Spring is in the air, and outdoor activities are underway, which means busy schedules for moms and dads. But it also means quick and easy meals will alleviate stress. A local Montgomery mom, Arlandra Wheeler, shares a favorite recipe she enjoys preparing for her family.
Arlandra is the Assistant Principal at Brewbaker Middle for MPS and has been in education for 11 years. In January 2022, she got engaged to her fiancé, Kendrick, who lives in Seattle, Washington, and the couple is expecting their first child together. Arlandra also has an 11-year-old daughter, Shania.
Growing up in the south, Arlandra always looked forward to a Southern-cooked meal from her mother and aunts. At the tender age of nine, she started to learn her way around the kitchen. Her mother taught her personally, and she learned from her older sister. What she felt was most important in her early days of learning to cook was trial and error. It allowed her to make mistakes and perfect her craft of cooking, to discover what she liked and didn’t like in the kitchen. Arlandra shares,
“At some point, I learned that food brought comfort and is also the one thing that always brought our family together.”
In the Wheeler household, Sunday nights are always family time at the dinner table. “That started as a kid and is a tradition my friends and I incorporate into our children’s lives. Thanksgiving and Christmas are also a tradition in our family when everyone comes together at an elders’ home and brings separate dishes, be it a theme or traditional food choices.”
Arlandra admits, “I use my Instapot more than I would like to admit. It’s a great tool to have in the kitchen, and most meals are prepared with the Instapot due to all the features it includes. Also, I must have nonstick pans and a decent-sized glass or Pyrex casserole dish.
Since she works full-time, quick and easy meals are a must. “My daughter jokes that every meal either includes chicken or salmon. Those meals are my favorite because they’re fulfilling, not costly, but also flavorful.”
Arlandra enjoys several recipe cards from Publix and has joined many recipe Facebook groups for parents. One of her favorite recipes is Cheesy Chicken and Broccoli Casserole, which she shares with us this month!
Cheesy Chicken and Broccoli Casserole
- 1.5 pounds grilled and shredded chicken
- 1-pound broccoli, clipped to florets
- 3/4 cup heavy cream
- 8 ounces of cream cheese
- 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk
- 1 tbsp. Dijon mustard
- 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup grated cheddar cheese
- 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
Directions:
Preheat oven to 390F. Heat a saucepan with water over high heat. Add broccoli florets and boil until cooked. Drain well and set apart. Place the shredded chicken with the filtered broccoli florets in a large mixing bowl. In a saucepan over low heat, add the heavy cream, cream cheese, mustard, garlic, almond milk, salt, and pepper, and whisk until smooth.
Pour the warm sauce into the broccoli chicken bowl, add the basil, and give it a good mix. Pour the mixture into a casserole dish and cover it with grated cheese. Place the casserole dish in the oven and bake for 20-30 minutes or until hot and cheese has browned. Let it cool down for about five to ten minutes and serve.
