Old-Fashioned Chicken-Pasta Salad with Almonds and Pimentos

Chicken Pasta Salad with Almonds and Pimentos

There are some days when only the food our mothers made will do. Those are often the days when we find ourselves out of sorts with the contemporary world of instantaneous and overly curt and abbreviated electronic conversations, immediate satisfaction, cheap goods made in China, and well, twerking.



A lunch with a sympathetic friend or two is often in order on such days. Our mothers knew this and loved to hold ladies' luncheons at home, showing off their Russell Wright dishes and floral arrangements.

When our mothers entertained, they made biscuits from scratch and fruit salad with whipped cream and generally a main dish with chicken.

This one, a favorite of mine, literally tastes of those days. I can even smell the coffee percolating as I prepare it.

Old-Fashioned Chicken-Pasta Salad with Almonds and Pimentos (four servings)

• 1 1/2 cups uncooked pasta
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1/3 cup frozen peas
• 1 very large or two small chicken breasts, cooked, cubed or pulled
• 2 teaspoons minced onions
• 1 jar chopped pimentos 
• 1/3 cup celery, chopped
• 1/2 cup green pepper, chopped
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• sea salt and pepper to taste
• slivered almond for topping

Cook chicken breasts in advance and chill.

Prepare pasta according to package directions, using chicken broth in place of water. Add water or broth if package calls for it. I sometimes toss the frozen peas in with the pasta when pressed for time.

Drain pasta and peas when cooked and place in a covered bowl in the refrigerator to chill.

While the pasta and peas are chilling, chop chicken, celery, and green pepper. Place in a larger bowl, blending with pimento. Add chilled pasta, mayonnaise and seasonings. Chill for about two hours. Top with almonds before serving.

The perfect accompaniment might be herb-y or cheesy biscuits; here's a great option from Pinch My Salt. And for full effect, serve on a bed of iceberg lettuce.

Takes you back to the days before selfies.