Italian Quesadillas With Pomodoro Herb Salsa Food

BASIC HERB SALSA

Steps:

• Combine parsley, zest, salt and olive oil in a medium mixing bowl. Use a rasp grater to finely grate garlic into the bowl. Stir to combine.
• Just before serving, stir in vinegar. Taste and adjust salt and acid as needed. (Acid will dull the vibrant flavor and color of the herbs over time, so if you plan to store some of the sauce for future use, add acid to only the portion you're using. Sauce, without vinegar, will keep in the refrigerator up to 2 days; bring to room temperature before using.)

ITALIAN QUESADILLAS

Steps:

• In a mixing bowl combine the tomatoes, basil, olive oil and season to taste with balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper.
• In a mixing bowl combine the mozzarella cheese, ricotta, green onion, olives and artichoke hearts; season with salt and crushed red pepper flakes.
• Spread some mixture on one half of each tortillas, leaving about 1/4-inch between the filling and the edge of the tortilla. Fold each tortilla in half. Fry the tortillas in a little bit of vegetable oil for about a minute a side until golden and cheese has melted; keep warm in low oven until ready to serve. Top with tomatoes and basil and pine nuts.
• Alternate way to do is to preheat oven to 450 degrees. Spread stuffing over entire surface of tortillas without folding them. Set them on a baking sheet and bake for 5 minutes or until cheese has melted. Fold over and serve with topping.
• Especially good for children: set aside some plain mozzarella mixed with ricotta and fill the kids tortillas with this rather than the more elaborate filling.

ITALIAN QUESADILLAS

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a heavy large skillet over medium-low heat. Add the onions and sugar, and cook until the onions are golden brown, about 20 minutes. Season the onions, to taste, with salt and pepper; set aside.
• Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F.
• Sprinkle some Fontina over half of a tortilla. Arrange some bell peppers and sauteed onions on top of the Fontina. Sprinkle with chopped parsley and Parmesan. Sprinkle more Fontina over. Fold the clean half over the filling to cover and press gently to seal. Repeat with remaining tortillas evenly dividing the filling ingredients.
• Heat 1 tablespoon oil on a heavy large griddle over medium heat. Working in batches, cook the quesadillas until the cheese melts and the tortillas are golden brown, adding more oil as needed, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer the quesadillas to baking sheets and keep them warm in the oven while cooking the remaining quesadillas.
• Sprinkle the remaining Parmesan over the quesadillas. Cut each quesadilla into 4 wedges. Arrange them on a platter. Garnish the platter with parsley sprigs and serve.

SPINACH-AND-MUSHROOM QUESADILLAS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a 12-inch skillet over medium heat, warm 1 tablespoon oil. Cook the onions, stirring occasionally, until lightly golden, about 5 minutes. Add the mushrooms; cook, stirring occasionally, until they're tender, 6 to 8 minutes.
• Add spinach in two batches, letting the first batch wilt slightly before adding the next; cook until spinach is completely wilted and mixture is dry, 2 to 3 minutes total. Season with salt and pepper.
• Brush one side of tortillas with remaining tablespoon oil. Place 4 tortillas, oiled sides down, on two baking sheets. Layer each tortilla with cheese, spinach mixture, and more cheese, dividing evenly. Top with the remaining 4 tortillas, oiled sides up, and lightly press to seal.
• Bake until cheese has melted and tortillas are golden brown, turning them once, about 10 minutes. To serve, cut quesadillas into quarters.

PIZZA QUESADILLAS

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, cook spaghetti sauce over medium-low heat for 3-4 minutes or until heated through. , Meanwhile, spread butter over one side of each tortilla. Sprinkle unbuttered sides of two tortillas with mozzarella cheese; top with salami and pepperoni. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and oregano. Top with remaining tortillas, buttered side up. , Cook on a griddle over medium heat for 2-3 minutes on each side or until cheese is melted. Cut into wedges; serve with warmed spaghetti sauce.,

ITALIAN QUESADILLAS

Steps:

• Heat 2 T. oil in heavy skillet over medium-low heat. Add the onions and sugar and cook until the onions are golden brown, about 20 minutes. Season the onions to taste with salt & pepper.
• Preheat the oven to 250 degrees.
• Sprinkle some Fontinas over half of a tortilla. Arrange some bell peppers and sauteed onions on top of the Fontina. Sprinkle with chopped parsley and Parmesean. Sprinkle more Fontina over it. Fold the clean half over the filling to cover and press gently to seal. Repeat with remaining tortillas evenly dividng the filling ingredients.
• Heat 1 T. oil on a heave large griddle over medium heat. Working in batches, cook the quesadillas until the cheese melts and the tortillas are golden brown, adding more oil as needed, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer the quesadillas to baking sheets and keep them warm in the oven while cooking the remaining quesadillas.
• Sprinkle the remaining Parmesean over the quesadillas. Cut each one into 4 wedges and arrange on platter.
• **Do-Ahead Tip: The quesaedillas can be assembled up to 8 hours ahead of time. Arrange them on a baking sheet, cover tightly with plastic wrap and refridgerate.

SALSA DI POMODORO

Steps:

• Saute onions and garlic in olive oil over medium heat.
• Add the rest of the ingredients. Add meatballs if you wish at this point.
• Bring sauce to a boil. Simmer 2-3 hours to mix the flavors.
• NOTE: This can also be made by placing everything in your slow cooker and simmering all day. This is how I made it. I would recommend sauteing the onions and garlic first. A triple batch filled my BIG (6 qt, I think) crockpot.
• TO FREEZE: Let sauce cool to room temperature, then pour into a labeled freezer bag. Seal, trying to get rid of as much air as possible in the process, and freeze flat. You can freeze with meatballs in or without.
• TO REHEAT: Thaw overnight in the fridge, or in the microwave, or in a bowl of warm water (still sealed in the bag), or just dump in a crockpot or pot on the stove frozen and warm gently.

ITALIAN QUESADILLAS WITH POMODORO HERB SALSA

Steps:

• Pomodoro Salsa.
• - Clean out seeds and dice tomatoes into ¼" pieces.
• - Mince white parts of onion and garlic in small food processor and add HALF of mix to tomatoes.
• - Mix chopped basil, parsley, and green ends of onion, add HALF to mix.
• - Add 2 Tbls olive oil, 1/4 tsp salt, ¼ tsp sugar, and 1 tsp balsamic vinegar.
• - Mix together and leave to set for 1 hour in fridge.
• Quesadillas.
• - Cut raw chicken breasts into ½" pieces and put in medium sauce pan.
• - Add other half of minced garlic and onion, 2 Tbls olive oil, 1/4 tsp salt, and ¼ tsp red pepper.
• - Sautee on medium high heat until chicken browned on both sides.
• - Add ¼ cup chicken broth and other half of Chopped herb mix, reduce heat and simmer for 10 minute Let cool and break down or mash chicken.
• - Spray 2 cookie sheets with non stick cooking spray and place 4 tortilla shells on each with ends overlapping sides.
• - Spread 1 Tbls alfredo sauce on flat half of each tortilla.
• - Spoon chicken mix evenly onto same half of 8 tortillas.
• - Place 1 one layer of sliced mozzarella cheese on top of chicken.
• - Fold over empty half of tortilla and press each down with your hand.
• - Bake in pre-heated oven at 375 for 8-10 minute.
• Serving.
• - Heat remainder of alferdo sauce in microwave for 90 sec.
• - Place a quesadilla on the plate, then spoon pomodoro salsa to the SIDE (the fresh mixing is nice), than drizzle both with hot alfredo sauce.
• - Garnish with a few extra sprigs of fresh herb. ENJOY!