Elizabethtown College has made it through about a quarter of the semester, and the intensity of assignments has begun to ramp up. It’s been getting increasingly difficult for me to find time to sit down at the Marketplace and enjoy a meal, so I’ve found myself ordering food I can grab quickly from the Jay’s Nest. However, I don’t always want the same few menu items I usually order, so here’s a way I’ve found to spice up one of my favorites—the chicken tenders.
Start by gathering all of your ingredients. You’ll need chicken tenders, or you can use the chicken bites occasionally available in the Marketplace salad bar, as well as lettuce, flour tortillas and crispy chow mein noodles. You can use the lettuce available from the salad bar in the Jay’s Nest or Marketplace, and the Marketplace also has tortillas available on several menu rotation days, including taco Tuesdays.
If you choose to use chicken that’s already covered in a sauce, you can add it to the wrap as-is. But, if you want to add a little extra flavor to plain chicken, you’ll need mayonnaise, white vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard and toasted sesame oil for a nice dressing.
Once you have everything you need, cut the chicken tenders into bite-size pieces. Place them on the tortilla. If you’re using fresh lettuce, chop or shred it. Add the lettuce to the wrap along with the crispy noodles.
For the dressing, mix a third of a cup of mayonnaise with three tablespoons of honey, two tablespoons of vinegar, one teaspoon of Dijon mustard and half a teaspoon of toasted sesame oil in a bowl. Use a spoon to drizzle it over the contents of the wrap to your tastes. Fold the tortilla and enjoy!
I like this recipe because it requires very little prep and the dressing makes enough to store several meals’ worth in the fridge. You can also add a variety of other ingredients, like tomatoes or avocado, to add some extra flavor and make it even better for your personal tastes.
While simple, this recipe is tasty and satisfying, and it’s a quick way to get a relatively nutritious meal when you’re low on time and energy from your classes and clubs. It even makes a great late-night snack if you save the chicken until after all the campus facilities have closed, since it can be made right in the comfort of your dorm.
