Corn and Green Chile Quesadillas

I discovered quesadillas during my first year of college in Arizona. In Illinois Mexican food was virtually unheard of unless you bought those crisp taco shells that came in the package. Never liking those made me think I didn’t like Mexican food. Plus I had a father who claims and still does, that all Mexican food looks alike so it doesn’t matter what you order. Guess what? He is wrong but Mexican food just ain’t his thang.

 Anyway in Arizona I had a Mexican friend who quickly turned me on to the delights South of the border. My first discovery was a chimichanga (which is a giant deep fried burrito) that at this restaurant was rolled in guacamole and then sour cream. I mean what was not to like? My second discovery was the cheese crisp which is really just a giant tortilla toasted with lots of cheese that we ate at a place somewhere in Scottsdale called Dr. Munchie’s. Yes, that was the real name. I think it went up in smoke a long time ago.

Well, a cheese crisp is really another way of making a quesadilla which I quickly became a fan of. A quesadilla makes a great meal with a salad and they are also a great way to use up any leftover tidbits you may have in your fridge. I often make them for my family and also for appetizers when company comes. Generally, I make them on the grill which I preheat to low and then cook the tortillas until they are crisp and the cheese is gooey. I fold them half way over after the tortilla has softened and then use tongs to flip them so that both sides are good and crisp.

 Toppings include leftover chicken, steak, chorizo, ham or shrimp. I’ve even used leftover salmon. Vegies include onions, mushrooms, peppers, green chilies, corn and potatoes. Potatoes are yummy on a quesadilla. All varieties of cheeses can be used and one combo that I’ve often enjoyed is Brie with mangos and chorizo. I often set up a Topping Bar, similar to a salad bar and let everyone design their own. You can top with salsa or use salsa as a base like tomato sauce on pizza. We put them on paper plates and then when it is your turn we slide them on to the grill to cook. This is a quick fun way to make anyone happy. You can also cook them on the stove or under the broiler or in a convection oven. The idea is to get them crisp on the bottom and baking them tends to make the bottoms a bit soft.

 Recently I discovered something new. Well, at least it was new to me. Quesadillas are great cooked in a waffle iron. Another use for a gadget so seldom used. They get all toasty and instead of needing to buy a panini press, well – this is the next best thing. Plus it makes all these cute little pockets that can hold more hot gooey cheese. See for yourself.

 Anyway – when I discovered I had all that corn leftover from yesterday’s Avocado Corn Soup– well I knew I would use it to make quesadilla or two. Now you don’t need these to make a quesadilla as a little corn and chilies and onion would be just fine, but I don’t like anything to go to waste. Plus, Hatch green chilies have started arriving in Denver and well – Hatch green chilies are kind of like corn to me. I love them. I love the way they smell and I love the way they taste. If you can’t find Hatch green chilies and you want green chilies on your quesadilla pick up a few fresh Anaheims at the grocery and roast them on the grill until the skins are almost black. Let them steam in a plastic bag until they are cool. You can then slide the skin of the chile right off. Don’t forget to slice off the stem and take the seeds out. Once you do this you will be a chile convert meaning you will never want to eat canned chilies again.

There is no real recipe for these quesadillas but I will tell you what I did …

Corn and Green Chile Quesadillas

1 8” flour tortilla (Don’t be a glutton, you can have more than one!)

Pureed Corn from yesterday’s soup OR some corn kernels and a little chopped onion and some sliced fresh hot peppers for a bit of a kick

3 roasted green chilies – seeded and peeled

Grated cheddar and jalapeno cheese

Smear tortilla with corn mixture. Place green chilies on one half. Top with grated cheese. Place on heated waffle iron and fold in half. Close iron and let cook for about two minutes. Now you can top with salsa and cilantro or sour cream or just eat this the way it is. These are so good I’m ready to make one for dinner. The first was my breakfast!

P.S. The refrigerator is fixed. My repairman told me (just FYI) that older fridges are better than newer ones. New ones now only have a lifespan of 5-7 years because of the electrical components inside. Whether this is true, I don’t know, but, he is a great repairman!