Delicious Chicken Quesadillas

Because this is one of the few things my wife's daughters like, I cook these quesadillas at least once a month. They're easy and you don't need a special pan.

Ingredients: (makes 8 quesadillas to feed 2-3 people)

Two (2) burrito size flour tortillas
Shredded Taco cheese (8 oz package)
Fajita style chicken breast strips (6 oz package)
Vegetable oil 1/4 cup
Chunky salsa
Sour cream

In a 12" skillet or fry pan, heat oil over medium heat (3-4 on dial) until hot. Place a paper towel on a large cutting board. Place chicken breast strips in a microwaveable dish and heat about two minutes on medium-high. Meanwhile, lay the tortillas on a flat surface and dress one tortilla with shredded cheese as shown.

Add the heated chicken strips on top of the shredded cheese as shown.

Place the second tortilla over the chicken and cheese and place carefully in the fry pan.

Cook tortillas in hot oil until golden brown and lightly crisp. Turn carefully and cook other side until done.

Place cooked quesadilla on paper towel and an another paper towel on top side to catch oil. Using a large chef knife, cut quesadilla in half, then quarters, and again until you have eight (8) wedges as shown.

Serve quesadillas with salsa and sour cream. This is great with yellow saffron rice and black beans on the side.

Delicious and EASY Summer Dessert! Strawberry Cheesecake Parfait

I've made this dessert a number of times and it is always a hit because not only is it delicious and tastes just like strawberry cheesecake, but it makes for an attractive presentation using small wine goblets. Recently, I made it for a ladies' group at a church and it received rave reviews.

Strawberry Cheesecake Parfait

(chill for 2 hours before serving)

Low-fat ricotta cheese (1/2 cup per 4 people)

Cream cheese (1/2 cup per 4 people)

Sugar (1 tbs. per person)

Seedless strawberry all-fruit or preserves (melted) (1 tbs. per person)

Fresh strawberries quartered (1/2 cup per person + 2 halved for garnish)

Vanilla wafers (or Graham cracker) crumbs (3 tbs. per person + 1 whole cookie for garnish)

Whipped topping (2 tbs. per person)

In food processor, make Vanilla wafers crumbs and set aside in a bowl.

In food processor add ricotta, cream cheese, and sugar and process until smooth (scraping sides of processor bowl).

Combine strawberry preserves and strawberries and stir gently.

Layer parfait as follows: Spoon 1-2 tbs. cookie crumbs into wine goblet. Add 2 tbs. ricotta/cream cheese mixture, then add ¼ cup strawberry mixture, then a smaller amount of cookie crumbs and repeat ending with cream cheese mixture. Put in refrigerator and chill for two hours.
Just before serving: Top with dollop of whipped topping, halved strawberries, and whole cookie centered between strawberry halves.

Yet gleaning grapes shall be left in it, as the shaking of an olive tree, two [or] three berries in the top of the uppermost bough, four [or] five in the outmost fruitful branches thereof, says the LORD God of Israel. At that day shall a man look to his Maker, and his eyes shall have respect to the Holy One of Israel. [Isaiah 17:7-8]