[Preilly111]

We add a little sour cream with the mayo.

[HappyRetired]

I used to rough chop by hand because we mostly had breast meat left over--both with chicken and turkey. But as my husband got older he had trouble with many "dry" foods. So I started fine-chopping in the food processor. I can throw in the celery and carrot (yes, I put this in my chicken salad). I think it depends on your preference and possibly your wife's ability to deal with chewing and swallowing certain foods. With the processor, you can process less time for less fine chop. Hope this is helpful.

[sdaubner]

God Bless You and your Wife������������ What a positive post. Enjoyed reading all the recommendations, I copied a few of the recipes myself.

[sdaubner]

Sorry don’t know where all the question marks came from?

[robinrodriguez]

You are a good person God bless you both
I cut mine as small as possible

[TooColdNJ]

The heck with chicken—I’m sure you’ve gotten enough answers and recipes— a variety that’ll last you for years to come. I want you to know that after reading your post, exactly how your small, loving gesture touched me, even though I don’t personally know either of you. I’ve seen first hand how difficult it is for someone to care for a spouse with dementia.

I write this because, according to my mom, my father didn’t even know how to put his coffee cup in the dishwasher! Married for 70 years, a miracle in itself to me, it was a traditional marriage— mom... the mom, and dad as in “just wait until your father gets home!” Mom was the backbone of the family, keeping the family together. Along with all of her other “traditional” wifely duties, she was the brains of the small retail business they worked in together for years. Me, a child of the 1960s and 70s, had a hard time with those traditional roles. When my first marriage ended— my decision— my mother gave me a book called the Total Woman. To this day, I even recall the author, Marabell Morgan. I should fact check that to see how good my own memory really is. I guess she was trying to help. I didn’t think so at all! There is more to a marriage than making sure the lipstick was on and we looked our best. Hmm...

Fast forward to when they were in their mid 80s when my mom had a 5 bypass surgery, resulting in bypass psychosis—her dementia was mild in the beginning, but that was the beginning of the role reversal that I never thought my father could handle.

Over the next year or two, I watched my mom deteriorate and my father gain the strength that I never saw from this man. The care that he provided was simply amazing and, to me, something that I never expected from the man who, for their entire marriage, couldn’t put any effort into the little things that he probably considered a woman’s job. He provided well for her and our family; she took care of us, as moms do, and together they had a wonderful life. Her illness taught me how strong the bonds of love really are.

As those traditional roles reversed— Dad became the strength as Mom became mentally weaker. He was 100% committed to her, taking on every responsibility of her care and her personal needs in ways I couldn’t believe. When she needed more care than the doctor felt he could give her at home, he fought to keep her home, but he sadly acquiesced. Even he realized it himself- being her caretaker was an incredibly difficult responsibility.

Just chicken salad shows me how strong your love has been and will always be—a time when some would have difficulty, unable to demonstrate true and unconditional love.

You, sir, are a wonderful human being who I see will do whatever it takes to care for your wife and the changes you’re facing now and will continue to as time goes on. It’s something that not everyone has the ability to do. In time, although she may be unable to express what she feels in the right words we all like to hear, I hope you know that it will always be there in her heart.

Such a little thing like your chicken salad post very emotionally brought me back to a period of time that I might have learned a few things about love that I should put into practice. What you and my dad reminded me of is that in in the larger scheme of things there are so many more important things in life than a dirty coffee cup. Someday, many of us will wish to hear those little criticisms again, so in the present we should all just let them go and think about you and my dad—how lucky you (are) to have such love In your lives. Your wife is a lucky woman to have you by her side.

[mwieland]

Small chop

[LuvtheVillages]

Love all the variations of chicken salad, but haven't seen mine.

I agree with mixing mayo and sour cream. In addition to celery, salt, and pepper, I add chopped apples and dill weed. Fresh dill if possible.

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by TooColdNJ

The heck with chicken—I’m sure you’ve gotten enough answers and recipes— a variety that’ll last you for years to come. I want you to know that after reading your post, exactly how your small, loving gesture touched me, even though I don’t personally know either of you. I’ve seen first hand how difficult it is for someone to care for a spouse with dementia.

I write this because, according to my mom, my father didn’t even know how to put his coffee cup in the dishwasher! Married for 70 years, a miracle in itself to me, it was a traditional marriage— mom... the mom, and dad as in “just wait until your father gets home!” Mom was the backbone of the family, keeping the family together. Along with all of her other “traditional” wifely duties, she was the brains of the small retail business they worked in together for years. Me, a child of the 1960s and 70s, had a hard time with those traditional roles. When my first marriage ended— my decision— my mother gave me a book called the Total Woman. To this day, I even recall the author, Marabell Morgan. I should fact check that to see how good my own memory really is. I guess she was trying to help. I didn’t think so at all! There is more to a marriage than making sure the lipstick was on and we looked our best. Hmm...

Fast forward to when they were in their mid 80s when my mom had a 5 bypass surgery, resulting in bypass psychosis—her dementia was mild in the beginning, but that was the beginning of the role reversal that I never thought my father could handle.

Over the next year or two, I watched my mom deteriorate and my father gain the strength that I never saw from this man. The care that he provided was simply amazing and, to me, something that I never expected from the man who, for their entire marriage, couldn’t put any effort into the little things that he probably considered a woman’s job. He provided well for her and our family; she took care of us, as moms do, and together they had a wonderful life. Her illness taught me how strong the bonds of love really are.

