Broiled Bean Quesadillas

quesadillas

What You Need:

1 tbsp olive oil
2 tsp bottled minced garlic, divided
2 C plum tomatoes, chopped
1 C fresh cilantro, chopped and divided
1 (15 oz.) can black beans, rinsed and drained
4 (8 in.) flour tortillas
3/4 C of Mexican cheese blend, shredded
1 C frozen corn
2 tbsp lime juice
1 red bell pepper, chopped

How to Make It:

Set the oven to broil and place a baking sheet into the oven to preheat.
Place a skillet over medium high heat and add the oil.
When the oil is hot but not smoking add 1 1/2 tsp of garlic and sauté for 30 seconds.
Add the tomatoes, 1/2 C of the cilantro and the beans.
Stirring frequently, cook the mixture for 5 minutes.
Coat the heated baking sheet with a non stick cook spray.
Place the open tortillas on the baking sheet.
Spread each tortilla with 1/2 C of the bean mixture.
Sprinkle the cheese evenly over the beans.
Fold the tortilla over the filling.
Spray the top of each folded tortilla with the cooking spray.
Place the pan in the oven and broil the quesadillas for 3 minutes or until browned.
In a saucepan over high heat combine the corn, lime juice and bell pepper.
Stir in the remaining cilantro and garlic and bring the mixture to a boil.
Cook for 2 minutes stirring frequently or until heated through.
Cut each quesadilla into 3 wedges and top each wedge with the salsa.

Makes 4 servings

Broiling quesadillas is time saving in more ways than one. First it allows you to cook all your quesadillas at once instead of one at time as you would in a skillet. It also helps in keeping the filling inside the tortilla. Since there is no turning there’s no chance of the filling falling out onto the pan.

Nutritional Information: (approximate values per serving)
Calories 420; Fat 14.4g; Saturated Fat 5.5g; Protein 17.8g; Carbohydrates 60g; Fiber 10.3g; Cholesterol 19mg; Sodium 590mg

Lil Smoky Snake Snacks

What You Need:

1 small red bell pepper, seeded and cut into strips
4 (11 oz.) cans refrigerated bread sticks
2 pkg. cheese smoky links
1 t of processed cheese spread
48 small raisins

How to Make It:

The oven is set to preheat to 375 degrees F.
Cut the bell pepper into 24 small pieces to look like a tongue.
The bread stick dough is removed from the cans but not unrolled.
Each bread stick roll is separated into 6 pieces.
1 roll of the dough is unrolled and press to seal the center perforation.
The dough is wrapped loosely around a smoky link with 1 1/2 in dough extending from each end.
Do this until all the smoky links have been wrapped.
On an ungreased cookie sheet put the wrapped links.
Place small balls of foil under the extended ends of the dough to form the heads and tails while baking.
Make a mouth by making a small slit in each piece of dough.
Put in the preheated oven for 15 minutes or until dough is a golden brown.
Place a dab of the cheese spread on the head of each snake where the eyes and tongue are to be placed.
On each snake put two raisins for the eyes and a piece of the bell pepper for the tongue.

Makes 24 servings

These sneaky snakes are loved by kids. In place of the smoky links you may use regular hot dogs.

Preparation Time: approximately 30 minutes
Baking Time: approximately 15 minutes
Total Time: approximately 45 minutes

Nutritional Information per serving: (approximate values)
Calories 290; fat 16 g; sodium 910 mg; carbohydrates 29 g; sugar 6 g;
protein 9 g

Cheesy Potato Eggs and Ham

eggs-ham

eggs-hamIngredients:

8 eggs
8 T of Parmesan cheese, grated and divided
2 T of olive oil
2 russet potatoes, peeled and diced
1/2 C of onion, chopped
1/2 C of red bell pepper, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
4 oz. Serrano ham, chopped
1/8 t marjoram
1/2 t salt
1/4 t pepper

How to Cook It:

Turn on the broiler and allow it to preheat.
Carefully break the eggs into a large mixing bowl.
Sprinkle the eggs with 4 T of the cheese and whisk until well combined.
Pour the oil into a large oven proof skillet positioned over medium high heat.
Add the potatoes to the skillet and cook, stirring often for 5 minutes or until browned.
Stir the onion, bell pepper and garlic into the potatoes.
Cook 2 minutes or until the onion and peppers are just beginning to tender.
Add the ham, marjoram, salt and pepper and stir to blend.
Spread out the mixture evenly in the skillet.
Pour the egg mixture over the top of the potato mixture, tilting the skillet so the eggs spread to the edges of the skillet.
Reduce the heat to medium low, cover the skillet and cook 5 minutes or until the top is set around the edges but the center is still lightly runny.
Remove the skillet from the stove and sprinkle the remaining cheese evenly over the top of the eggs.
Place the skillet in the oven and broil for 30 seconds or until the center of the frittata is set.

Serrano ham is the Spanish version of Italian prosciutto. Serrano ham is salt cured, air dried then aged. Serrano ham is not smoked so you get a more pure and intense ham taste. If you can’t find Serrano ham smoked ham will work just as well in this recipe.

Makes 4 servings

Grilled Portobello and Bell Pepper Submarines

submarine

submarineWhat You Need:

1 lb. Portobello mushrooms, sliced
1 onion, sliced thin
1 green bell pepper, julienne
1 red bell pepper, julienne
1/4 C extra virgin olive oil
4 cloves of garlic, minced
1 tsp dried rosemary
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
2 C tomato sauce, heated
4 submarine rolls
1 (4 oz.) pkg. provolone cheese slices

How to Make It:

The grill rack is lightly oiled and the grill is heated to medium.
In a large mixing bowl put the mushrooms, onions, pepper and olive oil.
Add the garlic, rosemary, salt and pepper and blend until the vegetables are well coated.
Divide the vegetables in half.
One half of the vegetables are put on the grilled and cooked 10 minutes, or until tender tossing frequently.
Grill the remaining half of the vegetables in the same manner.
Reset the grill to low heat.
Brush the inside of the submarine rolls with the tomato sauce.
Place 1/4 of the grilled vegetables onto each roll.
Top each sandwich with a slice of cheese.
Close each and sandwich and wrap them tightly in aluminum foil.
Place the wrapped sandwiches on the grill for 10 minutes or until crispy and the cheese has melted.