This week at co-op we made French Fry Chicken Bacon & Ranch Bake and Crescent Churros and Chocolate . I saw the French Fry Chicken Bacon & Ranch Bake come across my Facebook wall. It looked delish and easy. We made two different versions of it one with NO garlic and NO ranch and one WITH those ingredients.
You can get the printable version of these recipes here.
What we used for the main course (remember this is for TWO entrees):
1 bag of frozen chicken breasts from Aldi stores (thawed and cut into 1 inch cubes -give or take)
2 bags of SHOESTRING french fries
1 pound of cooked, crumbled bacon (cook in non-stick frying pan and keep some of the drippings to cook the chicken )
1 bottle of ranch dressing
8 oz. of shredded sharp cheese
8 oz. of shredded mozzarella cheese
2 tablespoons of minced garlic
2 cast iron skillets
cookie sheets
non stick frying pans
olive oil
salt and pepper to taste
Step 1: Pre-heat the oven for the french fries - 425degrees. Put the 1 bag of frozen french fries onto each cookie sheet and put in the oven for 20 minutes. (keep checking the fries, as one of our bags got done sooner than the other. You don't want them burnt.)
Step 2: Set the stove for medium heat and in the non-stick frying pans, add in the garlic and half of the chicken cubes. In the other frying pan, just add the other half of the chicken cubes. Add your salt and pepper. Cook thoroughly.
Step 3: Take a paper towel and dab the olive oil on it and wipe the inside of the cast iron skillets. Make sure to get the sides as well.
Step 4: With the french fries done and the chicken done, it is time to put them in skillet. FIRST set the oven for 350 degrees.
- Put the french fries in the skillets first. You want to make sure the bottom is covered with the fries. It may not take all the french fries and that is ok.
- Now you want to add the chicken and make sure you spread the pieces around.
- You want to pour some ranch over the chicken and fries in one skillet. The amount really depends on how much YOU like ranch. Again, make sure it is evenly spread out over the chicken and fries.
- Add your sharp cheese and mozzarella cheeses. Sprinkle them evenly over the chicken and fries.
- Add half of the bacon crumbles to each skillet.
The oven should be ready so put the skillets in the oven for 15 minutes. When the cheese is all melted and bubbling, it is done!
What we used for our dessert (enough for 15 people):
4 cans of crescent rolls
2 cups of cinnamon sugar mix
1 stick of melted butter
1 bag of milk chocolate chips
knife or pizza cutter
pastry or bbq brush
2 cookie sheets
Step 1: MAKE SURE that the crescent rolls are C-O-L-D. This is really important. We had ours at room temperature and it was a M-E-S-S! When the dough is at room temperature it is super hard to do what needs to be done with it!
When you take the roll of dough out...DO NO SEPARATE at the perforated edges! You will want to manipulate the dough and make them disappear so that you have one rectangle.
Step 2: Cut the rectangle with a knife or pizza cutter, into 4 smaller rectangles.
Step 3: Brush butter onto the rectangles and spread evenly. NOT ALOT or it will make the dough soft and hard to work.
Step 4: Sprinkle the sugar cinnamon mix on the rectangles.
Step 5: Using a knife or pizza cutter, cut each rectangle into equal strips. Twist the strips and put on the cookie sheets.
Step 6: bake for 5 minutes and check. You want them to be golden brown and not doughy. If they need more time, check them every 2 minutes until done.
Step 7: Put the chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl. Heat at 30 second increments, stirring well until melted.
Step 7: While hot, brush more butter on each and sprinkle with the sugar cinnamon mix.
Whether you eat them warm or not, they are so scrumptious! When you add a dollop of melted chocolate to your plate for dipping...well it just doesn't get better than that.
