Hi folks.
First of all I need to do something before I continue with Sunday Supper. Okay here goes...
HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO MY FELLOW CANUCKS!!!
Okay, sorry but that had to be done. This weekend is our Thanksgiving so people are celebrating and having fabulous dinners. I sure hope all you Canucks out there had lots of turkey, ham, taters, stuffing, and hordes of apple pie. I hope you hung out with family and stuffed yourselves silly.
I was pretty bummed B-Dude won't be here this weekend, not going to lie. Our first holiday weekend without him. Luckily my Auntie Judy and Uncle George invited him over for dinner. I felt so much better when I found out. So big shout out to my Auntie Judy and Uncle George, Bobbie, Gus, Kaylee. A special shout out to my cousin Kent who went above and beyond to pick B-Dude up. I wish I could have joined the festivities.
We are postponing our own dinner. Mini-me is going to Boytoy's for dinner today, and hubs has to work Monday. So I've decided since I'm still not up to par I'd take the opportunity to put off the big dinner. Maybe we'll celebrate with my American friends or something. By then I should be in full cooking like a champ mode. Right now I'm operating on about half my stamina and strength. Which is still huge progress. So yah for progress and being able to stand up for a few hours at a time. I need to conserve my energy right now though. I start a new part-time job on Tuesday. Only a few hours a day, but it's a physical job so I figure I should keep some energy in the reserve tank. I'm guessing the first week will take a toll. I know I'm not quite my usual self, normally I'm all "strong like bull", but nowadays I'm more "meek like mouse".
Okay enough crazy rambling, on with the show!
This week the Sunday Supper theme was "All Thing Orange". I'm not going to lie. This was a challenge for me. You will be horrified when you learn why...
I don't like pumpkin!
Ya, you heard me right. Totally not kidding.
I feel like I should be kicked out of the food blogging community for this one. But I really don't like it. At all.
I know right! It's madness!
I do however like oranges. Not just "like" but "like like". Maybe even "love". Maybe even the kind of love that gets a restraining order and a change of address. It's THAT kind of love.
When we went to Florida this year for the first time everyone was all "you must be so excited to be going to Disney". I was like "meh". What I was really stoked about was this...
(and don't think I'm crazy...
cuz I'm totally not.
Okay that's a lie...
I totally am.)
...the reason I was so stoked was...
I wanted to eat a Florida Orange...
IN FLORIDA!
I know right.
Certifiable! That's me! I honestly was so freaking excited about this. You have no idea. We bought 4 oranges at Whole Foods. I waited till they were cold. Cuz they are just better cold. Then I cracked one open like my life depended on it. I made noises no person should ever make while eating food. Let alone in the car with her kids. I think I may have traumatized them for life.
And when I say I cracked it open like my life depending on it...let's be real here. If any of you have read my policies page and read the disclaimer, well, then you know how I am when I eat an orange. It's a Lunie thing. I can't even begin to explain it.
Since really good oranges can be hard to find here, particularly as the weather cools down, I like to have a back up plan. My back up plan involves oranges. What? Like yours doesn't.
So I buy copious amounts of mandarin oranges in the little jars made by Dole. Holy freaking moly people, these things rock. I mean I can eat them by the truckload. Just back the truck up and I'll work my way through them with a giant spoon and a smile. They are THAT good.
It made perfect sense to me to do a recipe with mandarin oranges for this week's event. So I put my thinking cap on, and when that didn't work I used an old standby recipe. This is one of my favourite things to make when no one is home. Just me and my oranges. Ah, life is good.
This is super easy to make. You can add extra stuff to it, but seriously why would you. You want it to be simple and just let the flavour shine through. So get your orange on and mix up some salad. You'll give me a big old citrus kiss once you try this.
But don't...
cuz this girl doesn't like random people kissing her!
Unless you're Timothy Olyphant...
Then have at it!
Mandarin Orange Chicken Salad
Ingredients
- 2 large boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into small pieces
- Olive oil
- 2 tablespoon teriyaki sauce
- 2 tablespoons mandarin orange salad dressing use juice from oranges if you don't have this
- Salt to taste
- 6 cups lettuce I used different kinds, use what you love and tear it up
- 2 cups mandarin oranges juice drained
- Optional: mandarin orange salad dressing
Instructions
- in a skillet or pan, cook your chicken over medium heat in a little bit of olive oil.
- Stir around the pan while it browns, about 3 minutes into it add the teriyaki sauce.
- Let that cook for a couple of minutes then add your salad dressing. Cook until the dressing absorbs into the chicken.
- Depending on the size you've cut your pieces and your stove, it should take about 5 to 8 minutes total to cook.
- Place your lettuce in a giant bowl.
- Lay your chicken over top.
- Then lay your mandarin oranges over top.
- Drizzle with dressing if you like.
- Serve with a big old citrus-y smile!
You can drizzle with salad dressing if you like. I'm not a salad dressing kind of chick. I like my salads plain. But if you are all weird and stuff, feel free to pour some mandarin orange dressing over top. I like to cook with dressing but please don't pour it over top of my salad or I'll go all ninja on ya.
Seriously,
I will.
Okay, that's a lie. Remember "meek like mouse".
But beware, I'm making lists and in 2 to 4 months when I feel better and am "strong like bull"...I'm coming for ya!
So make sure you stop by all my Sunday Supper peeps and see what orange stuff they whipped up for you. I know there are lots of pumpkin recipes. Cuz normal people like pumpkin. Or so I've heard. From some normal people. And pinterest.
