Cheese Quesadillas Easy!

Kid Pleasing Easy Quesadillas

Quesadillas (Kay-sah, DE-yuhh) are the flat tortillas made from masa (corn) or wheat. There are whole-wheat tortillas and other ‘wraps’ that are very similar to tortillas that you may use.

Although, the tortilla that makes up the quesadilla is easy to make from scratch, I use the store bought ones. In fact, we have machines in our local grocery stores that make fresh tortillas daily. There is nothing much finer than a fresh-made still hot tortilla with butter on it.

The common tortilla is a staple here in New Mexico.

Tortillas are often served warm and plain as a side with your meal in New Mexico. The tortilla is a ‘food pusher.’ With the tortilla folded up, you can capture or ‘sop up’ every last bit of the lovely sauces that accompany so many New Mexico style foods.

The tortilla microwave warmer that I have pictured is a nicely sewn cotton cloth over what feels like (and probably is) a plastic grocery store bag stuffing. I got this at a little store in Columbus, Mexico called La Rosa (Pinks.) Until you get around to making or buying one of these, you can loosely wrap tortillas in a slightly damp towel and then microwave them for 10-15 seconds, depending on the wattage of your microwave. This gives you a warm pliable tortilla.

The quesadilla may be stuffed with cheeses, meats, vegetables, fried pumpkin blossoms, seeds, eggs, and any manner of sweets too!

Queso means cheese in Spanish which gives you a clue as to what the most common filling is!

This quesadilla is easy-peasey, full of flavor and a big kid pleaser. I recommend serving it with a nice bowl of healthy soup for a great and easy lunch.

Easy Quesadillas

Ingredients:

Flour tortillas, two per serving (some may prefer corn tortillas)

One package of the pre- grated Mexican cheese mixture but if you have cheese that is not already grated, chill it in the freezer for a bit and it will grate easier-Cheddar and Monterrey Jack are the two preferred cheeses on a quesadilla.

¼ C. or more of green chilés, chopped, raw or canned or frozen (thawed)

Red hot sauce or green milder sauce

Preparation:

Sprinkle cheese on the tortilla

Sprinkle green chilés on the cheese

Top with the second tortilla

Microwave in 45-second increments, you want melted cheese not cheese that runs out of the tortilla and covers the plate!

OR

You may use a non-stick skillet and fry your quesadillas, turning often so the tortilla doesn’t burn while the cheese melts.

Serve them hot and let your hungry mob tap on the hot red sauce or milder green sauce!

Some people eat these cut up in pie shapes and some just roll-up the whole quesadilla.

Use the huge tortillas and cut them up into wedges for snacks for serving during the big game.

I am all for the easy-peasey method and use the microwave for this. I find the microwaved quesadillas stay warmer while I make more. Sometimes it is difficult to stay ahead of a hungry quesadilla devouring family!

Optional ingredients:

· Have any left over Calabacitas? This was an earlier recipe and it makes an excellent quesadilla stuffer. I medium chop and warm the left-over Calabacitas and place them on the tortilla, with some cheese, a second tortilla, and then microwave.

· Do you have any left-over last-night chicken/pork/beef? Layer that with cheese with your tortillas and microwave

· Fried up crispy bacon is great as a filling

· Chorizo sausage is great as a filling too

You may use almost any filling that you would place on a traditional bread sandwich! I have had a peanut butter and jelly filled tortilla and it wasn’t too bad!