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I am nearing the end of my first full week at home in…well…weeks. And it has been wonderful.
Without a doubt, getting to spend the majority of the summer on the road traveling to various places has been a complete privilege and a blast. After being in a job with hardly any vacation time — let alone travel — for 7 years, it has been a thrill to hop from place to place for work, and also to have the flexibility with self-employment to throw a few purely “vacation” trips to see friends and family in there. But I think I am learning that as much as I am a complete traveler at heart, I am also quite equally a homebody.
Quite simply, I love being home.
I love waking up in the morning next to a snuggly pup, and hitting the snooze buttons to soak in a few extra minutes of the warm sunshine beaming through my east window. I love the dance of trying to create two or three new recipes a day in my tiny kitchen, stacking ingredients and dishes expertly high so that my laptop can have its designated counter space to blast music or episodes of Arrested Development while I work. I love that my friends are a minutes (or even a floor) away, and love spontaneous Trader Joe’s runs and rooftop wine nights and deep-hilarious-honest-challenging-encouraging conversations as much as I do. I love that my coffee shop next door feels like a second home, and that my work time there is always wonderfully interrupted by conversations with friends new and old.
And as much as I love eating new food and new places out on the road, I love being able to cook what I want at home.
So when the buffalo craving hit recently, I happened to be home in Kansas City and ran to the grocery store to make it happen.
Since it’s summer and my fridge is filled with greens, I decided to just make a simple fresh buffalo chicken salad. I’m sure this has been done plenty of times on the blogosphere before, but it was new to my kitchen. But I have a feeling this salad may turn into a staple before long. It was just as comforting as I’d hoped!
Fresh Romaine lettuce is tossed in a yummy Greek yogurt blue cheese dressing. And then all of the buffalo classics — spicy chicken, blue cheese, chopped celery and green onions — are sprinkled on top. Oh, and yes you might have spied some avocado in there. I couldn’t resist. ;)
I’m still definitely looking forward to the great meals and memories that are yet to come in my travels this summer. But as a Kansas girl, I can’t help but say it. There really is no place like home.
(Especially with this buffalo chicken salad is on my table.) ;)
Buffalo chicken ingredients make for a tasty fresh salad!
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Ingredients:
2 (8-ounce) boneless, skinless chicken breasts
salt and pepper
2 Tbsp. olive oil
3 Tbsp. cayenne hot sauce (I prefer Frank’s)
8 cups roughly-chopped Romaine lettuce
2 celery stalks, thinly sliced
2 scallions, thinly sliced
1 avocado, diced
crumbled blue cheese
Greek Yogurt Blue Cheese Dressing (recipe below)
Greek Yogurt Blue Cheese Dressing Ingredients:
1/2 c plain Greek yogurt
1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese
1 garlic clove, finely minced
1 Tbsp. red wine vinegar
1 Tbsp. lemon juice
pinch each of cayenne pepper, salt and black pepper
(optional: a tablespoon or two of milk to thin the dressing, if needed)
Instructions
To Make The Salad:
Place chicken breasts between two pieces of plastic wrap and use a meat mallet to pound to even thickness, about 1/2-inch thick. Season on both sides with salt and pepper.
Heat oil in a large saute pan over medium-high heat. Add chicken breasts and cook for about 5 minutes per side or until cooked through and no longer pink inside. Remove from heat and transfer chicken to a plate to rest for at least 5 minutes. Cut into strips or bite-sized pieces, then toss chicken with your desired amount of buffalo sauce.
Meanwhile, toss together lettuce, celery, scallions and avocado with the Greek Yogurt Blue Cheese Dressing until combined. Serve topped with the buffalo chicken.
To Make The Dressing:
Whisk all ingredients together until combined. Stir in a little extra milk if needed to thin.
Welcome home, Ali! You don’t realize how important it is to just kick back in your own space for a while until you’re doing it. I could never be away from home for more than a week. That is… unless I was on a tropical island, I think! :) Great recipe.
Delicious! Added shredded carrot for some color. Works with cooked chicken (I bake several at a time to use in salads)…just cut into strips or bite-sized pieces and toss with the hot sauce. The dressing has just the right combination of flavors. I did not add any salt since I rarely use it and didn’t miss it. Thank you for a great salad. Will use this on a regular basis.
Hayley @ Gimme Some Oven —
Thanks for sharing Maret — we’re happy you enjoy it! :)
Hey, I’m Ali!
My favorite thing in life is time spent around the table. And all the better with some seriously tasty food to bring us all together. more about me »
I LOVE buffalo everything and this salad is just perfect. Pretty, flavorful and so my thing!
Enjoy you time finally being home!
Ok I need this in my life!!! Love that you healthi-fied it!!!!
This looks so perfect! I have eaten my weight in salads lately!
Bring on the buffalo chicken salad! I love it. Perfect…think I might serve it up for dinner one night soon.
I’m a home-body too! I dislike traveling! I need to be in my own kitchen, controlling the quality of food I eat! This salad looks awesome!
Gorgeous salad, Ali! :)
I think I could eat this for every meal. The avocado addition is just perfect!
After long trips, I ALWAYS find myself craving a fresh homemade salad! This one looks delicious…I love anything buffalo chicken.
What a beautiful-looking salad! And totally right up my alley :)
Stunning salad Ali!
the craving is on…can’t wait to try this!
Welcome home, Ali! You don’t realize how important it is to just kick back in your own space for a while until you’re doing it. I could never be away from home for more than a week. That is… unless I was on a tropical island, I think! :) Great recipe.
I have thoroughly enjoyed being home most of this week too! And now I’m craving buffalo chicken salad. Love the dressing you did!
THIS!! I love this dressing…love it. I need to make this for lunch, it’s a beauty.
Perfect! My hubs would love this!
I’m a homebody! Travelling is wonderful but there is just no place like home. :)
I love love love this salad! If I see buffalo chicken salad on the menu, I always order it. I need to make yours at home!
Fab salad, love the flavors!
It’s nice to be out and about but I’m a homebody too. I never want to leave home.
And dude, this salad – yes and yes! You know I can’t resist anything involving buffalo!
Being at home always feels good! And wow, I seriously could eat 10 bowls of this salad! So gorgeous, Ali!!!
I’m a homebody too. I don’t like being away for too long!!
I’ve been craving buffalo anything lately. This salad and all it’s goodness needs to happen in my kitchen!!
This salad looks so so satisfying, I am now craving this so badly :)
I am having an insane craving for salads lately. This definitely looks like one to try.
Delicious! Added shredded carrot for some color. Works with cooked chicken (I bake several at a time to use in salads)…just cut into strips or bite-sized pieces and toss with the hot sauce. The dressing has just the right combination of flavors. I did not add any salt since I rarely use it and didn’t miss it. Thank you for a great salad. Will use this on a regular basis.
Thanks for sharing Maret — we’re happy you enjoy it! :)