Nigella Lawson - Quesadillas!

After trying this Nigella recipe just once, I've decided that these will be one of my most frequently used "go to" meals when I am short of time and hungry. The hardest bit is grating the cheese, which if I am to be honest, I get my husband to do as I am too lazy. Just slapping this Mexican sandwich together and throwing it (not literally) in the pan or griddle is as far as you need to go.

I used two different kinds of meat fillings, one with chorizo (pan fried as it was raw) and one with triple smoked ham. Of course you could make it vegetarian and use a mashed bean mix spread over the tortilla.

I didn't have any salsa to hand so I did what any Not Quite Mexican cook would do and made guacamole. Let me just say first off that my guacamole isn't authentic by any means but it is really tasty if I can be immodest. The two are gorgeous together and as I tend to do when I am enjoying a meal, I ate more than my share.

Quesadillas

For each flour tortilla wrap (makes three triangles):

• 1 flour tortilla

• 30g thinly sliced cured ham

• 3 coin slices pickled green jalapeño peppers, from a jar

• 50g grated cheese

• 1 spring onion, finely sliced

• few leaves of coriander

• 1 tsp olive oil (not extra virgin)

• ready-made salsa or guacamole (see below), to serve

Method

Step 1 - Heat a ridged griddle pan.

Step 2 - Place the tortilla wrap on the counter in front of you and cover with the ham.

Step 3 - Over one half only, sprinkle the pickled jalapeño slices, grated cheese and chopped spring onion. Scatter over the coriander leaves over the top.

Step 4 - Carefully fold the tortilla wrap in half, that's to say, fold the uncheese-topped half over the cheese so that you have a fat half moon.

Step 5 - Lift this up carefully and brush each side with oil before putting it onto the hot griddle, grill for a minute on each side

Step 6 - Using a steady hand and a wide fine spatula or fish slice, transfer the tortilla to a board or plate and cut into 3triangles. Eat with some salsa on the side. And please feel free to play with the fillings as you wish

Recipe by Nigella Lawson from Nigella Express

NQN's Not Quite Guacamole

• 1 small avocado

• 1-2 tablespoons of lime juice

• 1-2 tablespoons of sweet chili sauce

• very small pinch of salt

Step 1 - Scoop out avocado from shell and discard pip. Add 1 tablespoon of the lime juice and 1 tablespoon of the sweet chili sauce.

Step 2 - Taste and add other tablespoon of lime juice and sweet chili sauce if needed.