Spinach & Red Pepper Quesadilla

When I was a junior in college, I had a group of male neighbors who had a quesadilla maker, which I found to be hilarious. I mean, how hard is it to make a quesadilla in a frying pan?  For Christmas that year, as a joke, my mom got me the very same quesadilla maker. However, I've found it's actually a fun cooking appliance to have, even though it doesn't always get used when I make quesadillas.  It has spurred me to come up with more creative quesadilla recipes though.  This one is more of a Greek quesadilla.  I encourage you to come up with your own fun non-traditional quesadilla recipes too!

Spinach & Red Pepper Quesadilla
Serves: 2

4 medium, Whole Wheat Tortillas
1/2 cup frozen chopped Spinach, thawed and drained
1/2 cup Roasted Red Pepper, diced
3/4 cup shredded Mozzarella Cheese
2 Tbs Feta Cheese

 

 

Place a large, shallow frying pan over medium heat. Let it pre-heat for about 2 minutes while you assemble your quesadilla. To start, lay two flour tortillas each on their own large plate. Start to layer on the ingredients. I put about half of the cheese down first, then the spinach, red pepper, feta and end with the rest of the mozzarella. I like to start and end with the mozzarella cheese so the tortillas have something to stick to.

 

 

Top with the other tortilla half. And place in the pre-heated pan.

 

Let it cook for about 2 minutes and then once the bottom is browned flip to the other side. I first press down on the top a bit to help it all stick together and then use a spatula to help me flip it over. Let the second side cook for about another 2 minutes. Repeat with second set of tortillas.

Flip the finished quesadilla onto a plate once both sides are browned.  Let it cool for a minute or two.

Cut it into pieces and you're done! It was that easy!

xoxo Melissa

Engagement Chicken Fiasco

As many of you are probably aware, Glamour magazine has a recipe which they title "engagement chicken." The story behind this recipe is if you make this dish for your loved one, you can expect a marriage proposal shortly thereafter.  (Add info from Glamour Cookbook) About nine months into dating my now husband, I had the idea I would try making this recipe for him and leave the rest to fate...

I had never cooked a whole chicken before, but as a seasoned cook I figured it wouldn't be too difficult, especially since it was from Glamour magazine, right?  On the day of my engagement chicken dinner, I eagerly went to the store to gather all my ingredients.  Once home, I started my food prep and got out the chicken recipe I found online.  Everything seemed to be running smoothly and all the dinner components were coming together nicely.  In addition to the chicken, I was also making steamed broccoli with a mustard sauce and roasted potatoes.

Kevin arrived to my place on time and oblivious to the fact I was making anything besides a normal dinner for him, as I had many times before.  I offered him a drink, he sat down at the table and dinner was almost ready. "This is it!" I thought.  I opened the oven to check on the chicken, which is looking nice and brown, put in the thermometer, wait for it to get up to 180 degrees and it stops around 125 degrees... "This is odd" I thought to myself.... don't panic...stay calm.  I add a few more minutes to the timer, turn around to Kevin, smiling.  "Just a few more minutes hun" I tell him.

Fifteen minutes later and the broccoli and potatoes are finished.  Kevin has now moved to the connected living room and is watching TV.  I put the thermometer back into the nicely browned chicken... the temperature gauge is going up, up, "keep going!" I think.  It's still not 180 degrees! Just great!  Panic now starts to set in.  I set the timer for 10 more minutes and say a quick prayer.  "Need another drink hun?" I call out to Kevin.  

Ten minutes later, I lovingly open the oven prepared to have a finished chicken.  Thermometer goes in, thermometer goes out. The darn chicken is still not done!  What the heck is going on?  I've never messed a recipe up like this!  I start to cry. I ruined my engagement chicken dinner and now perhaps he will never propose.  Kevin sees me crying and comes into the kitchen, cooking utensils now strewn everywhere.  I confess the plot behind my dinner.  He just laughs and we eat the broccoli and potatoes.  When the timer goes off on the chicken once more, we eye it, almost afraid.  I cut it open and it still seems a little pink.  We each took a bite and then worried, threw the entire thing away.  "Well that isn't how I saw this dinner going" I muse.

Did I read the recipe incorrectly?  Did I get nervous and set the timer wrong?  Was my chicken larger than the called for 4 lbs.?  Who knows?  Kevin didn't propose that night or anytime soon after.  When he finally did about 3 months later, I somehow think the failed engagement chicken dinner had nothing to do with it.  I have since made other roasted chicken recipes which turned out very well.  I will share one of my many successful roasted chicken recipes in a future post!