I realized recently that my kids are getting spoiled by my cooking.  We went to a Renaissance Fair over the weekend and because my daughter was one of the “entertainers” we got a free lunch.  It was very simple meal and meant to feed a large group of people.  It was white bread sandwiches with pre-packaged cold cuts and American cheese, macaroni salad made with mayo and pickle relish, jello and lemonade.    I thought my children were going to cry.  It was very bland but we had a big discussion about being grateful and how sometimes it may not be what you are used to but you need to say thank you and eat a bit of it anyways.

So flavor is a big thing in our house.  I use tons of garlic, oregano, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce in just about everything.

Ground beef was on sale a few weeks ago and I bought 10 lbs. of it.  I tend to buy in bulk so that I have enough for about a month.  We have been trying to cut down on the amount of meat we are eating to help slash our grocery bill and be a bit healthier in our eating so I am trying to freeze one pound portions so that we are eating about 4 oz. per serving.

This meal though was NOT healthy but it sure was DELICIOUS!

I am still trying to do a “No Buy July” and my cupboards are starting to get thin this last week or so of the month.  So, we needed to invent something that we could use what we had on hand and try to make it a non-repeating meal.  This is what we created and served with a side of vegetables, love those frozen bags I bought on sale, and a small green salad.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. ground beef
• 1 TBSP Soy sauce
• 1 TBSP Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tsp. minced garlic
• Ground black pepper to taste
• 1 medium sweet onion sliced thinly
• 4 TBSP butter, softened, divided
• 8 flour tortillas
• 1/2 cup of grated cheese, we used mozzarella because it was what I had on hand but use your favorite
• Thousand Island Dressing

Directions:

1. In a skillet over medium-low heat begin caramalizing the onions.  Add 2 TBSP of butter to the skillet until melted.  Add the onions.  Allow them to cook over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, for about 15-20 minutes.
2. While your onions are cooking in a separate skillet cook ground beef over medium heat.  While cooking break ground beef into small pieces with the back of a spoon.  About half way through cooking add soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, garlic and black pepper.   Drain off grease from the meat when thoroughly cooked.
3. When the meat and onions are cooked begin assembling the quesadillas.  Lightly butter one side of a tortilla and lie it butter side down in a skillet, George Foreman grill or sandwich press.  Add a light sprinkle of cheese over the tortilla, then 1/4 of the meat, 1/4 of the onions, a bit of Thousand Island dressing and then a bit more cheese over the top.  Butter a second tortilla and place this one butter side up on your meat and cheese.  Close the press or turn on your skillet to medium heat.
4. Once the cheese has melted through remove quesadilla from heat and place in warm oven as you make the other quesadillas in the same manner.
5. I have found that cutting them with a pizza cutter into quarters is the best way to serve them.