Quesadillas on the Fly

It's cold outstide and everyone wants something warm and filling for lunch before venturing outdoors. How about a quesadilla? It's nothing more than a tortilla filled with cheese and vegetables. Here's how I make my very simple and fast yet yummy and healthy quesadillas. The kids love them.

Ingredients:

• 1 package whole wheat tortillas (Trader Joe's brand shown)
  
  
• 1 bag no rBST (Recombinant Bovine Somatotropin aka growth hormone) shredded Lite Mexican Blend cheese (Trader Joe's)


• 1 package fresh bell peppers, red yellow and orange (Trader Joe's or supermarket). Or Trader Joe's prepared broccoli slaw if you're too rushed to slice the peppers.
  

Preparation:

1. Wash and slice peppers into thin strips.


2. Preheat cast iron skillet over medium heat or broiler over low.


3. Using one tortilla per person, lay tortillas on cutting board and fill half with cheese, then layer on pepper strips. Fold empty half onto filled half and place directly in skillet or under broiler on a sheet pan lined with foil.


4. Heat until crispy and golden, then flip using a spatula to heat and crisp the other side.
   
5. Remove from heat and place on cutting board. Allow to cool for at least 30 seconds and then slice into wedges.


6. Serve with guacamole (Trader Joe's is excellent and can be frozen) or avocado wedges, tomato salsa, and sour cream (Breakstone's lowfat tastes great).

Enjoy!

The Daily Dilemma

Every morning I pack lunch for my third grader to take to school. Knowing what I know about the industrial food that's served in school, it's better to play it safe and make it myself. I know a mom with four kids who does this every day. She's a nutritionist and knows better. As local activists for better school lunch, we dream about the days we won't have to prepare sandwiches or pack last night's leftovers in hot thermoses. Mostly, I hate answering the question "When can I have hot lunch mom?" with "Not in my lifetime."

So the Thermos brand milk thermos and hot food thermos are going on year four and still holding strong. I picked mine up at Target, where you can still get them for about $15 each. Thermos calls them Funtainers. Unfortunately they have to be hand washed. Ditto for the Thermos cold snack cup. I wish I could say the same for the poor lunch boxes. I haven't found one yet which can stand up to being flung around and sat upon by a little boy. Maybe Army surplus?

Clementine's are in season. If you start to peel them, you're kids can finish the job and pop them in their snack cups. They're sweet and juicy and perfect for a morning snack. Don't forget to pack a few for yourself!