Chicken Tarragon Salad

The perfect late summer salad.  It's hearty and sweet and just right for entertaining or a lunch with family.   One of my favorite salads of all time.

Tarragon Chicken Salad with Apples and Grapes

6 cups of shredded cooked chicken
3 ribs of celery, diagonally sliced
1 cup of red seedless grapes, cut in half
1 tart apple, cored and thinly sliced
1 ½ cups of Tarragon Mayonnaise (recipe follows)
3 Tablespoons of chopped fresh Italian parsley
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Combine the chicken, celery, grapes, apple, mayonnaise and parsley in a large bowl and stir to mix. Seasonwith salt and pepper.
Arrange on a platter and garnish with parsley and celery leaves if desired.
Serve immediately or refrigerate.

This salad keeps well for several days. Add the apples and grapes just before serving.

Tarragon Mayonnaise
1 cup of good quality mayonnaise
3 Tablespoons of Tarragon Vinegar
Juice of 1 lemon
½ cup of tarragon packed in vinegar
     or ¼ cup or dried tarragon soaked in the 3 Tablespoons of vinegar
     or ¾ cup of fresh tarragon leaves chopped finely
1 shallot, minced
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Place the mayonnaise, vinegar, lemon juice and tarragon leaves in a food processor fitted with a metal blade. Process until well blended.

Add the shallot and blend until smooth. Season with salt and pepper. Refrigerate until ready to use or up to 1 week.

This is also good on sandwiches or sliced tomatoes.