Canape (Quick Prep) w Chicken

It feels like I haven’t done this in a while – and that’s true. Between finishing our floors (stuck in the bedroom with 2 dogs and a microwave) the windstorm (lost power for 4 days and lost our hives) and getting it back to normal including ordering new bees, cooking hasn’t been high on the list. But it’s time and I am ready to reclaim my kitchen!

It’s become a habit to grill chicken Monday night then there is a bit leftover for a quick lunch or dinner later in the week. Last night was kind of chilly and rainy so we had a fire in the fireplace and decided a picnic dinner might be fun. And there was grilled chicken, so we had chicken sandwiches – but not JUST sandwiches, let’s call them canapes. It sounds so fancy, but it only takes seconds to assemble and a few more seconds to broil. That’s it! The ingredients are simple: mayonnaise, chutney, raisins, and curry powder – then mix in chopped cooked chicken. You could absolutely do this with tuna instead. My mom used to make “tuna buns” that we loved. It was just what it sounds like – tuna fish salad in a bun gently warmed in the oven. We thought it was ever so gourmet and in the 1960’s – it was!

But these canapes got a little upgrade. To finish I cut slices of bread in half, spread with the chicken mixture, and topped with aged gouda – any cheese will do. This went under the broiler for about a minute, a garnish of chives made it pretty and that was it. We loved every bite. This would also make a handy little appetizer, assemble ahead and then heat and serve. Whether it’s a quick dinner or an impromptu picnic when you serve this lovely little canape – it’s sure to be a hit. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

1 large or 2 small cooked chicken breasts (6-8 oz)
3 Tbsp mayonnaise
1 Tbsp chutney
1 ½ Tbsp raisins
½ tsp curry powder
4 slices bread (I like to use a sturdy 7 grain or whole wheat)
Thin slices of gouda or favorite cheese (hint – use a vegetable peeler to get thin slices)

Directions:

Preheat oven to broil.

Chop chicken into small pieces.

In a mixing bowl combine mayonnaise, chutney, raisins, curry powder, and chicken.

Cut bread into triangles and top with chicken mixture and a small piece of cheese.

Place on a baking sheet and broil until slightly browned.