Happy Cinco de Mayo! Chicken Quesadillas

I don't always celebrate this special holiday, but I'm always ready to

celebrate my favorite ethnic food - Mexican!  OLE!

I did take a couple of years of Spanish in high school.

You know how easily we lose things when we don't use them, right?...so I really don't remember much.

But I don't have to speak Spanish in order to enjoy eating it, right?

Hubby and I enjoy Chicken Quesadillas often and anytime I share this recipe, it seems it becomes a favorite for others as well.

OK - so here's another cream cheese recipe!

If you haven't figured it out already, cream cheese is my favorite product...so put that in my favorite ethnic food and I'm ready for a party...and probably a siesta after that.  *-*

If you don't care for cream cheese, I feel sorry for you...

I just can't help myself.  I loooove the creaminess and taste!

I use it in sooo many recipes.

This is definitely a very favorite dish!

Since I first tried this amazingly simple recipe, I've not looked back, and we just keep enjoying them every time I make them.

There aren't very many repeated dishes in my kitchen, but this is definitely one that is.

These are really very easy to put together...

I mix - by hand - equal parts of cream cheese and salsa.

After I cook the chicken and dice it, I add the chicken to the cc/salsa mixture, then place the ingredients inside a tortilla (we like whole wheat), add grated cheese and onions and some black beans if you want...

then use my foreman grill to cook them quickly.

OH YUM!!!  Or should I say...MUY BIEN!! 

Here's a basic recipe to try...add more cream cheese or salsa to your liking.

Quick & Easy CHICKEN QUESADILLAS

(From The Better Baker)

1 8 ozs. pkg. cream cheese, softened

3/4 - 1 c. salsa

3 c. cooked chicken, chopped

1 - 2 c. (mexican) shredded cheese (I used 2%)

1/2 med. onion, chopped

soft flour tortillas

black beans, sliced black olives, optional

Mix cream cheese and salsa until blended. Stir in chicken by hand.  To prepare quesadillas, spread chicken mixture over half of the tortilla, sprinkling with cheese and onion. Fold tortilla in half; heat until cheese is melted; serve with sour cream, if desired, and enjoy. Sprinkle beans or olives over cheese before heating.

I do love to use my foreman grill for ease in this recipe, but the tortillas can also be heated on both sides in a skillet.

Thought I'd also share this link for ideas for easy cheese & veggie quesadillas...

vegetarian quesadillas

Linked to Ingredient Spotlight
Gooseberry Patch Recipe Roundup