As those traditional roles reversed— Dad became the strength as Mom became mentally weaker. He was 100% committed to her, taking on every responsibility of her care and her personal needs in ways I couldn’t believe. When she needed more care than the doctor felt he could give her at home, he fought to keep her home, but he sadly acquiesced. Even he realized it himself- being her caretaker was an incredibly difficult responsibility.

Just chicken salad shows me how strong your love has been and will always be—a time when some would have difficulty, unable to demonstrate true and unconditional love.

You, sir, are a wonderful human being who I see will do whatever it takes to care for your wife and the changes you’re facing now and will continue to as time goes on. It’s something that not everyone has the ability to do. In time, although she may be unable to express what she feels in the right words we all like to hear, I hope you know that it will always be there in her heart.

Such a little thing like your chicken salad post very emotionally brought me back to a period of time that I might have learned a few things about love that I should put into practice. What you and my dad reminded me of is that in in the larger scheme of things there are so many more important things in life than a dirty coffee cup. Someday, many of us will wish to hear those little criticisms again, so in the present we should all just let them go and think about you and my dad—how lucky you (are) to have such love In your lives. Your wife is a lucky woman to have you by her side.

excellent post

[LizzieBorden]

I use forks to pull it apart, and then add some sliced up red grapes, celery, red onion, green olives, a few Craisins, and mayo....it is delicious. When my girl friend made this, I turned up my nose a bit, but I did try it and NOW, I make it often, sometimes just eat it without any bread. YUM YUM. Good luck.

[gb1944]

My wife makes the best chicken salad. One of her tricks is to grind the chicken. It really makes the chicken salad smooth.

[davem4616]

Originally Posted by harrisimard

First I want to praise you for being the kind of Husband every woman would love to have. I know cuz my husband is the same way, Thank God. but back to the Chicken Salad, my wonderful husband uses the rotisserrie chicken from sam's and he shreds it with lots of Hellman's , salt & pepper and celery and onion. That's it simple and wonderful. God Bless both you and your wife.

thank you...enough folks have mentioned shredding....I'm going to try shredding it next time

[davem4616]

Originally Posted by TooColdNJ

The heck with chicken—I’m sure you’ve gotten enough answers and recipes— a variety that’ll last you for years to come. I want you to know that after reading your post, exactly how your small, loving gesture touched me, even though I don’t personally know either of you. I’ve seen first hand how difficult it is for someone to care for a spouse with dementia.

I write this because, according to my mom, my father didn’t even know how to put his coffee cup in the dishwasher! Married for 70 years, a miracle in itself to me, it was a traditional marriage— mom... the mom, and dad as in “just wait until your father gets home!” Mom was the backbone of the family, keeping the family together. Along with all of her other “traditional” wifely duties, she was the brains of the small retail business they worked in together for years. Me, a child of the 1960s and 70s, had a hard time with those traditional roles. When my first marriage ended— my decision— my mother gave me a book called the Total Woman. To this day, I even recall the author, Marabell Morgan. I should fact check that to see how good my own memory really is. I guess she was trying to help. I didn’t think so at all! There is more to a marriage than making sure the lipstick was on and we looked our best. Hmm...

Fast forward to when they were in their mid 80s when my mom had a 5 bypass surgery, resulting in bypass psychosis—her dementia was mild in the beginning, but that was the beginning of the role reversal that I never thought my father could handle.

Over the next year or two, I watched my mom deteriorate and my father gain the strength that I never saw from this man. The care that he provided was simply amazing and, to me, something that I never expected from the man who, for their entire marriage, couldn’t put any effort into the little things that he probably considered a woman’s job. He provided well for her and our family; she took care of us, as moms do, and together they had a wonderful life. Her illness taught me how strong the bonds of love really are.

As those traditional roles reversed— Dad became the strength as Mom became mentally weaker. He was 100% committed to her, taking on every responsibility of her care and her personal needs in ways I couldn’t believe. When she needed more care than the doctor felt he could give her at home, he fought to keep her home, but he sadly acquiesced. Even he realized it himself- being her caretaker was an incredibly difficult responsibility.

Just chicken salad shows me how strong your love has been and will always be—a time when some would have difficulty, unable to demonstrate true and unconditional love.

You, sir, are a wonderful human being who I see will do whatever it takes to care for your wife and the changes you’re facing now and will continue to as time goes on. It’s something that not everyone has the ability to do. In time, although she may be unable to express what she feels in the right words we all like to hear, I hope you know that it will always be there in her heart.

Such a little thing like your chicken salad post very emotionally brought me back to a period of time that I might have learned a few things about love that I should put into practice. What you and my dad reminded me of is that in in the larger scheme of things there are so many more important things in life than a dirty coffee cup. Someday, many of us will wish to hear those little criticisms again, so in the present we should all just let them go and think about you and my dad—how lucky you (are) to have such love In your lives. Your wife is a lucky woman to have you by her side.

thank you. my upbringing and the values they gave me along with being a Boy Scout has prepared me for this

but again...thanks for sharing your story, very much appreciated

[Shbullet]

Originally Posted by LuvtheVillages

Love all the variations of chicken salad, but haven't seen mine.

I agree with mixing mayo and sour cream. In addition to celery, salt, and pepper, I add chopped apples and dill weed. Fresh dill if possible.

After reading your recipe I thought Id try it tonight. The chopped apples made this the best Ive ever made thank you!

[Aspillaga60@yahoo.com]

Sounds delicious