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Pretzel Ranch Chicken SaladAs a busy, full-time working (and blogging!) mother of two teen boys, one of the questions I dread most during the week is, “What’s for dinner?”

Smith Brothers Farms

That is why I was so excited when the Smith Brothers Farms milkman delivered to my house last week.

So convenient! And just look at all that dairy goodness fresh from the farm!

Smith Brothers FarmsWith such wonderful customer service! What a nice touch this personal note was left by our milkman, Justin.

Smith Brothers FarmsSmith Brothers Farms’ goal with their personalized milk delivery is to make it easier and more convenient for busy parents to feed their families healthy, fresh and nutritious food.

They have been delivering farm-fresh milk since 1920 (more than 90 years!), offer the freshest milk —from the farm to your fridge in 24 to 48 hours, and it has always been rBST (hormone) free.

Sourdough pretzels

I must admit that I am not the best at meal planning and shopping ahead for everything that I need. And after a full day of work, the last thing I want to do is head to the store and THEN cook dinner.

But I do want to serve my family the freshest, most nutritious meal I can. With some picky eaters in the house, it is sometimes tough to find a meal that will please everyone (and fill up those teen boys!)

Ranch Pretzel Chicken

This salad is perfect for a warm summer evening. The chicken cooks up fast, and making this homemade ranch dressing from scratch is so much easier than you think.

Buttermilk Ranch Dressing

It takes just a few ingredients and some fresh herbs to make a salad dressing that will be a hit with your kids and is so much better than what you can find in any bottle.

Fresh Ranch Dressing

The buttermilk marinade makes the chicken nice and moist. Plus you can marinate according to how much time you have – the longer the chicken sits in this mixture, the more juicy it will turn out.

You can mix all the ingredients up in the morning and stick the chicken in the marinade before you head to work, or you can let it sit in there for an hour when you get home.

Buttermilk marinade for pretzel chicken

The best part is that this recipe is so versatile – I served the chicken separately with ranch on the side, for dipping, to my vegetable-averse 16 year old.

Buttermilk Pretzel Chicken

Cheese (and the ranch dressing!) added to the salad helps to entice little ones who may claim to not like any green food.

Ranch Pretzel Chicken Salad

And the pretzel coating on the chicken means that you do not need to add croutons, since it provides just the right amount of crunch.

Buttermilk Pretzel Chicken Salad

Buttermilk Pretzel Chicken Salad with Farm Fresh Ranch Dressing

  • 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken strips or breasts
  • 2 eggs beaten
  • 1 cup flour

Marinade:

  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried ground mustard
  • 1 Tablespoon fresh oregano
  • 1-1/2 cup hard sourdough pretzels crushed (I just put them in a doubled up plastic storage bag and pounded with the back of a heavy spoon)

Ranch Dressing:

  • 1-1/2 cup mayo
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 2/3 cup buttermilk
  • 2% milk to thin
  • 1-1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 2 teaspoons chopped chives
  • 1/2 teaspoon fresh oregano chopped
  • 1/2 teaspoon fresh thyme chopped
  • 1/4 teaspoon fresh dill chopped
  • 1 Tablespoon fresh parsley chopped
  • Fresh ground pepper

Salad ingredients:

  • Salad (I use the bag of iceberg salad with carrots and red cabbage and then add red leaf lettuce to enhance it – just use whatever greens you usually use) 
  • red leaf lettuce
  • carrots
  • cucumber
  • yellow grape tomatoes
  • Tillamook grated medium cheddar cheese

Mix together all ingredients for the marinade. Place chicken strips or breasts in mixture, cover and marinade in the fridge for one to 8 hours.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Coat nonstick baking pan with non-stick spray.

Remove chicken from marinade and dry them by blotting with paper towels. Dredge each piece of chicken in flour, then dip in eggs. Place in crushed pretzels and roll as you push the pretzels on to coat.

Carefully place coated chicken on baking pan and bake for 20-25 minutes.

While the chicken is cooking, mix all ingredients for the salad dressing, except the milk, in a separate bowl. Add milk to thin the dressing to your desired consistency.

Prepare individual bowls of salad using whatever greens and vegetables you like. My list is just a guideline! Top the salad with cheddar cheese, a warm piece of chicken and then drizzle with the ranch dressing.

Smith Brothers Farms milk and Alki Bakery cookies

I recommend that you finish it off with some milk and cookies for dessert! You will DIE for these cookies from Alki Bakery that is included in the Smith Brothers Farms delivery service!

I am pleased that Smith Brothers Farms would like to offer one of my lucky readers the opportunity to try your own home delivery service. Here is your chance to win a $100 credit of Smith Bothers Farms home delivery product.

Smith Brothers FarmsTo enter the giveaway: Simply leave a comment telling me what Smith Brothers Farms product, or products, you would choose for home delivery if you were to win.

Please note: This giveaway is open to local readers only – you will need to be in Smith Brothers Farms delivery area to qualify for this giveaway. To find out if you’re in their service area, go to http://www.smithbrothersfarms.com/delivery/ scroll down to “Find out if you live on a delivery route” and enter your address. Also note: they are unable to deliver to apartments or condos.

Extra Entries – (You must leave a comment on this blog for each one that you do.)

This giveaway will end Midnight Pacific Time, Sunday, June 30th. I will choose one winner from the comments on my blog Monday morning and will email the winner. Winner will have 24 hours to respond before I choose an alternate winner.

Good luck!

I was not financially compensated for this post. I received samples for review purposes only. The opinions are completely my own based on my experience.