Recipe: Curried Chicken Salad

I've decided to do another recipe post, because this is a recipe that I am constantly making, and continually craving. The mixture of sweet fruits with spicy curry makes this chicken salad so unique and tasty.

There is this little restaurant/antique shop called Anna's Temptations which serves a really great curried chicken salad. Thus, the inspiration for this recipe was born.

I like mine extra spicy and tend to add a lot of curry, so depending on your love of the spice, you might want to add it in a little at a time. You probably don't need two kinds of curry powders either, but if you've got em...

Also you should note that this is the first time I've ever made this and actually made a note of what the quantities were - typically I just eyeball it and adjust until it tastes right. However I thought if I was going to write this out as an actually recipe it might not be very well received if I just said, "Here is what you need, put in as much or as little as you want."

I've also substituted apple for pear, walnuts for almonds, dried cranberries for raisins - it's really all good.

You will need:
1 1/2 pounds of split chicken breasts
1 apple (I like Gala)
2 ribs of celery
1/4 cup walnuts
1/4 cup dried cranberries
3/4 cup of mayonnaise
1 teaspoon sweet curry powder
1/2 teaspoon hot curry powder (or to taste)
salt and pepper to taste

1. Boil you chicken breasts for approximately 20 minutes. (You can add a rib of celery and a small onion while it cooks to make broth for soup. Which is like a bonus meal.)

2. Wait for your chicken to cool enough that you can handle it, and take all of the meat off the bone. Cut into bite size pieces. Throw into a mixing bowl.

3. Wash, peel, and chop the apple and celery. Put that in with the chicken.

4. Coarsely chop the walnuts, put those in too.

5. Add the dried cranberries. I like to put more of a rounded quarter cup.

6. Throw in all your spices, and your mayo. Combine, and taste.

7. Put into a croissant, or if you have them, those seasonal cranberry english muffins are perfection.

Getting the maxx

I can't help but to fall in love with all the bright spring colors currently filling the racks, and this almost obnoxious yellow sweater was too cute to ignore. At $17 it was too good a deal to pass on (especially since the MSRP was $60).

As you know I frequent my TJ Maxx weekly, and I simply must showcase some of my recent purchases; this sweater, a seafoam green embellished tank ($17), and a pair of coral skinnies ($20).

There were several pairs of shoes I was seriously considering, including a pair that I'd seen at TJ's exactly one year ago and desperately wanted at the time but couldn't find in my size. It was an odd little blast from the past and at first I thought they were a must, but ultimately I realized I'd moved on, the $40 peep toe oxford pump just felt so last year.

My biggest score however was in the home goods section; a collection of Kate Spade for Lenox items with some hefty markdowns.
My favorite is the hors d'oeuvre tray. I first spotted this lovely on January 7th, the TJX price was $55 (MSRP is $75). Then I came across it again last weekend and it had been reduced to $40. I still resisted. Finally, this weekend in a different TJ Maxx it was reduced to $23. I was sold.

In the end I got $150 of Kate Spade housewares for $50.

The Rundown

Sweater Cyrus Knits via TJ Maxx - Skirt Gap - Blazer Express - Shoes Adrienne Vittadini - Willis Bag Coach Thrifted - Tights Gap - Necklace Thrifted - Watch, Rings, Bracelets The Cavernous Jewerly Box - Bracelet American Eagle - Rhinestone Bracelet Taken for Granite Similar - Earrings c/o Anjolee - Sunnies Halson - Nail Color Essie Turquoise and Caicos - Dog Chloe - Pearl Leash Fabuleash

Cold.

Remember when it was warm and taking outfit photos didn't feel like a chore?

This winter I have taken far fewer photos than last winter. I was so good last year, I don't think I missed a single outfit, I was so determined and dedicated.
This winter... well I'm thinking I might start only doing four outfit posts a week.
And that chain bracelet is like wearing ice.
No wonder I caught a cold.

The Rundown

Leopard Sweater Calvin Klein - Camel Blazer Vintage - Skirt H&M - Booties Madden Girl Virtual - Clutch Zara - Bracelet Macy's Similar - Antler Ring House of Harlow - Necklace Kohls - Sunnies Halston - Nail Color Essie Super Bossa Nova

What I Want: Shoes in wide widths

For the first 20 years of my life, I had the most disgusting shoe collection you can imagine, because I refused to wear a shoe that didn't fit perfectly or feel completely comfortable. But eventually I broke down and started to fill my closet with adorable flats that had no arch support and high heels that hurt my toes.

