I’m Craving Mexican Food!

Quesadillas with Refried Black Beans

This is a great recipe for doing alone or with the help of loved ones or friends. There are so many small easy things to be done to get this ready that you could ask for assistance from people of all different cooking skill levels. I find that this tends to be the case with Mexican food in general. Perhaps it has something to do with the culture in which these dishes originated? I don’t know, but I love the idea of a kitchen full of people all helping out.



Ingredients (2 servings):

• 2 Ezekiel tortillas (typically found in the frozen section of your grocery store)
• 1 cup of low or fat free refried black beans
• ¼ avocado
• ½ cup shredded cheese (I used mozzarella)
• 5 oz of shredded chicken (I cook then shred 4 small chicken breast strips)
• ½ bell pepper (chopped)
• ½ cup plain nonfat Greek yogurt (in place of sour cream) (optional side)

Directions:

• Follow the directions on the package for how to cook your chicken strips. Make sure to start these first so they can cook while you get the rest of the meal ready.
• Warm two large skillets on the stove top on medium heat (heat setting 3 or 4). It’s fine to just use one pan too if you want. I use two so that the quesadillas will be ready at the same time.
• Chop the bell pepper then divide into two portions and set aside.
• Add ¼ cup of shredded cheese to each portion of chopped bell pepper.
• The Ezekiel tortillas tend to come frozen. Thaw them out 10 seconds at a time in the microwave. Flip them over in between each 10 seconds until they are slightly warm.
• Warm the beans in the microwave as well. I cook them for a minute, stir, and then take it from there till warm.
• Each person will get 1/8 avocado. Now would be a good time to cut your avocado into eighths.
• Chicken strips are great because they cook faster than larger chicken breasts. Once they are done, chop them into small pieces.
• Divide the chicken up into two portions and then add the chicken to the bell peppers and cheese.
• These quesadillas are going to be the kind that fold over, as opposed to the larger two tortilla kind. Place you chicken, bell pepper, cheese filling onto half of the tortilla and then fold it over.
• Do this with the other tortilla as well.
• Place each quesadilla onto a pan.
• Let the quesadilla cook on each side until it is slightly browned or the cheese is melted.
• It shouldn’t take more than 3-5 minutes on each side. 

Summary:

Each plate should receive 1 quesadilla, ½ cup refried black beans, and 1/8 avocado slice.


What’s for desert?

Perhaps you have enough of your daily sugar allotment left over and you can have a no sugar added fudge pop, or maybe a sugar free pop instead. 


* Check with your doctor before changing your diet. What works for me may not work for you.