MISSION,
Kan., July 29, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- (Family
Features) Resisting the weeknight urge to call for takeout or order
delivery starts with an approachable at-home menu with recipes you
can prep in an instant. Especially during back-to-school season
when schedules are jam-packed with activities, easy meals and
desserts you can rely on allow you and your loved ones to ease
tension in the kitchen.
Simplicity is the key to putting dinner on the table in 30
minutes or less, and these Taco Salad and Taco Mac and Cheese
recipes offer mealtime solutions that make cooking duty a breeze.
Make all that classroom effort worth it with a kid-friendly dessert
you can prepare over the weekend and keep refrigerated for
weeknight treats with these No Bake Dragon Fruit Cheesecake
Bars.
Find more recipe ideas to simplify hectic back-to-school
schedules at Culinary.net.
Make Dinner Happen in 30 Minutes
If you're looking for a go-to meal for your hungry family,
search no more. This Taco Salad calls only for pantry staples so
you can spice up busy evenings in just half an hour.
Visit Culinary.net for more quick dinner solutions.
Taco Salad
Recipe courtesy of "Cookin' Savvy"
Total time: 30 minutes
Servings: 6
1 pound ground
beef
1 can (15 ounces)
black beans
1 can (15 ounces)
corn
2 cans (14 ounces
each) diced tomatoes with chilies
1/2 cup half-and-half or milk
2 tablespoons
onion powder
2 tablespoons
garlic powder
2 tablespoons
mesquite seasoning
1 tablespoon black
pepper
salt, to taste
1 lime, juice
only
1 cup chopped
cilantro
romaine lettuce
2-3 cups shredded cheese
1 tub (16 ounces)
sour cream
crushed tortilla chips
In pan over medium heat, brown beef until cooked through; drain.
Add black beans and corn. Stir in tomatoes with juices and
half-and-half. Add onion powder, garlic powder, mesquite seasoning
and pepper. Season with salt, to taste. Bring to simmer.
Add lime juice; stir. Sprinkle with cilantro.
Wash and chop lettuce. Place cheese and sour cream in bowls for
toppings.
On plates, top crushed tortilla chips with meat sauce, lettuce,
cheese and sour cream, as desired.
A Sweet Treat to Make School Days Special
Sometimes a long day in the classroom and tough homework
assignments call for a cool treat. Rewarding all that studying can
be a cinch with a no bake cheesecake bar that lasts throughout the
week.
These No Bake Dragon Fruit Cheesecake Bars allow you to keep
things cool in the kitchen without cranking up the oven. Plus,
they're made with C&H Sugars that are perfect for adding a
little something special to school days.
Find more back-to-school desserts at chsugar.com.
No Bake Dragon Fruit Cheesecake Bars
Prep time: 35 minutes
Rest time: 6 hours
Yield: 16 bars
Crust:
1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
6 tablespoons
unsalted butter, melted
2 tablespoons
C&H Light Brown Sugar
1 pinch salt
Bars:
1 small fresh
dragon fruit, peeled and cubed small
1/4 cup C&H Granulated Sugar
12 ounces cream cheese, at
room temperature
1 1/2 cups C&H Powdered Sugar
2 teaspoons pure
vanilla extract
1 cup plain Greek
yogurt, full fat, at room temperature
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream,
cold
To make crust: Line 8-by-8-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
Leave 2-inch overhang of paper on both sides. In medium bowl, mix
graham cracker crumbs, butter, brown sugar and salt until well
combined. Pour mixture into prepared pan and press into even layer.
Place in freezer.
To make bars: In small saucepan over medium heat, cook dragon
fruit and granulated sugar until sugar is completely dissolved,
dragon fruit is soft and mixture reduces in size, 10-12 minutes,
stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and cool completely.
In large bowl, beat cream cheese until soft. Add powdered sugar
and mix until fluffy. Scrape sides of bowl. Add vanilla and yogurt.
Beat until combined.
In separate bowl, beat heavy whipping cream until stiff peaks
form. Fold cream into cream cheese mixture. Pour half of mixture
into prepared crust. Add 5 tablespoons dragon fruit mixture to
remaining cream cheese batter. Mix until well combined. Pour over
plain cream cheese mixture. Place in refrigerator to set at least 6
hours, or overnight.
Cut into 16 bars.
Spice Up Weeknights
Macaroni and cheese is a beloved comfort food that's easy to
make on busy weeknights. With just a few extra ingredients and
steps, you can turn boxed mac and cheese into a filling dinner.
To make this Taco Mac and Cheese, simply prepare your favorite
boxed mac and cheese according to the package instructions and stir
fry the meat and vegetables together. (Hint: You can even chop
vegetables the night before to make cooking the next day even
easier.) Then add taco seasoning and combine for a new take on a
classic dish.
Visit Culinary.net to find more quick and simple recipes.
Taco Mac and Cheese
1 box macaroni
and cheese
1/4 cup milk
4 tablespoons
butter
1 pound
ground turkey
1 red bell
pepper, diced
1 yellow bell
pepper, diced
1 orange bell
pepper, diced
1 onion,
diced
2 teaspoons
taco seasoning
Prepare boxed mac and cheese with milk and butter according to
package instructions.
In skillet, brown ground turkey over medium heat. Add bell
peppers and onion. Add taco seasoning.
Stir turkey mixture with mac and cheese to combine.
Michael French
mfrench@familyfeatures.com
1-888-824-3337
editors.familyfeatures.com
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content, Family Features provides readers with topically and
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SOURCE Family Features Editorial Syndicate