Chicken Salad for a Crowd

I have made this for bridal & baby showers and the women love it. I serve it on a mini croissant with fancy lettuce. It can also be served on a bed of fancy lettuce greens topped with crispy Chinese style noodles and fresh fruit on the side. Just lovely. When I make it just for the family I wing the amounts (approx. 1/4 to 1/2 chicken breast per person). UPDATE: 8/9/08 Purchasing several rotisserie chickens makes this even MORE tasty! OR be sure to season the water chicken bouillon when simmering the chicken breasts

• Ready In: 24 hrs 40 mins
• Serves: 40-50

Ingredients

• 18  lbs chicken, bone in, boiled, season water with several teaspoons of chicken flavored bouillon
• 2 2⁄3 cups mayonnaise, can use light, not fat free
• 1  cup half-and-half cream
• 2  small sweet onions, minced
• 1⁄2 teaspoon white pepper (to taste)
• 4  cups celery, thinly sliced
• 2  teaspoons  beau monde seasoning, substitute celery salt
• 2  bunches green leaf lettuce, any fancy lettuce
• 2  cups iceberg lettuce, thinly shredded (optional)
• 40  croissants

Directions

1. Boil the chicken breasts until no longer pink. Cool completely and cube or shred.
2. Peel and mince onion. Can use small to medium size.
3. Clean and thinly slice celery.
4. Combine mayonnaise, half and half, white pepper and Beau Monde. NOTE: *I add enough Beau Monde to see scant color in the mayonnaise, chill and let rest while the chicken is cooling. This will allow the flavors to blend.
5. Combine all ingredients with the chicken and cover and refrigerate over night.
6. Next Morning:
7. Taste test for additional Beau Monde.
8. Add more half & half or milk to thin and make creamier if desired.
9. OPTIONAL: Finely shred iceberg lettuce and add to the chicken mixture. This stretches the amount of chicken salad and makes it lighter in texture.