Copy Cat Applebee's Quesadillas and Pico de Gallo

There are a few staples I usually have in my home and they are tortillas, a bag of shredded cheese, bacon and Picante Sauce.  It makes it easy to always make a quesadilla for lunch.  Thought I'd show you this copy cat recipe in case you don't know what to make for lunch.  

2 Slices of Bacon (sliced into 1/2" pieces)

2 Flour Tortilla Shells (8" diameter)

Softened butter (softened for lightly spreading on tortilla shells)

1 tablespoon Pico de Gallo (recipe below) or you can use a Picante sauce from a jar

1/4 cup Shredded Colby/Monterey Jack Cheese

Guacamole

Picante Sauce for the side

Slice bacon and fry until bacon starts to turn crisp but not hard and brittle (I always have the pre-cooked bacon in the freezer for just such a thing and I save a mess). Remove from pan, drain bacon and set aside. Spread butter lightly on one side of the flour tortilla shell (I use a little olive oil). Place buttered side of shell down, into a non-stick fry pan that has been preheated on medium heat. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of bacon over entire shell, then add 1 Tbs. Pico de Gallo, and 1/4 cup shredded Colby/Monterey Jack cheese over the bacon. Place the second flour shell on top of fixings, buttered side up. Cook for about one to two minutes over medium heat hot pan.  Cook just long enough to heat the inside ingredients and then carefully flip the quesadilla on the other side and finish cooking. The quesadilla should be heated through but not browned. Remove quesadilla and place on a serving dish and cut into individual triangle serving pieces. Serve quesadillas with your favorite guacamole and/or Picante sauce.

You determine if mild, medium or hot.  You may replace the bacon with cooked chicken and make it a chicken quesadilla.  I also like to serve with sour cream and fresh lettuce and tomato on the side to build it up to a super quesadilla.  Another variation is to use pepper cheese in place of the Mexican blend for real heat.

Copy Cat of Applebee’s  Pico de Gallo

3 large tomatoes diced

1 large onion diced

2 tablespoon diced Jalapenos

1/2 cup fresh cilantro (diced)

2 teaspoon Salt

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 tablespoon white vinegar

Mix all ingredients together in large container until well blended. Allow sitting for at least 6 hours, it is better if allowed to sit overnight. 

Well it is going to be another cold one outside.  Grin and bare it, stay warm , be happy and may God bless you and yours.