RECIPE: Easy Quesadillas

I love Tex-Mex food and could eat it everyday, but then I hear protests from the family ranks.  Since I began planning a monthly meal plan, I've instituted Tex-Mex Saturdays.  We have Tex-Mex inspired lunches and suppers.  Nothing extravagant, but it eases my craving.  Since we are eating from our pantry this month (and usually do this every month :) I wanted to share an easy, no-fuss quesadilla recipe.  It's really a method versus a recipe, seeing how you can tuck beans, chicken, shrimp, beef, pork or even grilled veggies inside with the cheese.  Here's how we do them:

Easy Quesadillas

10 flour tortillas $.99

non-stick cooking spray $.25

3 oz cream cheese, softened $.08

1 Tablespoon taco seasoning $.12

filling: beans, chicken, beef, etc...about 2 cups $.45-1.25 (depends on what you are using)

2 cups shredded cheese (your choice) $1.17

1. Heat skillet over medium low heat.  In a small bowl, mix the cream cheese and taco seasoning together until well combined; set aside.  
2. Remove two (2) flour tortillas from bag and spray one side of one tortilla with non-stick cooking spray (if you don't have this, use butter or olive oil, your choice), place the 2nd tortilla on top.  
3. Using the back of a spoon, spread about 1 Tablespoon of cream cheese mixture over the tortilla.  Spread thin layer of cooked beans or meat over the cream cheese layer.  Sprinkle a couple of tablespoons of shredded cheese over the bean/meat layer.  
4. Separate the tortilla from the oily one beneath it and place it into the heated skillet.  Place the oily tortilla over the cheese layer, oily side out.  After about 1-2 minutes, carefully flip the tortilla so the other side can brown.  Remove the quesadilla from the skillet to rest and so the cheese can finish melting.  
5. Continue making quesadillas.  Cut them into quarters or sixths.  Serve with guacamole, salsa and sour cream.

The whole meal will feed 4-6 people for $3.06.  The local restaurant we go to for dinner charges $5.25 for one Mushroom Quesadilla.  When we make it home, we know what ingredients we are using and how much fat we are adding to our meal.  And it's cheaper!  Who doesn't love that?

Please share any easy take-out meals you make at home utilizing items in your pantry or freezer.

Enjoy!

This post has been linked to:

• 5 Dollar Dinners
• Tempt My Tummy Tuesday at Blessed with Grace
  
• Mouthwatering Mondays at A Southern Fairy Tale 
• (Red) Meatless Monday at These are the Days
• Tasty Tuesday at Beauty and Bedlam
• Tuesday at the Table at All the Small Stuff
• Ultimate Recipe Swap at Life at Mom (Super Bowl Food)