Tag: brunch

Quesadillas Five Ways

With Cinco de Mayo coming up, I thought it would be fun to celebrate with 5 different quesadilla recipes. I started making quesadilla’s for dinner whenever my kids are being fussy about the food I’ve made. I always keep a package of mini wraps or tortillas in the freezer, so I have a quick and easy dinner to fall back on, just in case. Once in a while, I’ll make myself one for lunch or a light dinner, adding things like pineapple & jalepeno or broccoli and cheddar. Adding fun and flavorful ingredients to a wrap can help turn a plain tortilla into a quick and easy meal that’s not just for kids!

There are 2 basic ways to prepare a quesadilla. You can either fill half the quesadilla and fold the tortilla over, or place the fillings over the whole tortilla and top it with a second one. I prefer to go the half-way route, and make a few flavors instead of one.

What are some of your favorite quesadilla flavors? Share them in the comments below!

All quesadillas are traditionally served with salsa, guacamole and sour cream. 

Broccoli-Cheddar Quesadillas

tortillas or wraps
1 package frozen brocolli stalks, blanched and drained well
1 package shredded cheddar cheese

Method:

Heat up a skillet and spray with nonstick spray. Place tortilla in the pan and sprinkle with cheese. Top half of the tortilla with broccoli stalks. Once the bottom of the tortilla has browned and the cheese has melted, fold the tortilla over and press down with a spatula. Cut into wedges and serve.

Pineapple-Jalapeno Quesadillas

tortillas or wraps
1/4 fresh pineapple, thinly sliced
2 jalapenos, thinly sliced (seeds removed, if desired)
shredded muenster cheese

Method:

Heat up a skillet and spray with nonstick spray. Place tortilla in the pan and sprinkle with cheese. Top half of the tortilla with pineapple and jalapeno slices. Once the bottom of the tortilla has browned and the cheese has melted, fold the tortilla over and press down with a spatula. Cut into wedges and serve.

Taco Quesadillas

tortillas or wraps
1 avocado, mashed and seasoned with lemon juice and salt
oven smoked mozzarella cheese
1 can black beans, drained
1 can corn, drained
1 tomato, diced
1 small red onion, diced

Method:

Heat up a skillet and spray with nonstick spray. Place tortilla in the pan and spread a layer of avocado on it. Top with smoked mozzarella cheese. Add black beans, corn, diced tomatoes and red onion to half of the tortilla. Once the bottom of the tortilla has browned and the cheese has melted, fold the tortilla over and press down with a spatula. Cut into wedges and serve.

Mediterranean Quesadillas

tortillas or wraps
prepared pesto
black olives
roasted red peppers
feta cheese crumbles

Method:

Heat up a skillet and spray with nonstick spray. Place tortilla in the pan and spread a layer of pesto on it. Top with feta cheese. Fill half of the tortilla with olives and roasted peppers. Once the bottom of the tortilla has browned and the cheese has started melting, fold the tortilla over and press down with a spatula. Cut into wedges and serve.

Eggplant Parmesan Quesadillas

tortillas or wraps
marinara sauce
shredded mozzarella cheese
fresh basil leaves
breaded fried eggplant slices
grated parmesan

Method:

Heat up a skillet and spray with nonstick spray. Place tortilla in the pan and spread a thin layer of marinara sauce over it. Top with shredded mozzarella. Spread fresh basil leaves, eggplant slices and grated parmesan over half of the tortilla. Once the bottom of the tortilla has browned and the cheese has melted, fold the tortilla over and press down with a spatula. Cut into wedges and serve.

1 year ago: pineapple chicken & BBQ jalapeno pizza
2 years ago: BBQ pulled chicken sammies

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Tropical Fruit Smoothie

Technically it’s only been about a week and a half since my last post, but somehow it feels like an eternity. Thankfully, the weather has FINALLY turned around here in Brooklyn, and the sun is starting to peak through the clouds. With the warm weather making it’s entrance, it’s time to lighten up our menu’s and keep things simple and healthy before summer comes around. Smoothie’s are a great start!

Most of the time, I tend to skip breakfast altogether as I don’t have much of an appetite in the morning. With smoothies being ice cold and refreshing, I’m able to get in some nutrients without feeling like I’m filling up too much. This tropical fruit smoothie is one of my favorite blends. It’s just so refreshing!

Some of my other favorite smoothie combinations include:

banana+dates+almond milk + honey
persismmon + yogurt + cinnamon/nutmeg + honey
peaches+oatmeal+vanilla+milk+agave
avocado+raspberries+pomegranate juice
kale+kiwi+banana+orange juice

What are some of your favorites? Share them with me in the comments below!

Tropical Fruit Smoothie

1 large ripe banana
8 strawberries
1/2 cup canned pineapple*
1/2 cup coconut milk
pineapple juice, for consistency

Method:

Add banana, strawberries, pineapple and coconut milk to a blender and puree until smooth. If mixture is too thick, add pineapple juice (from the canned pineapple) until you reach desired consistency.

*Look for canned pineapple in 100% pineapple juice instead of a sweetened syrup.

TIP: Instead of adding ice cubes (which water down your smoothie), use prefrozen leftover bananas or frozen strawberries instead.


1 year ago: pepper steak with plum sauce
2 years ago: sesame linguini with marinated chicken breast

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Roasted Eggplant Parmesan with Feta

I always wondered about the name for the dish eggplant parmesan. Parmesan isn’t exactly the prominent ingredient, it’s not even called for in some recipes. Most eggplant parmesan recipes consist of breaded slices of eggplant that have been fried, smothered in tomato sauce and covered in melted cheese. Parmesan or not, it’s definitely one of my favorite dairy dishes, but having just finished the Chanukah fry-fest, I decided to come up with a healthier version.

