LOM (Life on the Margins) is supposed to be about creativity among a few other things. So, I have been thinking of putting on a “Recipe Corner” as that has been a significant part of my creative life.

I figured it out, and it looks like I have cooked or at least helped cook, about 1.5 million meals in my life. Most of those meals (over a million of them) were when I worked in a dormitory cafeteria for 5 years while going to school way back in the 1960s. I couldn’t have graduated without the money I earned there. I started at $0.90/hour and made it to $2.35/hour before the five years were up.

Another part was the eleven years I volunteered at a local soup kitchen. Those were some of the most enjoyable times of my life. I made many special friends there that I will treasure always. And then there are the meals I prepared for myself as a bachelor for 16 years and as a married person for going on 35 years now.

I have always enjoyed cooking, but I just can’t seem to stick to the recipe. There is always something that I think can make it better. Working in the soup kitchen we made meals with what we had so many recipes were self-invented. That allowed me to branch out to a more creative style. 😎

Anyway, here is the first installment in the new “Recipe Corner” here at LOM.

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Mexican Chicken Salad

• 2 cups dark meat chicken, cooked and shredded
• 1/2 cup minced onion
• 1/2 cup of English Cucumbers
• 1 Jalapeño, minced
• 1/2 cup Mayonnaise
• 2 Tbsp. lemon juice
• 1.5 tsp. chili powder
• 1/2 tsp. paprika
• sea salt and ground pepper

The original recipe called for bell pepper instead of English cucumbers, but I didn’t have any so substituted, and can’t image in being any better with bell peppers. English cucs are crisper than the regular one, and they add an interesting touch. Of course the original recipe called for chicken breasts, but I just don’t think they have the flavor and moisture of the dark meat.

Just mix everything together and chill. I have kept it in the refrigerator for over a week now, and it is as good as the first time. Btw – I used Sam’s Club rotisserie chicken because I always get one when I visit Sam’s. At $4.98 for a whole chicken it is quite a bargain. I feed the white meat to my cat and wife, they both prefer that dry stuff. I will proclaim that this is the best chicken salad I have ever eaten.

I know I gotta work on my photography skill for these pictures. I promise I will do better on the next one.