Welcome back!

Today I'm going to empart upon you my favorite lunch time treat. Padawan-wan has dubbed it "Bug Quesadillas" but don't be deceived, there are no actual bugs in it. He absolutely will not let me sit near him at the dining room table while I eat this meal so obviously his rating is going to be pretty bad on this one.

How did this recipe come to be known as "Bug Quesadillas" you may ask? Well... obviously Padawan-Wan is referring to the black beans! One of the very first days I made this dish he sat there staring at it intensely. He said, "What are those black things?" I said, "Chocolate chips." He shook his head. "They don't look like chocolate chips. What are they?" I tried again, "Raisins?" Nope. Still not buying it. Finally I said, "Oh ok, they're actually bugs." I proceeded to "chase" a bean around my dish with my fork which of course completely freaked him out. He actually screamed when I stabbed the bean/bug with my fork & ate it. (reason #41 why he will be in therapy someday)

This recipe is an Oboe-Wan original. As a vegetarian I had to find a way to get the most nutrition into every meal I possibly could. Even if you're not vegetarian, you will love this. And, if you feel cheated, you could probably add some meat to it, though by doing so you release me from all enjoyment liability!

Measurements are approximate - you will probably want to add or take away as you see fit. But don't skimp on the cheese!!

BUG QUESADILLAS

1 flour tortilla
1 tsp. olive oil
large heaping handful of uncooked baby spinach
1/4 C. black beans (I use stuff from the can, rinsed really really well)
1/4 C. corn kernels (I use frozen corn)
Tbsp. of chopped tomato
tons of shredded mexican blend cheese (like Kraft or Sargento in the bag)
2 Tbsp. sour cream (try fat free! It's really good!!)
tsp. unsweetened lime juice
salt

1) wilt the baby spinach in a small kettle. I like to add some salt. If using frozen corn, rinse it under hot water for a minute or so until thawed.

2) Drop the olive oil on a non-stick frying pan or griddle, place the tortilla in the pan & wipe it around until the oil has completely coated one side of the tortilla.

3) Build your quesadilla: sprinkle the shredded cheese all over the tortilla, being sure to get it all the way to the edges. Use as much as you like - it's not going to blow up. On one half of the tortilla put your beans, tomatoes & corn, on the other half spread out the wilted spinach evenly. Next, sprinkle a little bit more cheese on top of all this (to hold it all together once you fold it).

4) Cook your quesadilla: over medium heat. You don't want to cook it too fast or your tortilla will burn, so find the balance between melting the cheese & burning your meal. Once the cheese on the bottom has melted and the stuff on top is looking softer, check the color of your tortilla. It should be "kissed" with golden colors. If it looks good to you, fold the tortilla in half - use a spatula so you don't burn yourself. Let it cook for about 10 seconds more before removing it from the heat. Cut into 4 pieces with a pizza cutter.

5) While your quesadilla is cooking, you can prepare your "special sour cream." Combine the sour cream & lime juice in a small small bowl or dish. Add a dash of salt and stir until combined. It will be just a bit runnier than before. Serve with the quesadilla, but put this sour cream idea at the top of your "cool toppings" list because the uses are endless!! I use it for everything these days.


User Ratings:
Oboe-Wan: 5 out of 5 acklays
Hubby-Wan: 5 out of 5 acklays
Padawan-Wan: take your acklays somewhere else

SW members who have tried it:
Amidalooine: 5 out of 5 acklays

Others:
Padawan-Wan's best friend Princess Butterfly (age 3): 5 out of 5 acklays
Princess Butterfly's mom: 5 out of 5 acklays