Photo: Bacon and Tofu

Some days there’s just not enough time. Not enough time to take a shower. Not enough time to get Atticus to school so the teacher doesn’t tsk tsk us for being late. Not enough time to pay the stack of bills on the table. Not enough time to work two jobs to pay those bills. And certainly not enough time to make a real dinner. That’s when I turn to an old standby: 10-minute Sausage and Bean Quesadillas (that’s from start to finish!).

Sure, even though today was one of those days, I could have made the time when I got home from work (you guessed it—late) to put together a respectable meal. In fact, I was planning on making Turkey Chili. But when I walked in the door and Atticus asked me to help him build a garage out of blocks and two yoga mats (don’t ask), I tossed the Turkey Chili out the window. Crashing monster trucks took precedence over dinner from scratch.

I reached for a few prepared ingredients and threw them together to create some quick comfort food. Even if it wasn’t what I’d call homemade, it definitely wasn’t a box of mac-n-cheese. And Atticus joined me for more one-on-one time in the kitchen to help me cut the sausage (he’s learning knife skills using a butter knife) and grate the cheddar.

10-minute Sausage and Bean Quesadillas

(can be served to kids 10+ mos) 

2 12-inch organic flour tortillas

1/4 can Organic Amy’s Refried Black Beans

1 Organic Applegate Farms Spinach and Feta Sausages, sliced into ¼ pieces  (or Chicken and Apple)

1/4 cup frozen corn, already cooked

1/4  tsp ground organic cumin

2-4 oz organic grated cheddar cheese

2 oz organic sour cream

2-4 ounces organic guacamole (mashed avocado with a little lemon juice works, too)

1. Place 1 tortilla in a non-stick pan over low heat.

2. Spread tortilla with black beans.

3. Scatter sliced sausages on top.

4. Sprinkle with corn, cumin, and cheddar.

5. Top with second tortilla.

6. Flip and cook for about another 5 minutes until the cheese is melted and the sausage is heated.

7. Remove from heat, cut like a pizza, and served topped with sour cream and guacamole.

Tips: Great for dinner, packed for lunch, and as a hand-held snack after school. Atticus likes his guacamole and sour cream on the side since dipping is half the fun!