Spinach and Scallion Quesadilla

   I love living alone.  Living alone means you don't have to deal with someone else's mess.  The TV is all yours.  Pants (and clothing in general) are totally optional.  It is freeing.  I can lay about my house with only a full face of make up on and watch Food Network all day long.  No one will judge me!  Not that I do that... regularly.  The only problem is the food situation. Cooking for one can be a lot of fun!  However, it can be tedious.  Often you end up just grabbing something really unhealthy and then feeling like crap later.  Or microwaving an unsatisfying Lean Cuisine or some other awful frozen meal.  Last night I really wanted to just eat a huge quesadilla and a fried egg.  Don't ask me why that combination because I don't know.  Giving into that craving was not going to happen.  I was not going to let myself eat such a weird dinner!  Instead, I went with a more logical and healthy meal:  a normal sized quesadilla and some sliced cucumbers tossed with a little salt and lime juice.  The whole thing only took 15 minutes to make (I made a sour cream dip, which was about 10 minutes of the time) and I didn't feel guilty afterward.

   (Although, I will say, after my egg and quesadilla craving, I am trying to figure out a Mexican equivalent to a croque madame!) 

Spinach and Scallion Quesadilla

2 6-inch tortillas (Flour or corn, your choice.  I used flour.)

1/3 C shredded Mexican or Quesadilla blend cheese

1/3 C baby spinach, stems removed

1 scallion, thinly sliced

salt and pepper

  Assemble quesadilla:  tortilla, cheese, spinach, a little salt and pepper, scallion, cheese, tortilla.  Place in a cool, dry pan.  Bring pan up to heat over medium.  Cook on first side until cheese is melted and tortilla is golden brown.  Repeat on second side.  (I didn't really need to tell you this, haha!  I am sure you know how to make a quesadilla.  I find the trick is to bring the pan up to temp with quesadilla in it.  The cheese has more time to get gooey and melty but it is very hard to burn the tortilla using this method.)

   Serves 1

Spicy Cilantro Sour Cream

1/4 C sour cream

1 Tbsp chopped cilantro

1 tsp lime juice

1/4 tsp lime zest

1/4 tsp grated or pasted garlic

1/2-1 tsp chipotle puree or dash of hot sauce (to taste, optional)

salt and pepper to taste

   Combine ingredients.

   Serves 2