Broccoli Salad with Cashews and Water Chestnuts

 

“I just made a new broccoli salad that has cashews and water chestnuts in it,” I recently told a friend, adding that it was very good, but then honestly, I asked her, what broccoli salad isn’t? One that she had had recently apparently, made by a friend of hers who had blanched the florets. She cooked her broccoli for her broccoli salad! Come on, people! Would you par boil lettuce for a green salad? I don’t think so. Never, and I am telling you NEVER cook broccoli for a broccoli salad. No!

 This recipe with the addition of cashews and water chestnuts, different from the norm, was just the ticket. I punched up the dressing with a little bit of dry mustard, taking it from drab to dynamic.

Broccoli Salad with Cashews and Water Chestnuts

 2 large crowns Melissa’s Organic Broccoli, cut into florets

6 slices bacon, cooked and chopped

1 c. cashews

¼ c. chopped red onion

½ c. golden raisins

⅓ c. chopped water chestnuts

 Dressing:

1 c. Duke’s mayonnaise

1 T. cider vinegar

¼ c. sugar

½ t. kosher salt

¼ t. dry mustard

Whisk together dressing ingredients in a medium bowl; set aside.

 Play, broccoli, bacon, cashews, onion, raisins, and water chestnuts into a large bowl. Pour dressing overall and toss to combine. Cover and refrigerate for at least two hours, preferably overnight.

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Crockpot Cashew Chicken

I have gone Crockpot crazy!  Lately I have just been so frantically busy that I have happily embraced the one-pot meal. Earlier in the week I had three different slow cookers, of various sizes, all going at once - breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I am loving the ease!  But just because I'm employing the use of one of my favorite appliances does not mean that I'm having boring meals of tenderized mush, relying for flavor on a can of sodium-laden condensed soup. No. I have explored a variety of ethnicities, preparing pepper steak, fajitas, pasta, and this tasty cashew chicken. As with many slow cooker recipes, there is a bit of pre-prep here, but it is well worth the time.

Crockpot Cashew Chicken

2 lbs. boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1" cubes
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1/2 tsp. seasoned salt
1 Tbsp. canola oil
3/4 cup soy sauce
6 Tbsp. rice wine vinegar
6 Tbsp. ketchup
3 Tbsp. brown sugar
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 tsp. grated fresh ginger
1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes, or to taste
1/2 cup cashews

Combine flour, pepper and seasoned salt in a shallow dish. Dredge chicken, turning to coat all sides. Heat oil in skillet over medium-high heat. Sear chicken pieces until brown, about 1 minute per side. Place chicken in slow cooker.

Combine soy sauce, vinegar, ketchup, sugar, garlic, ginger, and pepper flakes in small bowl; pour over chicken.

Cook on LOW for 3 to 4 hours. Add cashews just before serving over a bed of hot jasmine rice. Serves 4.

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