Recipe: Chicken Caesar Salad Bites

I hope that everyone is having a wonderful holiday season! Like many people, I am starting to think ahead a week to 2014 (YES, 2014 is in a week!) and my goals for the new year. One of them will definitely be to blog more and in an effort to get started now, I wanted to share a recipe! This recipe was recently approved by the 30+ of our framily* who gathered at my parents' house yesterday to eat, drink and be merry.

Chicken Caesar Salad Bites on Parmesan Crisps

These Chicken Caesar Salad Bites are an easy prep-ahead appetizer, and only require four ingredients. The most difficult part is neatly topping the parmesan crisps with the chicken/arugula/dressing mix.

Makes: 5 dozen

Ingredients:

• 8 ounces shredded parmesan or an Italian cheese blend
• 16 ounces cooked chicken breast, diced fine
• 1 cup arugula, finely chopped
• 1/4 cup caesar dressing** (more or less to taste)

Directions:
Make the cheese crisps: 

1. Preheat your oven to 350º and line two baking sheets with parchment paper. 
2. Spoon rounded teaspoons of cheese onto the baking sheet, about an inch apart. I generally do 12 little cheese piles on each baking sheet. 
3. Bake for 8-10 minutes, until the cheese is melted and nicely browned. 
4. Remove from oven and let cool slightly before transferring to wire racks to cool completely. Repeat this process to make all of the crisps. 
5. If you are not using them right away after cooling, place in a paper towel-lined, air-tight container. 

Assembling the bites:

1. When ready to serve, stir together the chicken and arugula. 
2. Stir in the dressing a bit at a time, until it is to your liking. 
3. Gently top each cheese crisp with a spoonful of salad and serve immediately.

*Framily = friends who are our family.
**We really like Ken's Light Caesar Dressing. It isn't creamy but has good flavor and works well in this particular recipe.