Last year, I posted this recipe for roasted eggplants stuffed with Israeli salad, roasted chickpeas and techina. It’s one of my favorite ways to enjoy eggplants! I eat it pretty often though, so I decided to invent a new roasted eggplant dish. That’s how this Middle Eastern twist on eggplant parmesan came about. I broil the eggplants for delicious smokey flavor and stuff them with marinara, tomatoes, a little breadcrumbs and finish it off with light feta cheese. Although it tastes nothing like the original, it’s a delicious light and healthy lunch that’s a perfect start for the New Year!

Looking for more healthy recipes? Check out the Shine Supper Club. They’re sharing healthy recipes to get your New Year off to a fresh start!

Roasted Eggplant Parmesan with Feta

1 eggplant, sliced in half vertically
olive oil
salt
1/3 cup marinara sauce
1 plum tomato, sliced
flavored bread crumbs
parmesan cheese, optional
feta cheese
parsley, for garnish

Method:

Sprinkle the eggplants with salt and place flesh side down on a baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and broil on high for 20 minutes. Remove from oven and spread some marinara sauce over eggplants. Place tomato slices over sauce and sprinkle on some bread crumbs and parmesan cheese, if desired. Drizzle with olive oil and top with feta cheese crumbles. Bake at 400 degrees until bread crumbs are toasted and feta cheese has melted (it will still hold it’s form and will only melt slightly). Garnish with chopped parsley.

VARIATION: For a more traditional roasted eggplant parmesan, top the eggplants with marinara and sprinkle with shredded mozzarella. Bake until cheese is melted and browned.

1 year ago: green guacamole
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Blueberry Corn Pancakes


There’s nothing better on a Sunday morning than good old pancakes. OK maybe just one thing: corn cakes. If you like corn bread, like I do, you’ll love these. Blueberries add moisture, tartness and a burst of flavor.

If you want to make the most of summer’s bounty, feel free to add fresh corn into the batter and use the blueberries to make fresh blueberry syrup (easy recipe included below).

Blueberry Corn Pancakes

1/2 c cornmeal
1/2 c flour
1 tbsp baking powder
2 tbsp sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1 c milk
1 egg
2 tbsp melted butter or oil
1 heaping cup fresh blueberries
oil or butter, for frying
maple syrup, for serving

Method:

Combine cornmeal, flour, baking powder, sugar and salt. In a separate bowl, mix milk, egg and butter. Stir wet mixture into dry, mixing until just incorporated. Add blueberries. Do not overmix, batter should be slightly lumpy. Grease griddle or skillet and heat up. Spoon heaping tablespoons of batter onto the griddle. When browned, flip and crisp on other side. Continue with the rest of the batter. Serve with syrup.

Easy Blueberry Syrup

1 cup blueberries
1/2 c sugar
1/3 c water

Method:

Combine blueberries, sugar and water in a pot and bring to a boil. Crush blueberries with the back of a spoon and simmer until thickened, about 15 minutes.

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Tuna Salad with a Twist


I’m definitely a tuna person. Cream cheese? not so much. Lox, not a chance! So tuna is bound to show up on my lunch menu quite often. I like my tuna 2 ways: albacore, and in water. I like to mix up my recipes so it doesn’t get too boring.

To prepare tuna, I start with an empty sink and a pair of gloves! I drain the can of water and empty the tuna into a bowl. Then, using my hands (remember, I’m wearing gloves), I break the tuna apart, so that I end up with perfect flakes that are not too ground, nor too chunky.

Classic tuna with mayo always works, but adding additional ingredients turns it into a salad for a complete meal when served with crackers, rice cakes, or cucumber slices. Sometimes I add a bit of harrisa and lemon for a quick and easy spicy tuna. Other times I’ll mix it into some pasta for a heartier dish, or into salad nicoise – an all time favorite. In this recipe, I use a surprise ingredient which really ups the ante from traditional tuna salad, to something out of this world! What is it? Golden raisins! It may sound weird at first, but I urge you to give it a try. You’ll be pleasantly surprised!

To make these fun cucumber rolls, just slice english cucumbers or zucchini lengthwise, very thin (preferably using a mandoline, but it can be done by hand or with a peeler). Put a spoonful of tuna salad about an inch away from either end. Roll the end over the tuna, and continue to roll up. Fasten with a toothpick. NOTE: If you slice the cucumbers paper thin, you won’t need a toothpick, they will stay closed on their own.

Tuna Salad with a Twist

2 cans albacore tuna in water
1 handful shredded carrots
1 celery stick, diced small
1 handful golden raisins
1/3 cup mayo (more, if needed)
1 tbsp mustard
juice of 1/2 lemon
salt, to taste
pepper, to taste

Method:

Drain tuna well and flake with a fork, or using your hands (I suggest gloves!). Add remaining ingredients and mix well. If it is too dry, you can add more mayo, one teaspoon at a time. Serve in cucumber rolls, or with bread, crackers, or rice cakes.

NOTE: The EPA and FDA cautions pregnant women, women of childbearing age, nursing mothers and young children against eating more than 6 ounces of albacore tuna per week due to high levels of mercury. If you wish to eat more tuna, go for the lower mercury light tuna (commonly skipjack or yellowfin).

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