Chick Food...Fruit and Nut Salad

I'm notorious...

...for eating everything BUT the lettuce in my salad.

I pick out all the good stuff and if a leaf of lettuce happens to get stuck to a piece of chicken or pecan...I'll eat it too.

The same goes for rice.

That's why I like this salad. It's full of the good stuff. Apples, grapes, strawberries, candied pecans, and cranberries. This recipe is from my cousin Amy. We had guys eating with us so we had to balance the sweet salad with some salty feta. This makes a ton!!

Fruit and Nut Salad

adapted slightly from Amy Bench

1 bunch green leaf lettuce, chopped (I used two bags of prechopped Romaine lettuce)
2 Granny Smith apples, peeled and cubed
2 cups strawberries, sliced
2 cups red grapes, halved
2-3 chicken breasts
1/2 of a white onion
1 bag Dried Cherry, Cranberry and Pecan Salad Pizazz (I found mine at Super Target by the bagged salad)
1 bottle Brianna’s Poppy seed or Raspberry Vinaigrette Dressing (sometimes we do half of each)
1 (4 ounce) container crumbled feta (optional)
salt and pepper

Boil chicken with salt, pepper, and onion. Once cooled, cube chicken. Put everything in a large bowl. Toss with dressing right before serving. Serves 15-20 people.

Recipe Notes:
1) You may not need the whole bottle of dressing.
2) If you can't find the Salad Pizzaz you can use 1/2 cup of cranberrries and a half cup of pecans.
3) If you want to carmelize your own pecans do the following: In a skillet over medium heat, stir 1/4 cup sugar until melted. It will eventually melt if you just turn up the heat and wait. Continue stirring gently until sugar has melted and then toss in the pecans and keep stirring until they are coated. Carefully transfer nuts onto waxed paper. Allow to cool, and break into pieces.