Poach the chicken breasts in gently simmering salted water until cooked
Let the chicken cool and shred it into bite-size pieces
Chop the celery or fennel or cucumber
Finely chop scallions, chives, shallots, or onion
Add grapes or raisins or dried cranberries or chopped apple or pitted and halved fresh cherries
Add fresh herbs and nuts
Prepare a creamy dressing by whisking together a creamy base, mustard, acid, salt, and pepper
Pour the dressing over the salad ingredients and toss everything together
