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!!