Quesadillas a tasty, healthy kids’ snack

Healthy Snacks: Quesadillas

Quesadillas  a tasty, healthy kids’ snack.

More Healthy Snacks for Kids

No one can quite agree on a definitive definition of a quesadilla, but the elements most descriptions have in common is it’s a tortilla stuffed with cooked meat and cheese, then cooked until the cheese melts and the outside of the tortilla is crisp and toasty!

Such simple ingredients, but they add up to something simply delicious kids will be happy to make and eat!

Quesadillas are usually made with flour tortillas which come in 8″ or 12″ sizes.  Some folks enjoy corn tortillas but then you are making soft tacos.

Depending on how many little mouths you have to feed, this snack can be as easy as tossing some cheese and pre-cooked chicken and veggie mixture between two tortillas and heating it in a skillet.

Slice it like a pizza and the kids have a utensils-free food to enjoy. If you have more than a couple kids to feed, double up on everything and put the quesadillas on a baking sheet in the oven at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C.) until the cheese is melted.

Quesadillas

There are two camps…for making quesadillas, or cheese crisps like the folks in Arizona call them.

1.    The fold over camp.  Those who prefer to put their cheese and fillings on one side of the tortilla and fold over the other half so that the tortilla is baked or grilled in a half moon shape.

2.    The stacking camp.

The concept is the same except that with this style you put your fixings on one tortilla and then place another tortilla on top so you have 2 tortillas that are grilled on each side and the gooey cheese in the middle helps them stick together. These are best for slicing into pizza slices and serving in wedges with a nice side of salsa, sour cream and guacamole!

You choose what works best for you!

MIXIN’ suggestions for delicious quesadillas!

1.    Cheese glorious Cheese!  Experiment! Any kind of cheese will do…..something that will melt and stick together…..cheddar, mozzarella, pepper jack.

2.    Veggies choose one or all!

• Sliced or chopped tomatoes

• Green ,red or yellow peppers

• Green chile for those who like a spicy snack!

• Diced onions fresh or grilled

Refried Beans or Black beans

3.    Turkey

4.    Ham

5.    Diced cooked chicken

6.    Sliced beef or fajita steak

Toppings and dipping sauces:

1.    Homemade Salsa (recipe  see other blog)

2.    Sour cream

3.    BBQ sauce

4.    Guacamole

Quesadillas are an easy and healthy snack and the best part is you can make them any way you choose!

Tags: healthy snacks, kids recipes, kids snacks, New Mexican food