Sunrise  (Breakfast and Brunch)
- Paula from Vintage Kitchen Notes is bringing her Orange Ricotta Pancakes
- Erin from Dinners Dishes and Desserts is baking up some Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins
- Heather from Girlichef is bringing <Pumpkin Doughnuts with Spiced Buttermilk Glaze
- Nicole from Daily Dish Recipes is making Pumpkin Donut Puffs
- Patti from Comfy Cuisine is bringing  Classic Orange Marmalade
- Sunithi from Sue’s Nutrition Buzz is making Spiced Pumpkin Ricotta Muffins with Craisins and Walnuts
- Wendy from The Weekend Gourmet is cooking up some Pumpkin Maple Oatmeal
- Chelsea from Chelsea’s Culinary Indulgence is bringing Pumpkin Spiced Donuts with Chai Icing
High Noon (Soups, Salads and Sandwiches)
- Renee from Magnolia Days is serving up some Butternut Squash Soup
- Beate from Galactopdx is bringing her Carrot Ginger Soup
- Jen from Juanita’s Cocina is making some Curried Sweet Potato Salad With Cranberries and Pecans
- Megan from I Run For Wine is making Skinny Roasted Butternut Squash and Italian Sausage Soup
- Sarah from What Smells So Good is filling our bowls with some Spicy Sweet Potato and Coconut Soup
- Alice from Hip Foodie Mom is coming with her Roasted Carrot and Red Quinoa Salad
- Susan from The Wimpy Vegetarian is making Cider – Spiced Sweet Potato Soup
- Tora from Tora’s Real Food is bringing Butternut Squash and Tomato Soup
- Melanie from From Fast Food to Fresh Food is making Monty’s Pumpkin Soup
- Lyn from The Lovely Pantry is bringing Roasted Pumpkin & Coconut Soup
Sunset (Dinner and Main Dishes)
- Sarah from Crispy Bits & Burnt Ends is offering up some Pumpkin Ravioli
- Shelia from Pippis In The Kitchen Again is serving her Roasted Squash and Ricotta with Honey
- Patsy from Famfriendsfood is bringing her Carrot Souffle
- Laura from Small Wallet Big Appetite is bringing Chicken and Sweet Potato Fritters
- Mehereen from Chattering Kitchen is making Sichuan Orange Glazed Chicken with Toasted Sesame Seeds
- Tammi from Momma’s Meals is making Hearty Pork Stew
- Kristin from Kwistin’s Favorites is making Orange Chicken
- Soni from Soni’s Food For Thought is cooking up some Rigatoni with Pumpkin Ricotta Sauce
- Shelby from Diabetic Foodie is cooking up some Moroccan Vegetable Stew
- Dara from Generation Y Foodie is bringing Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese
- Brandie from Home Cooking Memories is sharing a DIY Baked Sweet Potato Bar
- Amber from Mama’s Blissful Bites  is bringing Rice and Fig Stuffed Mini Pumpkins
By The Bonfire (Sweets, Snacks and Sips)
- Carla from Chocolate Moosey is making Pumpkin Tiramisu with Pumpkin Butter Caramel Sauce
- Heather from Hezzi D’s Books and Cooks is offering up some Pumpkin Cake Truffles
- Shelia from Cooking Underwriter is bringing Sweet Potato Bacon Beet Salsa
- Anne from Webicurean  is making some Drunken Pumpkin Bread
- Karen from In The Kitchen With KP is making Oven Baked Sweet Potato Chips
- Leslie La Cocina De Leslie is making Sweet Potato Atole
- Seet Fei from My Trials in The Kitchen is bringing Sweet Potatoes Mini Balls
- Tara from Noshing With The Nolands is bringing Oranges En Suprise
- Susan from The Girl in The Red Kitchen is making Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Scone with Pumpkin Glaze
- Conni from Mrs. Mama Hen is making Orange Glazed Poundcake
- Isabel from Family Foodie is baking up Moist Pumpkin Bread
- Cindy from Cindy’s Recipes and Writings is baking up a Vegan Pumpkin Orange Cake
- Brenda from Meal Planning Magic is whipping up some Creamy Pumpkin Dip
- Laura from Family Spice is making some Unprocessed and Gluten Free Pumpkin Bread
- Kathya from Basic and Delicious is baking up Butternut Squash and Carrot Bread
- Liz from That Skinny Chick Can Bake is serving up Pumpkin Roll with Cream Cheese Filling
- Stephanie from The Cookie A Day Challenge is whipping up some Pumpkin Ice Cream Sandwiches
- Katie from She Like Ruffles, He Likes Truffles is bringing Pumpkin Harvest Cookies
- Nancy from Gotta Get Baked is baking up some Orange Macadamia Dark Chocolate Cookies
- Angie from Big Bear’s Wife  is bringing  Orange Soda Pumpkin Patch Cupcakes
- Katy from Happy Baking Days is bringing Carrot Cake with Orange Glaze
- Sandra from Midlife Road Trip is bringing Orange ya glad it’s fall! Hungarian Apricot/Walnut pastries
A huge thanks to fearless leader, Isabel from Family Foodie. So happy to be part of such an amazing group.
Toodles and smoochies! xxÂ
Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom
I love me a good Mandarin Orange Chicken Salad! this looks delicious! And it's ok that you don't like pumpkin! This salad makes up for it! 😛 Thank you for sharing!
Kim Bee
Me too Alice. It's just so classic. Known as the ladies who lunch salad. Always makes me laugh.
Sarah
Kim, your post cracked me up. You are like me in not being able to complete a thought and rambling on about things. Your writing is so entertaining! I should be kicked out the food blogging community for not liking cheese. We all have all faults but we are accepting of one another and #SundaySupper is a safe place. We don't judge. Well actually we do but we don't make it obvious. lol. Love your salad!
Kim Bee
I like the way we think. Lol. Thanks so much for the compliment. I love making people smile and laugh. Your comment had me in stitches. I could not stop laughing. xx
Chelsea
I love mandarin oranges in chicken salad! Yum!