Simple Homemade Meximelts

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Happy April!  It my favorite month of the year.  I'm a little biased because it's my birthday month, plus Spring is in full swing in Southern California and it's actually tinging on being hot!  Warmer weather means lot of outdoor activities.  We are just about to head out to the California Poppy Reserve to see the 'sea' of wild poppies in bloom.  So that calls for a quick lunch before we go.

Have you ever had a Meximelt from Taco Bell?

It's sort of a cross between a quesadilla and a soft taco.  Seasoned ground beef with fresh salsa and lot melted cheese round out the ingredients.  Very tasty...enough to make a homemade version that's done in 20 minutes!  Forget takeout fast food and skip that drive through.  Let's make a new dish for Taco Tuesday!

SIMPLE HOMEMADE MEXIMELTS

We love Mexican food around our house so today's recipe was just a natural progression to wanting to satisfy that craving along with a need to a quick lunch.  This dish comes together in about 20 minutes.  It comes together easy using ingredients that you probably have already on hand.

I did a small variation to the original.  They use pico de gallo, which is a fresh chunky salsa.  Since I didn't have that on hand I used our favorite jarred salsa. My homemade salsa would be great as well.   Either one will do but the flavor changes just slightly. 

So if you are craving Mexican food and want it FAST...or wanting to try a new variation on Taco Tuesday these Simple Homemade Meximelts will fit the bill.  Perfect, simple, tasty!

Enjoy!

Simple Homemade Meximelts

serves 4

3/4 lb of 10% ground sirloin
1 pkg. store-bought taco seasoning or my homemade version
⅔ cup water

1/2 cup jarred salsa
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
8 small flour tortillas ( I used low-carb flour tortillas )

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

In a skillet over medium heat brown the ground sirloin, crumbling with a wooden spoon as it cooks. 

Add the seasoning and water, stirring to combine.  Allow to simmer until most of the water is absorbed and a nice sauce is formed. 

Place tortillas on a baking sheet.  Add taco meat to the center of the tortillas.  Spoon salsa over the meat and top with cheese.  Fold one side of the tortilla over the meat mixture.  Bake in the oven for 3-5 minutes or until the cheese melts.  You want the tortillas soft and not crispy to watch the time closely.  Serve.

Buttermilk Blueberry Breakfast Cake

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When is it okay to eat cake for breakfast?

When you call if a "breakfast" cake!  One that has blueberries in it.  Oh, and buttermilk.  Both blueberries and buttermilk are breakfast items so that qualifies as a breakfast right?

Look at it like a coffee cake...

So I saw this recipe on my favorite addiction, Pinterest, and had to make it.  Hot blueberries fresh from the oven are another addiction of mine.  I'm sure that nobody can resist a blueberry bursting in your mouth.

BUTTERMILK BLUEBERRY BREAKFAST CAKE

Let me confess that "I LOVE THIS CAKE"!  A moist and tender cake filled with blueberries that give the sweetness a burst of tart.  Each bite leaves you wanting more.  Dangerous, I know.

This would be the perfect cake to serve at an Easter Brunch.  It would also do well at potlucks, as a hostess gift, or at bridal or baby showers.  It's easy to make and everyone will love it!

Enjoy!

Buttermilk Blueberry Breakfast Cake


½ cup unsalted butter, room temperature
2 tsp. lemon zest or more — zest from 1 large lemon
3/4 cup + 1 tablespoon sugar for sprinkling
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
1 3/4 cups flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp. kosher salt
2 cups fresh blueberries
1/4 cup flour
cup buttermilk

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.   In a medium bowl cream the butter, lemon zest, and 3/4 cup of sugar with a hand mixer until light and fluffy.  Add the egg and vanilla and whisk until combined.

To a small bowl add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.  Add the flour mixture to the creamed butter a little at a time, alternating with the buttermilk.

Toss the blueberries with 1/4 cup of flour.  Fold in the blueberries into the batter. 

Grease a 9-inch square baking pan with non-stick spray. Spread batter into the pan. Sprinkle batter with a tablespoon of sugar. Bake for 35 to 45 minutes until golden brown and a toothpick inserted comes out clean.  Cool in the pan 15 minutes on a wire rack.  Serve.  

Adapted from Alexandra's Kitchen

Naan Pizza - 2 Variations (Pesto Chicken Pizza and Pepperoni)

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Individual Naan Pizza made your way!

We love pizza in our house but don't eat it as often as I would like.  So when we decided to throw a  get together with friends MGG asked if we could make pizza. So I had the idea of letting our guests make their own individual pizzas and knew that Naan Bread would be the perfect way to accomplish that.

Now I've made pizza using many vehicles as the base.  My recipe for homemade Pizza Dough is the best.  I've also made grilled pizza using pita bread.  English muffins, tortillas, and even a can of biscuits will work in a pinch.  Naan Bread is another perfect platform for pizza and a great way to serve kids at a birthday party, friends over for game day, or just a quick lunch or dinner for your family!

NAAN PIZZA - 2 VARIATIONS

(PESTO CHICKEN PIZZA AND PEPPERONI PIZZA)

Pepperoni Pizza

Pesto Chicken Pizza

We decided to do a dry run before the actual party.  So we made 2 variations of Naan Pizza.  Pepperoni (my all time favorite) and Pesto Chicken Pizza.  I must say that I loved my Pepperoni pizza but the Pesto Chicken Pizza was to DIE FOR!  And the best part is that you can get it in the oven in no time and in 10 minutes dinner is served!

Pesto Chicken Pizza

Enjoy!





Naan Pizza - 2 Variations
(Pesto Chicken Pizza and Pepperoni)



Pepperoni Pizza

1 Naan Bread (individual size)
4 Tablespoons pizza sauce
1/4 cup mozzarella cheese, sliced (from fresh whole mozzarella)  (I used Galbani)
Pepperoni

Spread pizza sauce on naan bread.  Top with pepperoni and sliced cheese.  Place on a baking sheet.  Bake in the oven at 450 degrees for 10 minutes until cheese has melted and edges of the bread has browned slightly.

Pesto Chicken Pizza

1/2 cup precooked chicken, shredded

4 Tablespoons pesto

4 Tablespoons pizza sauce

1 Naan Bread (individual size)

1/4 cup mozzarella cheese, sliced  (from fresh whole mozzarella)  (I used Galbani)

Red, Yellow, and Orange Bell pepper, sliced into rings

fresh tomato, diced

1 Tablespoon Parmesan cheese, grated

In a skillet over medium low heat, add the shredded chicken and 2 Tablespoons of pesto.  Stir to combine and heat.  In a small bowl add the remaining 2 Tablespoons of pesto and the pizza sauce and mix until blended. 

Spread pizza sauce on Naan bread.  Top with chicken pesto mixture.  Top with slices of mozzarella cheese, bell pepper slices, and chopped tomato.  Sprinkle with grated Parmesan.  Place on a baking sheet. Bake in the oven at 450 degrees for 10 minutes until cheese has melted and edges of the bread has browned slightly.