Curried Chicken Salad and Growing Shiitake Mushrooms

I've been trying to pack my lunch for work more.  There is a cafeteria where I work, but the food they serve is usually unappetizing...and if I didn't pack a lunch I'd just end up eating junk out of the vending machine.  So I made a big batch of curried chicken salad to pack for lunch this week.

Earlier this summer, Lyndsey(The Tiny Skillet) sent me a little gift...a package of her favorite curry powder and I do love all things curry and this curry powder made some really good chicken salad...So a big thank you to Lyndsey!  I even packed my lunch bento-style...It seem only fitting since Lyndsey was the one who sparked my interest in packing bento lunches.  If you're into bentos...visit her other blog, The Tiny Bento. 

I really love this chicken salad...spicy from the curry powder and sweet from chutney and raisins.  I never add celery to my chicken salad...since I hate raw celery...but if you like it...feel free to add it.

Curried Chicken Salad

2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup sliced almonds, toasted
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup sliced green onions, green tops only
1/4 cup Major Grey chutney
1 tbs curry powder, preferably Madras
olive oil
salt & pepper

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Place the chicken on a baking pan and rub with olive oil.  Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper.  Bake the chicken for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through.  Set the chicken aside, until it is cool enough to handle.  Then dice the chicken into small pieces.  In a large bowl mix together the mayonnaise, chutney, and curry powder.  Add the chicken and stir until the chicken is well coated.  Then add the slice almonds, raisins, and green onions.  Stir until every thing is evenly distributed.  Refrigerate for at least a couple hours before serving.

Totally changing subjects...
There was another storm Sunday night...We lost three more trees...I'm starting to think Mother Nature is angry at us...Then I saw this huge crop of Shiitake mushrooms...I'm guessing about 10 pounds...I guess something good did come from all the storms.

Now just in case you are wondering...Shiitakes are not native to Alabama, but they do grow perfectly here. 

I have three logs that were seeded with the spores.  The process was pretty simple.  I ordered some plugs that had been Shiitake spores in them...There are several places that sell them online.  Then drilled holes in the logs...inserted the plugs...then waited for mushrooms...This is the second year they have produced.