Aunt Theresa’s Quesadillas

One of our favorite treats are Quesadillas!  My grandsons like them with just chicken and cheese and they can eat them faster than I can get them out of the skillet and cut!  They are best served hot with extra salsa on the side.  Give it a try and let me know how you like them.

Ingredients

Large flour tortillas (usually about 8-10)

4 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1 green bell pepper

1 red bell pepper

1 medium yellow onion

1 large jalapeno pepper (or 2 medium)

1 large bulb of garlic, pressed

Fresh cilantro (I use kitchen shears and cut leaves into a plastic bowl)

1 pkg shredded cheddar cheese (16 oz./1lb.)

2 medium avocados, diced

Cumin

Chili powder

Salt

Pepper

Pam spray

¼ to ½ cup water

Seed and slice red and green bell peppers, seed and cut jalapeno pepper in half then slice (you will have half circles)  Cut onion in three large slices then turn and slice three or four times more, place all vegetables on the same plate and press ½ the garlic on top; set aside. 

Wash chicken breasts in cold water and pat dry.  Dice chicken and season with cumin, chili powder, salt and pepper.

Heat a large skillet on medium until hot, spray with Pam. Add chicken and ½ of the pressed garlic; cook until well done.  Half way through the cooking process add half a hand full (or a couple of pinches) of cilantro. Once chicken is cooked remove from skillet and set aside.

In the same skillet add ½ cup water and vegetables, season with salt and pepper, cumin and chili powder.  Cook until vegetables are the desired doneness… some people like them well done, others like them a bit crisp… NOTE:  the crisper you like your vegetables the less water you will need to use. Drain and set aside.

Spray a fresh skillet with Pam or other non stick cooking spray and heat on medium heat.  Place flour tortilla in skillet and cover with a layer of cheese, next cover ½ of tortilla with prepared chicken, top with cooked veggies, diced avocados, and fresh salsa.  When cheese is melted, lift the edge of the tortilla to see if it is browned to your preference, if so flip the half with cheese only over the rest of the ingredients and pat with spatula, remove from pan to flat surface and cut into four triangles with a pizza cutter.  ENJOY!

NOTE: YOU MAY HAVE TO ADJUST THE HEAT OF YOUR SKILLET DEPENDING ON YOUR PARTICULAR STOVE.  

Aunt Theresa's Salsa 

6 - 8 medium sized tomatoes, diced (substitute 1 large can of petite diced tomatoes)
1 hot or 2 mild jalapeno peppers, seeded and diced
1/4 cup chopped onion (sweet or yellow)
3 cloves fresh garlic, pressed
chopped cilantro (to taste)
salt and pepper (to taste)

Mix all ingredients and let sit at least 15 minutes. Serve with chips or eat with just about anything. We like our on top of beans and peas and with all kinds of Mexican food!

For an additional treat mix a couple tablespoons with 3 or 4 medium sized fresh avocados, mashed. It is some kind of good!