Vermont Quesadillas
Sharply
flavored Cheddar cheese is one of the few savory foods that work with
sweets. In the same way that a slice of Cheddar on top of apple pie
is appealing, so is this breakfast quesadilla, which combines cheese
with sweet spiced apples and salty ham.
Vegetable oil spray
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 Golden Delicious apples, peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon apple pie spice or 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon and a pinch
of nutmeg and allspice
Six 6-inch flour tortillas
1/2 pound thinly sliced honey-baked ham
1 1/2 cups grated Cheddar
1. Preheat the oven to 450 F. Cover a baking sheet with heavy-duty aluminum foil, and spray the foil with vegetable oil spray.
2. Place the butter in a large skillet and melt it over medium heat. Add the apples, and sprinkle them with the sugar and apple pie spice. Cook over medium high heat for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring frequently, or until the apples are soft and slightly browned. Set aside.
3. Arrange the tortillas so that they are half on the baking sheet. Place a layer of ham on the side of the tortilla resting on the baking sheet, and top with a portion of spiced apples. Sprinkle 1/4 cup cheese on top of the apples on each tortilla, and then fold the untreated side over the filling. Press gently with the palm of your hand or a spatula to enclose the filling. Space the quesadillas evenly on the baking sheet, and spray the tops with vegetable oil spray.
4. Bake the quesadillas in the preheated oven for 5 minutes. Turn them gently with a spatula, and bake for an additional 5 minutes, or until they are browned. Remove the pan from the oven, and allow them to sit for 2 minutes. Cut each in half, and serve immediately.
Note: The apples can be prepared up to 2 days in advance and refrigerated, tightly covered. There is no need to reheat them before assembling and baking the quesadillas.
Excerpted from ALL WRAPPED UP by Ellen Brown Copyright© 1998 by Ellen Brown. Excerpted by permission of Broadway, a division of Random House, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
