Monday, January 24, 2011

AppleBee's Chinese Chicken Salad & Flowers

I like one thing, and one thing only at AppleBee's.  We never go there anymore, so I miss their Chinese Chicken Salad.  It has a very unusual dressing, unlike any other I have tasted.  Well, my friend Holly over at
Hoosier At Heart  recently bought a cookbook that featured favorite recipes from restaurants.  I think it is their own version, not the actual restaurant version.  Holly made it and loved it.  I happened to have all the ingredients for the dressing so I made it tonight.
Applebee's Chinese Chicken Salad Dressing
3 T honey
1 1/2 T white vinegar ( I used cider vinegar, but would have used rice wine vinegar if I wasn't out )
4 t mayo
1 T Dijon mustard
1/8 t sesame oil
For the salad I made, to serve about 4 people, I doubled this amount of dressing.  If I were making it for a crowd, I would just eyeball it and make much more.  I think I would prefer rice wine vinegar, but the cider vinegar was fine.  Whisk ingredients together and pour over salad, top with chow mein noodles for crispiness.
This will go into my files as a good recipe for Chinese Chicken Salad.  Thank you Holly!
I didn't make the salad like theirs, I just used what I had.  But the dressing was very close to the yummy one at AppleBee's.   
For the exact measurements, go to Holly's blog, a post or two back.  I am not big on measuring.  I pour, stir and taste.  The Sesame Oil is a MUST.  And a little bit goes a long way.  For my salad, I used Napa cabbage, and green onions, rotisserie chicken, grated carrots, chopped almonds, chow mein noodles, and toasted sesame seeds.  Sometimes I like to add mandarin oranges.
I have been having so much fun crocheting flowers! 
I have been using lots of different patterns.  Some from blogs and tutorials, ravelry, books, wherever I can find them.  I have come across a couple different leaf patterns too.  Love them with the picot end to make it a little pointy.  And this flower, also with a picot stitch to make the petals pointy.
This one....you will crack up!  It is enormous!  The size of my outstretched hand!!!  I used a very chunky yarn to try this for the first time making this pattern.  I will be doing more, only with smaller hooks and different yarn. 
It's like a sea anemone!!  But, a great pattern I found on ravelry.   I need to figure out what I am going to do with my granny squares.  I started these before I knew anything about yarns and what works for what.  I chose this yarn according to color, and it is wool.  So it wouldn't be suitable for an afghan.  Maybe a bag, or cushion.  And I will get the right yarn for an afghan and do a granny blanket.
Oops, I forgot to move the dish.  Those are my vitamins!  That is what my Mom's friend Kay calls M&M's.  I love that!
I have been adding new colors to my Bloomie selection.  I need to get my boxes ready to bring to Gennifer's Salon this week.  I have some pretty new yellow/golds. 
Little Noah came down sick today.  Eri took him straight to the Dr. after work this afternoon.  He was fine this morning, but came home from school complaining of a sore throat and went straight in to lay on his bed and was asleep in minutes.  He runs very high fevers, just like his Mama did when she was little.  It can be very scary.  So Erika and Noah are staying here at our house tonight since David is gone.  I hope his fever doesn't spike tonight.  She got him on meds, so hopefully he will be better tomorrow.   So, who knows what tomorrow will bring.  We aren't sending Noah to school so we just might stay home and eat these muffins all day.
It's the first day of a brand new week.  Let's make it a good one!

16 comments:

Genn said...

Poor Noah. I hope he's okay.

I cracked up reading about those "vitamins". I can just hear Kay saying that too.

LOVE that big flower that you say looks like a sea anenome! And those new yellow/gold bloomies, OH I MUST HAVE ONE. Those are so pretty. You are so creative.

annielizabeth said...

Hi Kris, Cute yellow bloomies and such finds at the quilt shop! Hope Noah feels much better tomorrow. You are too cute! AND I know whatcha mean about 50 with extra lbs and smiley lines.

I finally feel relaxed now after the pkg was found. Thank goodness.

You've inspired me to just make into felt the wool jackets and coat that a friend of ours left with us several years ago when she moved to FL. She stayed with us for a short time and we stored some stuff and she ended up not wanting it and I was gonna donate them but then got to thinking, I should felt 'em and then save the fabric for later. Thanks for that! Now, you can use the grannies made of wool for a blanket but here in CA I found when wool sits around (like on the back of a sofa) and is not packed away with cedar or moth balls, I have a problem with wool moths. Have moths been a problem for you? I like to make blankets easy care, wash n wear. A granny purse/tote would be cute (with a bloomie on it of course):). Have a fab week!

Reality Jayne said...

Glad to see your Bloomies are still going strong.
You know what I started noticing about Applebees? (and it could just be that i am from hillbilly land).
All the wait staff either have minimal teeth, too tight pants
( with muffin tops overflow-ith), or ....are pregnant ( with bellys stuffed into junior size tops)
I never noticed it until recently. I think it is just that society in general is declining.....
Oh ....hehe sorry...
I think the grannys would look good as a pillow

Holly said...

I'm so glad that you liked the salad dressing. Yummy, huh? I love all the colors you are using, so bright and pretty. Enjoy those M&M's! Save me the orange ones!

Cathy said...

I've had this salad at Applebee's and love it! This is something I will be very happy to make at home. Your squares are so pretty, Kris. I like all your bright colors and look forward to seeing how you will put them together.

Bethany said...

I love the yarn colors--so cheery!!!!

deb said...

I cant get that link to work for the dressing recipe:(
the salad looks amazing..and so do the muffins!

Kristi said...

Poor Noah, hope he is feeling better soon. Madi has had a cold for about 2 weeks now and she just can't seem to shake it, but no fever. Fevers are so scary! Poor guy.

Love the bloomies and everything! And those muffins....yum!

Linda said...

How funny...that's all I ever eat at Applebee's too...that and the same salad in a wrap...I am going to have to make this dressing. The flowers look so cute. I think they would look good on a wee one's head band...or a bag...or just about anywhere!

Unknown said...

Yum. I have one similar to this. And Yes, the sesame oil is a must. There is no getting around this.

Hey, did you really put that Soothing Care Chafing stuff on your face. WOW... I thought Pammy was pulling our leg. Now, I will have to give it a try.

Maryrose said...

Salad sounds good...love the flowers and I hope Noah feels better soon. Stacy was my big fever girl.
Does your friend have Islands Tortilla soup in her cookbook? I would love to make that :)
Enjoy

Tammy said...

I LOVE the butterflies! Cute!

Pam said...

I am not a fan of Applebee's either but your salad does look and sound fantastic.

I love your Bloomies!!!

Stacey said...

I'm not a fan of Applebees either, but that salad looks amazing :) I love the new Gold/Yellow bloomies.. What are those muffins?? I make your "Harvest Muffins" and your "all bran brownie muffins".. These muffins look like soemthing I need the recipe for.. Thanks!

- said...

I hope Noah is much better soon. It's fun making the little flowers and your grannies are looking good!

DaCraftyLady said...

your flowers are so pretty, I am I to believe you go to Bass Lake??? I have been going there every summer for over 30yrs....small world.. :)