Apple Pecan Chicken Salad

Mom made a new recipe for dindin last night and we helped her make it!
It's called Apple Pecan Chicken Salad~~

Pick up a rotisserie chicken at the grocery story... or throw a few chicken breasts on the grill.

8 cups mixed greens or baby spinach

 1/3 cup sliced red onion
1 Granny Smith apple, chopped

 1/2 cup spicy sugared pecans* (recipe below)
 1 1/2 cups rotisserie chicken, skin removed and cut into bite-size pieces
Apple vinaigrette dressing* (recipe below)

1.  Layer greens, onion slices, blue cheese, chopped apples and spicy pecans on a dinner plate.
2.  Top with chicken pieces.
3.  Drizzle dressing over salad to taste.

 Spicy Sugar Pecans:

1/2 cup sugar
2 cups pecan halves
Generous pinch cayenne powder

Heat above ingredients in skillet over med-low heat.  After several minutes, the sugar will begin to look sticky... and then begin to melt.  Stir continuously, coating nuts with melted sugar.  When sugar is completely melted and turns amber in color, remove from heat and spread nuts on foil lined pan. Allow to cool and break into pieces.
~~~Mom pulled a dumb move here.  She thought that she could cut corners and not spread the nuts on the foil lined pan.  She left them in the skillet.  WRONG!  The pecans hardened in the pan and she needed a mallet and chisel to remove them!  haha    She did get 99% of them out but she ended up putting water in the pan and boiling it on the stove to get her pan clean!
Haste makes waste, mom!

Dressing:

1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup olive oil
2 Tablespoons maple syrup
1 1/2 Tablespoons Dijon mustard
salt and pepper to taste

Can we make this again soon?  It was delicious and we helped!

Love ya lots♥
Mitch and Molly