Leftover Grilled Chicken Idea #1

Family Friendly Meals Series Day 2

Since you grilled 3 lbs of chicken on Day 1, there's bound to be a few leftovers.

Here is your first great idea to try.

For the kids, make chicken and cheese paninis.

Ingredients: leftover cooked chicken breasts, american cheese and hot dog buns.

Take a couple of the halved and cooked chicken breasts and cut thin slices with a sharp knife. I picked up a mini George Foreman grill at a tag sale for about $2 and it is the best panini maker ever. Put the thinly sliced chicken in the hot dog but with some american cheese and voila: kid-friendly paninis.

For the adults, we are having zesty chicken salad.

Ingredients: 3-4 leftover halved and cooked chicken breasts, 1.5-2 cups of halved seedless red grapes, 1 cup chopped and salted walnuts, mayo, spicy brown mustard, and fresh ground pepper. A fuji apple is optional. Plus your choice of crusty bread or your favorite lettuces.

Cut the leftover breasts into half-inch cubes with your kitchen scissors. Put them into a mixing bowl. Add the halved grapes and chopped walnuts. If you choose to add the fuji apple, core and chop into 1/4 inch pieces. I leave the skins on for the crunch factor. Adding the apple means you will add less condiments, lowering the calorie count. Moisten the mixture with mayo (I prefer light mayo). Depending on the amount of chicken breasts you use it will be about 4-5 T. Once you have added the mayo, the mixture should not be soupy...just slightly moist throughout. Then add a long psssshhhhhht of spicy mustard. Mix it all up and taste it. If it is too spicy, add a bit more mayo. If not spicy enough, then a little more mustard. Top with fresh ground pepper and then decide if you are having chicken salad sandwiches on crusty bread or your atop your favorite greens.

Day 3 in my Family Friendly Meals Series will be another option for the leftover chicken.