Easy Greek Tzatziki Chicken Salad

recipe adapted from and image from Host the Toast

Pretzel Salad

 

It’s my mom’s birthday!

When I was little my mom was a daycare provider. At one time both of my parents were working at home and they had up to 12 kids plus their 4.

(Talk about CRAZY!!!  I don’t know how she did it.)

With all of those kids, I’m sure meal time could have been filled with a lot of complaining. But I don’t remember it being that way.

When I was growing up there was this rule/motto that we had.

YOU DON’T HAVE TO LIKE IT YOU JUST HAVE TO EAT IT!

(This motto came from my mom’s side. My grandma and Grandpa used it with their six kids)

The parents of her daycare kids started asking for recipes because they couldn’t get them to eat healthy meals. She decided to make a cookbook.  Filing it with favorites that have been ‘begged borrowed or stolen’.

(Photo of one of the original cookbooks)

One of our favorites recipes out of this book, is this pretzel salad.

I don’t think we ever had a thanksgiving or Christmas without it.

It’s one of those dishes that we never have any leftovers.

A couple of years ago we started making it with real whip cream because of an allergy (to the coconut oil). Talk about delicious! The only downfall is that the cream doesn’t stay as firm as the Cool Whip does… Who cares about that?… NO ONE!

The extra work is worth it if you have the time.

Pasta Salad

This pasta salad is a go-to for us during the summer months.  It’s easy to throw together, using a number of both flexible and fresh ingredients. It is easy to take along in a cooler when you’re going to be away for the day (“Anybody wanna go to the amusement park?”) because you don’t have to worry about keeping a mayo-based salad safely cold! 

It’s not uncommon for us to enjoy this salad all by itself as a light dinner after a day at the pool, but it also makes a great side with burgers on the grill or a welcomed take-along for any pot luck or covered dish. To make it gluten free, simply substitute cooked, cooled quinoa for the pasta.  We like it just as much served this way!  
I can’t remember where I grabbed the image used on this card.  If it’s yours, just let me know and I’ll give credit where credit is due!