This meal we had tonight was just too easy, and incredibly frugal.
We're experiencing a little economic downturn in our house this month, and the first place I cut back is in the purchase of food. So, I try to 'eat out of the cupboard' with what we have on hand, and not purchase any additional items, especially meats, and make do with what we have.
Tonight was one of those nights, teen was happy with some turkey meat tacos that I fixed for him, but my husband REFUSES to eat ground turkey, so I had to do some quick thinking. Being I had opened a package of soft flour tortillas for the teen, I decided to fix some quesadillas for hubby and myself, but use refried beans for the protein instead of meat.
I placed four flour tortillas (10 inch size) on a greased baking pan, and warmed up the refried beans till soft and spreadable. I placed all of the beans evenly on the four tortillas, then liberally added some Mexican four cheese blend shredded cheese on top. Since the beans were still warm, the cheese started to melt, and I then covered each with another flour tortilla.
Now, I used about 3 tablespoons of the salsa for each quesadilla, spreading it on the top tortilla, and liberally added more cheese.
Bake this for approximately 20 minutes in a 375 degree oven and, it's done!
Really, they were pretty filling and one was sufficient for each of us, but we have more for later should we want.
These were very good, easy to prepare and very, very easy on the budget.
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Comments: 19
You could fix this with ground beef or turkey that you season too. We just happen to like refried beans a lot, and in this, actually preferred it over meat.
I think, however, refried beans is one thing everybody here loves.....guess I could throw some refried beans into soft taco shells and top with shredded cheese and nuke, maybe!!!!
Thanks for the great ideas!
I understand budgetary concerns....I'm a single parent and times are tough. But there is a line.
I won't eat liver and neither will my son. Therefore, I won't have it in the house. Any turkey or chicken giblets are cooked in the microwave and fed to the cats.
There is a physiological reason behind my dislike of liver. Some people have heightened sensitivity to bitter flavors; this usually shows up in a strong distaste for liver, broccoli, etc. I've overcome the pickiness--I'll eat broccoli without cheese, for example, but it took me almost thirty years to be able to do so--but the mere odor of liver cooking can make me puke where I stand.
It's called deception or lying by omission and can create serious trust issues--even over something so 'trivial' as food.