I mean, really.

Food is pretty amazing, and I’m not shy about saying that I love it, deeply and sincerely.

Food nourishes my body. It has the ability to act as my medicine. It brings me closer to those I love, whether through sharing a meal or swapping foodie tips and tricks. It provides venues to mix with diverse groups of people and an accessible way to share one’s culture. Yeah, I’m a big fan of food.

Food is wonderful in another way, that I would be remiss if I weren’t to mention: Food provides comfort, which I am often happy to accept.

Yes, I am a self-proclaimed comfort (emotional) eater, and I don’t think there is anything wrong with that. When I return home after a particularly challenging day, I wash my face, put on a pair of comfy sweats, and head to the kitchen to start cooking.

Like most emotional eaters (EEs), I have an arsenal of comfort foods for any given day. One of my favorite savory go-to’s is the cheesy, delicious, loaded quesadilla.

Here’s how I like to prepare mine.

What you’ll need:

• Tortilla (I use a gluten-free version)
• 1 thawed chicken breast
• seasoning (garlic powder, salt and cayenne pepper)
• 1 can of black beans
• 1/2 cup of white rice
• 1/4 cup of Mexican blend cheese
• 1/3 avocado
• lime
• Fresh Salsa (homemade or store-bought)

How to Make My Quesadilla

After thawing my chicken breast, I usually brush on some light olive oil and sprinkle it with garlic powder, salt and cayenne pepper. I throw my black beans on the stove to cook and usually add some garlic, onion and jalapeno if I have it lying around.

While heating up my pan, I dice the chicken and check that there is enough seasoning. (I prefer cooking diced chicken in general because it’s so easy to gauge how quickly it’s cooking and avoid drying it out.)

As the beans simmer and the chicken cooks, I move to assemble the quesadilla.

I start by spearing on some lightly seasoned rice (I’ve been in an instant rice kick) and then sprinkle about half a serving of cheese on top. I slice my avocado, add some lime and garlic salt, and place it on top of the cheese and rice. When the chicken is ready, I put that on top, then take a helping of beans and spread it across the other side of the tortilla. This way, I can trap the “top layer” of cheese and avoid some mess!

I think you all can imagine the rest, but make sure to spray your pan and flip the quesadilla a few times until each side is a warm, golden brown and CRUNCHY!

Then, dig in and enjoy! I know I did!

Alright, I shared one of mine! What’s your favorite comfort food?!

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Alternative Eating | Lo Martinez
exploring gluten-free, paleo & clean eating