I’m not sure whether my mom invented this dish or just claimed it as her own creation when my sister and I fell in love with it. As kids, we were not big vegetable eaters - I don’t imagine many children are. This was her trick to making sure we all had a well-balanced meal without the moaning and groaning that would normally accompany such a thing. However, we were more than happy to get our fair share of the food pyramid when it came to broccoli twist.
Fortunately for her and now for you, this dish is simple, affordable and delicious. There isn’t a whole lot more you can ask for when you’re trying to make a meal. When you go shopping, stock up on cheese, broccoli, crescent rolls, and mayonnaise. Get a bag of shredded cheese for around $2.99; I recommend American or cheddar. You can get a head of broccoli or a small bag of florets - either way should cost just under $2. A tube of crescent rolls is approximately $1.49, but they go on sale pretty frequently for about $1 apiece. If you didn’t get the BOGO deal at Publix on mayonnaise when you made tuna noodles, you can snag a jar for $4 or so. If you want to add some meat to this dish, I’d suggest chicken - just make sure you cook it before adding it in. If more flavor is what you’re looking for, try tossing in some red bell pepper and onions; almonds are also nice if you want to add some texture.
As for prep, turn your oven to preheat at 375 degrees. Chop up your broccoli into tiny pieces. Go ahead and mix it together with the cheese in a medium-sized bowl. Stir in enough mayonnaise so that it all sticks together in a nice yellow-green mass. On a separate baking sheet, lay out your crescent rolls so that the fat ends all are together in the middle and the smaller points spread away from it. In the middle, spread out your mixture slightly. Then fold the points in on top of the mass so that they meet in the middle. Now, just bake this baby for about 25 minutes until it is golden brown.
You get dairy, you get grain, and you get vegetables, all in one meal and for about $10. Look at you, taking care of yourself - your momma would be proud!
