What to make for dinner?

It's my job to make dinner just once a week--on Wednesdays. You'd be disappointed (I know I am) at the number of Wednesdays that I just make something I've made 10 or 20 times before, and how rarely I break out of my shell. But today I was inspired!

On the menu:

Sweet Potato Quesadillas

Mexican Quinoa

Really Good Zucchini

Sweet Potato Quesadillas: modified from the cookbook Simply in Season

1 1/2 c onion, minced

Saute' in large frying pan in 1 T oil until translucent

4 c sweet potatoes, peeled and shredded

3 cloves garlic, minced

Add, and saute' until potatoes begin to soften. Add water and stir often to prevent sticking.

2 t dried oregano

1 1/2 t each: dried basil, chili powder, and ground cumin

1 t ground coriander

diced roasted green chilis, to taste

salt and pepper to taste

Add after several minutes of cooking the potatoes. Continue sauteing until potatoes are soft.

8 tortillas

1 c sharp cheddar cheese, shredded

Spread about 1/2 c of filling (just eyeball it) and a generous amount of cheese on half of each tortillas, leaving a 1/2 inch border on the sides. Fold tortilla in half. Place on oiled baking sheets. Bake in preheated oven at 400 degrees F until brown, 15-20 minutes (about 10 minutes in the mile high city). Serve with salsa, and sour cream if you have it.

This recipe is super easy and easy to increase the amounts--just add more potatoes and adjust the spices.

Mexican Quinoa: modified from an online recipe site I can't remember

1 can diced tomatoes with green chiles, drained with juice reserved (I used plain diced tomatoes and added some diced roasted green chiles from our freezer)

water

1 c quinoa

salt and pepper, to taste

1 t chili powder

1 t cumin

(I'd increase the amount of spices if I made it again)

1. Place the reserved tomato juice in a liquid measuring cup. Add enough water to bring the total amount of liquid to 2 cups.

2. Put the water/tomato juice into a medium saucepan and bring to a boil.

3. Stir in the quinoa and salt and pepper. Turn burner down, and simmer quinoa for about 15 minutes, or until the liquid has cooked off.

4. Add the tomatoes and chiles and spices. Cook for another 2-4 minutes until warmed.

This recipe claims to serve 8, but those must be very small servings! I'd triple it if I made it again, it didn't quite stand up to 5 hungry housemates.

Really Good Zucchini: a recipe given to me by Alana

2 c zucchini, shredded

2 T butter

1 t sugar

1/4 t salt

Place all ingredients in a small-medium saucepan over medium heat. Cook until warm, about 5-10 minutes.

I'm not lying, this is one of the best ways to eat zucchini! And super easy. It's the best with small, young zucchini. The baseball bat zukes in the garden in August are more suited for zucchini bread/cake than this recipe.