Casa de Quesadilla

One of my staple family meals that I really enjoy making is quesadillas.  I love making them for the kids; I love making them for friends and family.  Even customizing to individual tastes, quesadillas are easy to please the crowd.

Cost to feed 5 ppl: $15
Cost for Guacamole: $6.50

Ingredients for Quesadillas:
1 bag flour tortillas
1 block Mont Jack cheese (or colby-jack or pepper jack)
1 can black beans
1-2 lbs chicken (you can cook your own or use the pre-cooked/frozen strips)
1 onion
1 green pepper
jalapenos
tomatoes, lettuce, salsa, sour cream

Making Quesadillas

Slice onion and green pepper.  Add to hot skillet with a few Tbsp butter. Cook until tender or crispy (to liking). Shred cheese; cut tomatoes/lettuce; open can of black beans and drain.  Have cooked chicken ready to use.

Heat griddle to med-low heat, until butter melts.  Swipe pan with butter to coat.  Lay down 1 tortilla, sprinkle entire tortilla with cheese, then add chicken, black beans, peppers/onions, jalapenos to only half the tortilla.  Once cheese begins to melt, use spatula to flip over (think omelet) the half with cheese-only to be the "lid" to the other half.  Let sides melt together.  Gently flip entire half-circle to opposite side, until light brown and a bit of a crisp texture. Each side cooks quickly - don't take your eyes off it.

Remove from griddle and onto the plate. Allow to rest about 3-4 minutes.  Using pizza slicer, cut into wedges (3 or 4, depending on size of tortilla).  Serve with lettuce, tomato, salsa, sour cream, guacamole (and margaritas).

Ingredients for KA-Guacamole:
2-3 ripe avocados (they should look black and be pushable, not firm)
1 lime
1-2 cloves garlic
salt
tomatoes
red onion
cilantro
cucumber (optional)

Cut avocados length-wise and scoop out into small bowl. Begin mashing until smooth.  Add a 1/2 tsp salt, and squeeze one half of lime juice in.  Press 1 clove garlic and mix in. Finely chop red onion (only need about 1/3 of the onion) and add. Finely chop tomatoes, cucumbers and add to bowl.  Chop cilantro (half bunch) and add.  Taste.  The red onion will grow stronger in flavor as will the garlic. If needed, add more lime juice or salt.  Continue adding more of the other ingredients to meet your taste.  Serve with quesadillas and chips.