Recipe: Southwestern Breakfast Quesadilla

Breakfast Quesadillas are always a family favorite.. and what you use as filling can be just about anything... so why not make it Southwestern.. instead of the usual omelet ... make a quesadilla instead.

This restaurant quality breakfast is not only easy to make.. it's also much more economical to make it at home.  Best of all, you control the ingredients and the fat.  Making it healthier is what it's all about.

What I like about this recipe is that I can really reduce the fat and not the flavor.. simply by making a few changes to the ordinary ingredients.

TIPS

I use cooking oil spray rather than butter, margarine or oil... you won't miss the fat... trust me.

You can use egg substitute to cut the fat even further.. just use the equivalent amount (see the container for the equivalent amounts).   Since this is loaded with flavor... you won't notice the egg substitute.

Use cholesterol free tortilla's... ones NOT made with lard... it should say on the package.

I use lower fat and sodium deli ham... Canadian bacon will also work well and reduce the fat.

You can use lower fat cheese... this is one place I don't usually cut back.. we just don't care for it... but certainly ... if you like it.. use it!

The cheese quantity is approximate... you want a nice layer of cheese on each tortilla.

You can make the scrambled egg mixture ahead... and refrigerate it.. just pop it in the microwave the next morning when you want to make the quesadillas.

Garnish with chopped green onions, shredded cheese, chopped tomatoes, salsa and sour cream.

This recipe will make 3 servings.

I served these with home fries (sprinkled with just a little bit of hot Hungarian paprika)

Try this delicious breakfast!

Recipe:  Southwestern Breakfast Quesadilla

All you need:

1 red bell pepper, chopped

1 green bell pepper, chopped

1 yellow bell pepper, chopped

1/2 small onion, finely chopped

1/2 cup chopped ham

About 1 1/2 cups Shredded Mexican blend cheese

6 eggs

Dash of fat free milk

Butter flavor cooking oil spray

3 (8 inch) Tortillas

Olive oil cooking oil spray

Garnishes:

Sour cream

Shredded cheese

Chopped tomatoes

Chopped green onions

Salsa

All you need to do:

Spray a large skillet with butter flavored cooking oil spray.  Heat it over medium high heat and add the peppers, onions and ham.  Cook for about 7-8 minutes, stirring frequently.. you just want to cook the ingredients slightly.  If they start to brown, lower the heat a bit.

In a large bowl, beat the eggs and milk.  Pour the eggs over the pepper and onion mixture.  Cook as you would scrambled eggs.

Spray a non-stick skillet (one with sloped sides) with olive oil cooking spray.  Heat the skillet over medium high heat and lay a tortilla in the pan. 

Put a layer of shredded cheese over the tortilla, then a layer of the scrambled egg mixture.  Cook until the bottom is slightly brown.  Flip one half of the tortilla over the other half (to make a half moon shape).  Cook another 1-2 minutes, then remove to a plate. 

Cut the quesadilla in half or leave as is.  Serve with garnishes.