4
Must-Try
Simple Recipes for Busy Families
Now that school is back in session, harried parents will be looking for the most efficient ways to use the few hours they have between getting home and going to bed. Somewhere amid the after-school activities, homework, church events, bath time and bedtime stories, they have to squeeze in dinner, and occasionally, they’d like for it to not include a drive-thru window and eating in the car. For school nights when the family has time to gather around the table for a sit-down meal, Allatoona High culinary arts instructor Anne Alejandro offers a few quick and easy recipes that don’t take all evening to prepare.
Chicken Broccoli Braid Ingredients • • • • • • • • •
3 chicken breasts, cooked and cubed 1 cup broccoli florets ¼ cup onion, diced 1 bell pepper, chopped 1 garlic clove, minced 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded ¼ cup olive oil 16 ounces crescent rolls (2 tubes) Salt and pepper
Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a large bowl, combine chicken, broccoli, onion, garlic, cheddar cheese, bell pepper, olive oil, salt and pepper. Open crescent rolls and arrange in a large rectangle on a lined baking sheet. Press dough to remove perforations. Slice 1-inch strands into each side of the dough, leaving an unsliced portion in the middle. Arrange chicken filling in center area of dough. Bring alternating strands of dough to the center around filling, pressing lightly to seal. Bake 25-28 minutes or until golden brown.
24
AROUND ACWORTH | August 2022
Taco Bake
Prep time: 15 minutes Cook time: 30 minutes
Ingredients
• 1 pound ground beef • 1 packet taco seasoning • Water (as called for on back of seasoning packet, usually ¾ cup) • 3 (8-inch) flour tortillas (soft-taco size) • ½ cup salsa con queso • 1½-2 cups shredded Mexican cheese blend
Directions
Brown and crumble ground beef. Drain excess grease. Add in taco seasoning and water, following directions on back of seasoning packet. Once taco meat is ready, turn off heat and add ½ cup salsa con queso. Stir until thoroughly combined. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray an 8-inch round baking pan with nonstick cooking spray. Layer the bottom of the pan with a flour tortilla. Add about ⅓ of the ground beef taco filling on the first layer then add ⅓ of shredded cheese. Continue until you’re done with all the layers: another tortilla, more taco mixture, more cheese. Bake about 15-20 minutes until cheese is melted and edges are slightly golden brown. Allow to cool for a couple of minutes. Slice and serve. Top with desired toppings. Servings: 6.
