Cooking With Flour Tortillas - 5 Delicious Ideas

Open my fridge and you'll always find flour tortillas tucked in the snack drawer. And in our house we don't just use this all-around tempting kitchen staple for snacks either.

Depending upon our mood and available ingredients we have...

• wrapped the tortilla around something savory like spicy cooked chicken, thin sliced red cabbage and a generous spoonful of sour cream.
• loaded it up with grated cheese, chopped sweet onions, slices of juicy heirloom tomatoes and popped 'em under the broiler until bubbly.
• made our all-time favorite of fried tortillas lightly sprinkled with cinnamon laced sugar.

Seriously folks, the possibilities are only limited by your imagination and ingredients on hand...the must being flour tortillas, of course. Guaranteed, if you are looking for a quick meal or snack, this list of five different ways to cook with flour tortillas will fuel your inspirations and feed you 'til full.

Five sweet to savory ideas for creating quick and easy meals with flour tortillas.

1) Easy Quiche With a Flour Tortilla Crust

Butter a 9 to 10 inch pie pan, line with 3 to 4 snack-sized flour tortillas, add a meat/veggie or just veggie combo (about 1 cup) and top with 2 cups of shredded cheese of choice ; set aside. In a medium mixing bowl whip 3 eggs to light and fluffy. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon of flour over the eggs and mix well. Now add in 1 1/2 cups of low-fat milk, 2 tablespoons spicy brown mustard, a couple of dashes of nutmeg, along with salt and pepper, to taste. Stir well and pour over the prepared pie pan. Bake at 350°F for 30 to 40 minutes or until eggs are set and top is golden brown. Cool slightly, slice and enjoy!

2) Mexicali Tortilla Pizza

Preheat oven to 400°F. On a small baking sheet lined with foil or parchment paper place one to two large (10" to 12") flour tortillas and spread with a thin layer of smashed pinto beans; canned or homemade. Top with an assortment of ingredients and seasonings, such as meat, onions, tomatoes, green peppers, olives, salsa, basil, cilantro, red pepper flakes and or cayenne pepper. Sprinkle your creation with about 1/4 cup (more for cheesier) mozzarella or any cheese combo. Bake the tortilla pizza in preheated oven for 10 to 15 minutes or until edges are brown and crispy. Slice and serve as is or add shredded lettuce and a dollop of sour cream. Mmm!

3) Banana and Chocolate Laced Peanut Butter Roll-Up

This is one the kids, little or big, are gonna love! On a snack-sized flour tortilla spread a tablespoon or so of chocolate flavored peanut butter, just to the edges. Slice a small banana down the center. Fold left and right sides to middle and roll from bottom to top, making sure to tuck bananas in as you roll. Start eating the whole darn thing or slice into bite-sized pieces. *Tips - *To soften tortilla spread a little bit of water with your fingertips on both sides and place in the microwave for 30 to 45 seconds or use a stove-top steamer. *Freeze bananas in skins overnight, peel, slice as indicated above for an icy confection.

4) Stir-Fry-It-Up Vegetarian Anytime Wrap

Stir fry your fave mix of veggies in plain or spicy sesame seed oil, while still hot, lay atop a steamed medium to large flour tortilla. Dependent upon your appetite and tortilla size, one or more cups should suffice. This is the yummy part...top or not with scrambled eggs, fresh herbs and or grated cheese, then wrap and grill to golden brown on both sides on a heated non-stick frying pan (a panini-style grill works too). Dip, as desired, into a hot mustard or sweet and sour sauce.

5) Barby Soft Wrap

This one requires a flour tortilla softly wrapped 'round the ingredients. Marinate, skewer, and barbecue your fave meats and or veggies. Then, properly offer your guests a plate or parchment sleeve that has a steaming hot flour tortilla...pile it high with the barbecued goodies! A drizzle of buttermilk ranch or hot sauce may or may not be necessary.