Is there anything more American than sitting down to a feast with multiple pounds of meat on the table for each person? Turkey leftovers are real. But, they aren’t a problem, at my house! We use it up in sandwiches, salads, and now the most incredible Turkey Quesadilla. Crispy edges, gooey cheese, tender meat… you know the drill.

Turkey Quesadilla

I can’t remember the first time I blogged a quesadilla. It was probably during the time when I was writing my first cookbook. Talk about being absolutely overwhelmed! Simple and easy lunches were what I survived on amidst the seemingly endless rounds of recipe development, photography days, and writing, writing, writing.

Today, I made a turkey quesadilla for lunch, but not because I was pressed for time. Now, quesadillas just feel like an easy treat. They’re ridiculously simple, since nailing down the process. Cheese and a tortilla with the fillings I want? Who says no to that kind of lunch? Not me. Not today, at least!

And, they make it so easy to use up your leftovers. Any time I have chicken or turkey or steak that didn’t get eaten on the first go round, I shove them into a grilled and gooey quesadilla for lunch. It turns what might otherwise be ordinary or lackluster “leftovers” from the fridge into a small joy.

Speaking of leftovers, I have been loving this winter salad, lately with all of its crunchy, seasonal veggies. All that texture made it the perfect accompaniment to a cheesy turkey quesadilla. And, because it has a vinaigrette dressing, the flavors are well balanced, too!

Turkey Quesadilla Recipe

I use shredded Monterey jack cheese in this turkey quesadilla recipe. And, I think the subtle flavors are perfect to let the turkey take center stage.

This garlicky, orange shrimp packs a whole lot of awesome flavor with little more than some orange juice, fresh garlic, and a dash of spices.

Orange Shrimp

Orange garlic shrimp has been one of our favorite shrimp recipes for so long; I went years without making a different shrimp dish after I made it the first time about 15 years ago.

It seemed as if, whenever I bought shrimp, planning to try a new recipe, I would change my mind at the last minute and make this orange shrimp instead. It really is fantastic, and my entire family loves it. When they were younger, my kids would literally jump up and down with excitement when they saw this for dinner.

Served over this rice pilaf or with lemon butter pasta, this is a meal that we all enjoy. The shrimp also makes a mouthwatering appetizer, and I’ll admit it is the reason I haven’t ordered shrimp from a restaurant in years.

In the years since I first shared this here on the blog, I’ve learned to appreciate shrimp in countless other ways as well. However, we still return to this family favorite several times a year.

Read more

Filled with savory, sweet, and just a little bit spicy ground beef tucked into melting cheese, you’re going to love Korean Beef Quesadillas. A bit of leftover Korean Beef inspired this delicious fusion twist on our late-night quesadilla cravings.

Korean Beef Quesadillas

Is this really a Korean quesadilla? Hardly, but it is inspired by our affection for Korean flavors. (Though, now that I’m thinking about it, I’m hard pressed to think of an authentic Korean option.) Are there a lot of people making quesadillas in Korea? <- That’s a serious question, friends.

All I know is that my family, and many of you too, love this Korean-inspired ground beef skillet, (inspired many years ago by our love of classic Korean bulgogi), and we also love a great quesadilla, too. So, adding a bit of leftover Korean beef to my lunch quesadilla a while back was a particular bit of brilliance, if I say so myself.

As a result of that impulse lunch? I’ve made these quesadillas for the family multiple times now, and they have earned a place in our quesadilla recipes. And, side note, if you love Korean beef anywhere near as much as we do, you’ll want to put these Korean beef noodles on your must-try list too.

Read more

Inspired by the cottage cheese dip that I shared a few weeks ago. This cottage cheese taco dip is creamy, loaded with spicy southwest flavor, and reminiscent of the old-school layered taco dip we all know and enjoy.

Cottage Cheese Dip

I suppose it’s possible not everyone has tried the creamy cottage cheese dips that are all over the internet these days, so I’ll remind you that when cottage cheese is blended smooth, it becomes the perfect protein-packed base for all kinds of recipes. In this recipe, it is mixed with cream cheese and taco seasoning to create the base of this fresh layered taco dip.

While this is a lightened-up variation on the classic, it’s still full of protein and does satisfy. My kids devoured it in minutes, and then proceeded to ask if we could make it with meat next time to make it even heartier. I think it would be excellent with a scoop or two of our beloved taco beef mix over the creamy cheese layer.

Cottage Cheese Recipes

I know, I know, cottage cheese is having a whole moment right now. It’s gotten to the point where it’s often out of stock in our local grocery stores – no joke. While I typically eat my cottage cheese in a very basic breakfast bowl with some fresh fruit, I still appreciate all the other ways this humble cheese can be enjoyed.

We’ve been making these cottage cheese eggs for almost 15 years now and my kids still call them “power eggs.” (Admittedly, it’s a little less adorable now that they aren’t toddlers showing off their Popeye muscles while they say it, it still makes me grin.)

You know how much we love our Read more

I could write an ode to smoked salmon dip at this point. My whole family has fallen in love with this snack. We dip vegetables into it, crackers, and even chips. I’ve smeared it on a bagel and eaten it off a spoon straight from the fridge. You can not go wrong with this one, my friends.

Smoked Salmon Dip Recipe

We love the smoked trout dip at Hudson29 so much, it inspired me to figure out how to make smoked salmon dip at home for unlimited access. This recipe would work every bit as well with smoked trout, if that is an easily accessible ingredient for you. Where I am, smoked salmon is readily available almost everywhere.

This creamy dip starts with a simple creamy smooth base of blended cream cheese and sour cream. And then you’ll add bright tangy lemon juice, briny capers, fresh dill, even a little horseradish for some subtle heat, before mixing in the salmon for rich, smoky flavor.

If you’re looking for a snack or appetizer that feels kind of fancy (with the bare minimum of effort) next time you have friends over, this is it. And while my kids have never been super fussy eaters, I was shocked how much they liked this. My oldest even asked it I could make it again a few days later because he enjoyed it so much.

Smoked Salmon Dip

We serve salmon dip with crackers, crostini, tortilla chips, pretzels, even potato chips. (And yes, my boys will eat this with absolutely everything – no judgement here.)

I love it with fresh vegetables, the crisp cold vegetables pair perfectly. And believe it or not, while celery may not be my favorite vegetable pretty much ever, I LOVE it with this dip. I will happily eat an entire plate of celery alongside some salmon dip.

My favorite way to make this is with visible chunks of salmon scattered throughout the creamy dip. However, you can also blend everything together until it’s a smooth and creamy spread, perfect for spreading on sandwiches or bagels. The dip is terrific made both ways.

Read more