Thursday, September 22, 2011

Dinner Dilemma!


Sometimes the most difficult question I have to answer everyday is "What's for dinner?".... And although I am so thankful that this is the most "difficult" part of my day, it is still a dilemma! If you too are wondering what you're going to make for dinner tonight, I have an answer!! Homemade Tortillas are so yummy and versatile. Last night I decided to use them for Quesadillas!


Follow these easy step-by-step instructions and your dinner dilemma is solved for tonight!! My recipe comes from my Joy of Cooking cookbook:



Gather your ingredients:
You will need:
2 cups of flour
1 tspn baking powder
1 tspn salt
1/4 cup shortening or lard
3/4 cup Hot water (105-115 degrees)

My MIL gave me this awesome Pampered Chef measuring cup several years ago and it is so useful for sticky/solid stuff like molasses, honey, shortening, etc. I highly recommend it for measuring your shortening!
I also highly recommend this Spectrum Organic All vegetable shortening. (available at Whole Foods) It is healthier than traditional shortening and gives my tortillas a much softer texture.


Next: add all of your ingredients to your mixer bowl.
Mix on low for about 1 minute or until the dough looks like this:
Mix on Medium for 4-6 minutes or until the dough looks like this:

Next: divide your dough into 8 equal pieces:


Cover the 8 balls with a paper towel and let "rest" for 20 minutes

Lightly flour your counter and roll out the ball until it is 6-8 inches. This one is rolled out to 8 inches exactly

Pre-heat your skillet to Med.

Add your tortilla and cook for about 30-45 seconds 
or until you see lots of bubbles:
After you see all of the bubbles, 
flip over and cook the other side for 15-20s. 
You want both sides to be lightly browned like this:
Once the first tortilla is finished, place it on a paper towel covered plate (this will prevent it from getting soggy from the condensation on the plate) and repeat until all 8 are finished!

Next: Start preparing ingredients for Quesadillas 

Shred cheese: 
Freshly grated cheese is much softer than packaged shredded cheese
 It also helps tone your arm muscles!

Cook chicken with a little taco seasoning sprinkled on both sides.


We were feeling tropical last night so we opted to go with a mango salsa instead of a traditional Pico de gallo (tomatoes, onion, garlic, cilantro, lime juice, salt and pepper) but both are delicious with quesadillas

Cut ingredients for Mango Salsa

You will need:
1 mango
1/2 red bell pepper
1/4 large cucumber
1/4 med onion
a tbsn or 2 of chopped cilantro
1 jalapeno
1 lime, freshly sqeezed
salt and pepper to taste

Chop all of your veggies and mix them together with the lime juice.


Start Making Quesadillas:
Heat non-stick skillet on Med heat and add a little olive oil or butter.
Add cheese and chicken to first tortilla and cook on Med heat for about 1 minute or until cheese is melted


Add a 2nd tortilla on top and press down into the melted cheese before flipping over to cook the other side.
 Cook the other side for 1 minute or 2. Be careful not to burn the bottom of the quesadillas.

Enjoy your homemade Quesadillas and Mango Salsa

Tortillas can also be used for fajita & taco night. For desert, drizzle a warm tortilla with honey and sprinkle with a little cinnamon. My Husband also loves to use them for breakfast tacos with sausage, egg and cheese . Enjoy!!






8 comments:

  1. YUM! That cookbook is one of my favorites!! We have made homemade tortillas a few times, they are delicious. Although I have kinda sworn it off until I get a tortilla press ;)

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  2. YUM! I make quesadillas all the time, although I never have time to make my own tortillas anymore. Let me suggest some queso fresco added in with the shredded cheese. Get a good authentic one. yumyumyum.

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  3. Looks delish! I love making things from scratch, although I've never made tortillias homemade before! Hope you can come back to the Homemaking Party and link up again soon :).

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  4. I have always wanted to make homemade tortills, yours look wonderful and your mango salsa looks great too!

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  5. They look great! I have found myself in the 'What's for Dinner?' dilema many times!

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  6. I wish I had a Whole Foods nearby! Walmart just doesn't offer enough in organic options.

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  7. Thanks Everyone!! Rachel- I feel for ya! Do you have a Trader Joe's?

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  8. The best preparation of which you have been posted in this blog. Thanks for the sharing of those steps and tips.

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