To feel chic, sexy, and womanly I knew it was a sacrifice I would have to make.

But what I really, desperately want is a selection of shoes available in wide widths that don't scream geriatric. After hours of searching, here is what I've come up with.

Bandolino has a nice offering of shoes that really do feel new and on trend, and my favorite might just be the Ineed sandal, which is obviously great just because of the name.

 Ineed - $70 at DSW

Talbots has shoes in wide width, and even though my Grandma totally shops there, you can not deny that their shoes are actually quite on trend and, well, youthful. (check out the sale shoes too)

Lakia - $139 at Talbots

VANELi has some possibly cute shoes. I might like these.

 Plaza - $76.50 at Endless

Gabriella Rocha has a decent offering in wide widths, but really out of nearly 100 options, the only shoe I'd actually consider buying is this bootie.

Pembroke - $81 at Zappos

Stuart Weitzman shoes are on the pricier side, since the average shoe is about $300, but the wide widths are there if you can swing it. I think these basket weave sandals would pretty much go with everything all summer long, so if they lasted four summers...

Weavit - $385 at Zappos

Naturalizer actually has some decent, trendy shoes, if you can stand to weed through the 97 pairs of old lady shoes. Pairs like the black glitter pumps, and the snakeskin platform sandals would be fun, but these orange perforated pumps are my favorite.

  Korina - $99 at Zappos

J. Renee has a number of strong contenders. Some are a bit on the funky side, and there seem to be an alarming number of slingbacks aka my sworn enemies, but over all, a good selection. Just so you know, I'm looking for a leopard pump right now, and these three are under consideration:

 

Leda - $99 at Zappos

 Kaylee - $100 at Zappos 

Zula - $66 at Zappos

Payless, honestly their wide width selection does not impress me, but for shoes under $50 they are pretty much the only option, so I'm putting them on the list.

Kutzie Knot Pump - $30 at Payless

Then there are some designers that just seem to offer a small amount of their shoes in a wide widths (like one to seven pairs), so here are a few I thought were worth noting.

Nine West Emily Wedge Sandal - $60 at DSW

BCBG Paris Cherry Sandal - $80 at DSW

Kate Spade Karolina - $298 at Zappos

And lastly, here are a few other brands that I don't think are doing anything really great but they offer wide widths all the same: Bella-Vita, Sofft, Cole Haan, Type Z, Ros Hommerson, and Brigitte Bailey.
Any other designers that can be added to the list?

Newish scarf

I decided that I wanted a leopard infinity scarf, but as the owner of three leopard scarfs, I forbade myself from going out and buying a forth. Instead I simply sewed the ends of this one together and voilá, infinity scarf. Should I decide I'm tried of it, my regular old scarf is only a few snips away.

The Rundown

Blazer Gap - Top Loft - Jeans Kohls - Boots Steve Madden Inka - Scarf Gift - Belt Steve Madden - Antler Ring House of Harlow - Watch The Cavernous Jewelry Box - Bracelet Kohls - Nail Color Essie Super Bossa Nova

P.S. What the heck did blogger do to the word verification? As if one unreadable word wasn't bad enough, now there are two?

I don't want to get all over the top dramatic here, but how am I supposed to comment on blogs when it takes me three tries to prove I'm not a robot?

If you currently have word verification on, why not consider taking it off? For my sake? Blogger has spam detection, it does work, I swear.

Another Valentines Day

This is the third Valentines Day post seen here at Chic on the Cheap, and the third post in which I have nothing more interesting to share than an outfit worn to work.

No fancy dress for going out to dinner, no sequined clutch nor super high heels. No dinner date to look forward to, no gifts in small velvet boxes to be received.

But maybe 2012 will be my year. Maybe next Valentines Day I'll have something to blog about.
Here is hoping.

The Rundown

Red Pencil Skirt Express Similar - Blouse Tucker for Target - Booties Madden Girl Virtual - Clutch Zara - Bracelets The Cavernous Jewelry Box, Coco's, Macy's Similar - Antler Ring House of Harlow - Ring TJ Maxx - Necklace & Belt Banana Republic - Nail Color Essie Super Bossa Nova

To prove to you that I can still be good natured about v-day, I made these absurdly adorable peanut butter blossoms, doused in red food dye, complete with truffle hearts and hugs.

{Find the Recipe Here}