If I could only keep a handful of cookbooks, “The Silver Palate Cookbook” and “The Silver Palate Good Times Cookbook” would be among them.
With some embarrassment, I remember visiting my youngest sister at her home in New York many years ago where I took the subway and a couple of buses for the journey to the actual Silver Palate, pictured so charmingly on the cover of the Silver Palate Cookbook.
In my California enthusiasm I told the man behind the Silver Palate counter how excited I was to be there, that I had both cookbooks, and how I loved so many of the recipes, especially the Tarragon Chicken and the Challah and …
“Yeah,” he said. “What do you want?”
Oh. Kaaaay. I bought a couple of the famous Lemon Bars and split.
I’ve had both books for nearly 30 years, and the love is showing. The bindings are split. And some of the more popular pages are stained and splattered.
In fact, to find my favorite recipes, I need only hold the books open and the pages  magically flip to dishes like Tarragon Chicken, which is exactly what I wanted to share with you today.
I’ll print the recipe, below, but today, I’m using it as a guide. Normally, the recipe starts with raw chicken and ends with a Tarragon Chicken mixture ready for a bed of lettuce leaves, or for a filling between croissant halves or stuffed in a pita envelope.
But I discovered about 15 years into making the Tarragon Chicken that the recipe worked nearly as well with cut-up, already-cooked chicken, skipping all that fuss with creme fraiche (you’re welcome).
For an added convenience, buy a cooked rotisserie chicken, found at nearly every grocery store.
But have you noticed some of the prices of these chickens? When they climb into the $8, $9 and $10 range, I have a hard time justifying buying them. After all, it’s possible to buy a whole chicken and roast one at home.
Thursdays at Tops changes everything. Every Thursday – just Thursday – Tops Market in Redding and Weaverville offer two roasted whole chickens for $10 … yes, $5 each.
If I buy two chickens, I can have one to serve for a dinner, and use the other for recipes, whether it’s for tacos or salads or soups or, as we’re doing today, saving some for Tarragon Chicken.
But the two-for-$10 chickens are a weekly special. I notice in this week’s ads Tops Market Hot Grocery Specials includes IGA flour and IGA sugar, two for $4, and Challenge Butter two for $6. These are baking staples, which you’ll need for holiday desserts and breads.
Finally, there’s still time to order your Diestel all-natural, locally raised turkey from Tops Market, or the ready-made, deli-prepared complete Thanksgiving dinners by calling the Tops Market Weaverville store at 530-623-2494 and Redding 530- 241-1391.
But for now, I’m turning my attention to Tarragon Chicken. I think you’ll like it. It’s a keeper.
Tarragon Chicken Salad
Boneless whole chicken breasts, about 3 pounds 1 cup Creme Fraiche or heavy cream (or sour cream thinned with a little milk) 1/2 cup sour cream 1/2 cup mayonnaise 2 celery ribs, cut into 1-inch-long pencil strips 1/2 cup shelled walnuts 1 tablespoon crumbled dried tarragon Salt and freshly ground pepper, to tasteArrange chicken breast in a single layer in a large jelly-roll pan. Spread evenly with creme fraiche and bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 20 to 25 minutes, or until done to your taste. Remove from oven and cool.
Shred meat into bite-sized pieces and transfer to a bowl.
Whisk sour cream and mayonnaise together in a small bowl and pour over chicken mixture.
Add celery, walnuts, tarragon, salt and pepper to taste and toss well.
Refrigerate, covered, for at least 4 hours. Taste and correct seasonings before serving.
4 to 6 servings.
From The Silver Palate Cookbook by Julee Rosso and Shelila Lukins
This recipe sponsored by Tops Market in Weaverville and Redding.
Click here to receive weekly emailed Tops Market ad specials.
Click here for print-at-home coupons.
Click here to order a sandwich online from the Redding Tops Market.
Click here to order a sandwich online from the Weaverville Tops Market.
Independent online journalist Doni Chamberlain founded what’s now known as anewscafe.com in 2007 with her son, Joe Domke of the Czech Republic. Prior to 2007 Chamberlain was an award-winning newspaper opinion columnist, feature and food writer recognized by the Associated Press, the California Newspaper Publishers Association and E.W. Scripps. She lives in Redding, CA.
