Ascension Day Picnic and Chicken Salad

Living the liturgical year can inspire great joy and creativity! While observing feasts and commemorations isn’t necessary for salvation, slowing down, packing a nice picnic, and taking a family outing is one reason I love living in the Church year. And Ascension Day is the perfect opportunity to do just that. Here are a couple activities that you might consider adding to your Ascension Day traditions!

Picnic on a Hilltop 

One common activity for Ascension Day is to find an elevated place to enjoy a family meal. In Acts, we learn that the Ascension took place on the Mount of Olives. In that vein, many celebrate the day by going picnicking on a hilltop to remember the place of Jesus’ Ascension and its significance for all Christians. 

Bird-themed Meal

In some parts of Europe, it’s traditional to eat birds on Ascension since Jesus “flew” up into heaven, so feel free to cook up your favorite bird to celebrate! Quail or duck are some of the traditional choices, but if these aren’t available to you, chicken is a fine option, as well. In the spirit of accessibility, today we chose to feature an avian classic that makes it easy for anybody to observe Ascension Day: chicken salad sandwiches. 

Chicken Salad Sandwiches

This recipe is quick, easy, and refreshing. We hope you enjoy this meal with your family as the days grow longer and warmer! This classic recipe is made special by the homemade mayonnaise that is always superior, in my book, to the store-bought alternative. However, please note that the mayonnaise contains raw egg. Consume at your own risk. And feel free to substitute store-bought mayonnaise or even greek yogurt!

A few notes about the mayonnaise: it is incredibly easy as long as the right elements are there. The key ingredients are the egg, oil, and lime or lemon (citrus) that will react with the liquids to emulsify and thicken the mixture when blended. Once you have those three along with the salt and sugar in the jar, it is important to make sure that the immersion blender touches the bottom so that it first blends the egg, lime, and just a little bit of the oil. Once the first part thickens, then you can gradually work in the rest of the oil by slowly moving the blender up and down.

Recipe

Ingredients

Homemade Mayonnaise

1 egg

½ teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon sugar

squeeze of lime or lemon

¾ cup oil (we used vegetable oil)

Chicken Salad

2-3 boneless skinless chicken breasts

½ cup diced onion

½ cup diced celery

¼ cup diced bell pepper

¼ cup mayonnaise

Instructions

1. To make the mayonnaise, combine all of the ingredients in a tall, slender glass, such as a mason jar or drinking cup. Using an immersion blender, fully submerge the blade and blend for 5-10 seconds until the mixture starts to emulsify and thicken. Slowly work the blender up and down to incorporate all of the oil. Set aside.
2. Dice the vegetables and anything else you would like to add to your chicken salad (salt, pepper, etc.).
3. Bake the chicken until it reaches an internal temperature of 165° and then shred it after it’s cooled. To make this process incredibly easy, place the chicken breasts in a stand mixer and blend with the paddle attachment until it is all shredded.
4. Combine all ingredients with ¼ cup of mayonnaise, adding more if desired, and chill for 1 hour before serving up on your favorite bread.