- Combine all the ingredients together and chill until ready to serve.
- Serve on your favorite bread and enjoy!
Notes
This recipe is easy to double to feed a crowd! You can also triple it too!
Lemon Water
Bonus Tip: Add citric acid to doctor up your usual lemon water.
So many people simply add lemons to the water pitcher and call it their party punch. But one ingredient will doctor it up: citric acid.
All it takes of a couple tablespoons! Swirl it in your party pitcher for a refreshing drink.
PREP TIME 5 minutes
TOTAL TIME 5 minutes
INGREDIENTS
- 1 gallon water
- 2-3 cups sugar
- 2 Tablespoons citric acid
- 2 Tablespoons lemon extract
- 1 lemon, sliced
METHOD
- Mix all the ingredients in a large pitcher or drink dispenser.
- Add ice to chill and serve. Enjoy!
Find more recipes from Alex on Instagram, @thealexdaynes, or on her website, alexdaynes.com.
Alex’s Blog Post for Orzo Salad
Alex’s Blog Post for Chicken Salad
Alex’s Blog Post for Lemon Water
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