Get Weird In The Kitchen With Ghoulish Quesadilla Pumpkins
If you’re a regular reader of The Tomato, you know by now that I enjoy taking on creative food projects. And Halloween is a fine time to get weird in the kitchen. Last year I made funny little Frankenstein Avocado Toasts (recipe here). This meal is a cute activity for the kiddos and they get the enjoyment of eating their monster creatures for breakfast.
This Halloween weekend I challenge you to create Gooslish Quesadilla Pumpkins! I had a blast with this. Get wild with the Jack-o’-lantern expressions. The more cheese and veggies oozing out of the mouth and nose the better. Use corn for teeth and olives for eyes. Design your plate as a pumpkin patch by garnishing it with fresh greens and herbs. Here’s the recipe and instructions!
Ghoulish Quesadilla Pumpkins
2 quesadillas
Ingredients:
4 medium tortillas
½ cup cheddar cheese
About 2 ounces of each Vegetable:
Chopped peppers
Chopped onions
Corn
Sliced olives
Greens and herbs for garnish
Cilantro
Oil
Hot sauce
Salt and pepper to taste
Optional: sour cream or salsa
Directions:
Shape: Using a knife (a butter knife for the kids is ok), cut a pumpkin face into one side of each tortilla. Shape the outer rim for detailed work or to fashion a stem.
Assemble: On a baking sheet, place a layer of cheese on the opposite side of the tortilla (the one without the face cut into it). Add the veggies, cilantro, and salt/pepper. Place the “face” on top. Add the finishing touches like a few chopped peppers hanging out of the mouth, corn for teeth, olives for eyeballs, etc.
Bake: baste the top face with oil. Place in the oven and bake for 10 minutes until the cheese is oozing and the tortilla is golden brown. Plate and adorn with greens for the pumpkin patch effect. Serve warm with a side of sour cream or salsa.
For me, working with food is an exciting challenge that pushes the boundaries of conventional culinary practices. It’s an opportunity to turn ingredients into a vibrant canvas for imaginative expression. The process is inherently fun! It encourages spontaneity and inventiveness, resulting in dishes that are not only visually interesting but also tasty and nutritious. From constructing edible sculptures (ahem, jello) to crafting colorful meals, food play transforms the kitchen into an artist’s studio. This offers me and I hope you, an exciting outlet for creativity that feeds your body and your imagination.
I’d like to share your cute or deranged quesadilla pumpkins on my Instagram feed. Tag me – @theglorifiedtomato. Let’s see how weird Rockaway can get with this. I’m betting real weird…
