SPRING IN JERSEY - GRILLED ASPARAGUS CHICKEN SALAD ON SOURDOUGH

It is spring here in Jersey again, 2021. Yes, we made it through the year,  from the spring of 2020, when the pandemic was first announced to us. Thanking God for His goodness to us in bringing us through that year, and praying for those families who lost loved ones due to the pandemic. Sometimes there are things that we will never understand this side of heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1 tells us, For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted. While each time and season may seem random, the underlying significance in the poem is that there is a purpose for everything we experience in our lives. The familiar lines offer a comforting reminder of God's sovereignty. The message in this passage centers on God’s ultimate authority in heaven and on earth. Humans have mastered many things in this world, but some elements of our existence are beyond our control. And giving up control is hard. That is the part we struggle with We cannot conquer time. God is the one who appoints the times of our lives. There is a time for everything, and right now it is time for spring. 

I have talked about spring in Jersey in prior posts, so most of you know, spring is the time for one of my favorite vegetables, asparagus. We have so many good farmers here in south Jersey that grow this woody vegetable. You can pick this up fresh at most farm markets usually starting around the beginning of April. My family eats asparagus as much as we can get it fresh, and love to eat it just steamed with butter, to cooking it with pasta, chicken and whatever else we want to have with it. Asparagus does go very well with chicken, and we also love a good chicken salad sandwich now and again. So recently while making up some chicken salad for my husband to take for lunch, I remembered that it was time for asparagus, and how much I wanted some. So I thought, I have never tried a chicken salad sandwich with asparagus, so now is a good a time as any to make some up. I also thought it would be delicious grilled, and one of my favorite breads for grilling sandwiches is sourdough. Also, I know many will disagree, but for me, I like chicken salad using canned chicken. I just like the texture and the taste. But feel free to use fresh, cooked chicken too, if that is what you normally use. 

What you will need: 1 (12.5 oz.) can of chicken - 1 cup of steamed asparagus, cut in small pieces - 1 tsp. of fresh squeezed lemon juice - 2 Tbsps. of mayonnaise - 4 Tbsps. of sour cream - 1 tsp. of garlic pepper - 1 tsp. of garlic salt - sliced sourdough bread - slices of swiss cheese

What to do: In a bowl, mix lemon juice, sour cream, mayonnaise, garlic pepper and garlic salt. Add the chicken and asparagus. Top a slice of sourdough bread with the salad, and then top with 2 slices of Swiss cheese. Put a Tbsp. of butter into a pan, and grill. Enjoy with a cup of hot soup.