Pear and Chèvre Quesadillas with Cilantro Crema
Pear and Chèvre Quesadillas with Cilantro Cream
“Do, you really need all these cookbooks, Juli?” (my husband)
“Well, …yes, I do.” (me)
“Well, can you try to get rid of a few, at least?” (husband)
“Oh… I don’t know…” (me)
And so went the conversation with my husband a few days ago. You see, we are putting our home on the market, and he would love for me to “de-clutter” my cookbook collection. The problem is, I don’t think of my cookbooks as clutter! They have a very important place in my home and my heart. And when I did start combing through some of my older books, I was struck by how many wonderful recipes were there, just waiting like old friends, hoping to be invited over for dinner again. Those books were chock full of sweet memories of parties and events; the whole process filled me with nostalgia and made me realize that my cookbooks weren’t going anywhere, except to my new home to create more new memories! Bring on the boxes!
So, by now you may have guessed that today’s recipe comes from one of those older cookbooks that I could not bring myself to weed out. I re-discovered it in, “The Girls Who Dish! Seconds Anyone?” by Karen Barnaby, Margaret Chisholm, Glenys Morgan. I have made this recipe many times over the years for various festivities and it has always been inhaled in seconds! Creamy goat cheese and Monterrey Jack are brightened by juicy, sweet, grilled pears. Garnished with (or smothered in) Cilantro Cream, this recipe elevates the humble quesadilla to lofty heights. I really wanted to make some pickled red onions as a second garnish, but ran out of time. I bet the combination would be mind-blowing.
I am bringing a massive platter of my quesadillas over to Angie’s Fiesta Friday! If you want to sample them and many more delicacies, come join us over at Angie’s amazing site – “The Novice Gardener“. Friday’s will never be the same, I promise!
Add a fresh tossed salad for a perfect meal!
Ingredients:
2 pears, peeled
1 tablespoon olive oil
salt and pepper to taste
10 ounces soft goat cheese, crumbled
5 ounces Monterey Jack cheese, grated
2 green onions, sliced
6 10 – inch soft flour tortillas
1 recipe Cilantro Crema
Method:
Cut the pears in half and remove the core with a melon baller. Cut into 1/3 inch thick slices. Toss with olive oil and a little salt and pepper. Grill or sauté for 1 minute on each side.
Chop the pears into ½ inch pieces. Combine the pear, cheeses and green onion in a bowl and mix well. Divide the mixture into 6 portions and spread 1 portion onto half of each tortilla. Fold the tortilla in half.
Heat a non-stick pan over medium heat. Cook each tortilla for 1 – 2 minutes per side, or until the cheese melts and the tortilla turns golden.
Cut each tortilla into 4 pieces and serve with Cilantro Crema or your favourite fruit salsa.
Cilantro Crema
Ingredients:
½ cup Greek yogurt
½ cup mayonnaise
½ teaspoon sugar
¼ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cumin
½ cup finely chopped cilantro
1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lime juice
Method:
Whisk all of the ingredients together in a small bowl. Chill until ready to serve.
So happy I found this recipe again!
Foodie On Board 
62 Responses to “Pear and Chèvre Quesadillas with Cilantro Crema”
running out of things to entertain with. These sound wonderful. I too still refer to an old Fanny Farmer!
Hey Les,! I think you would love these! So glad to hear that I’m not the only one who hangs onto the “oldies”! 😀
I don’t think it is reasonable to get rid of cookbooks, Chef Juliana. 😀 Yes?
The quesadillas look so good. Are you also looking for recipes from Google?
Me neither, Jhuls! I think I will just keep them all! I like to look for recipes from Epicurious too! 😀
Looks delicious! And yeah, keep the cookbooks!!! 🙂
Looks like I have to tell my husband that all the bloggers support me! 🙂 Thanks for your vote
Lovely Juliana, I love the simplicity and freshness of this recipe. I know exactly what you mean about “purging” some of those old cookbooks :). About 3 years ago, we downsized and moved to a smaller home as everyone has left the nest. I had that same question from my husband, that and my gardening books :). We did win in the end, there’s just so much to get rid of, and in a way I’m glad we did. Now, there’s absolutely no clutter in sight, but I’ve saved my cookbooks. Good luck with the move! If it’s downsizing, ask the expert, aka “ME”. :))
Oh, I know what you mean, Loretta! I don’t mind moving in a way, because it makes you look at all of your stuff and only keep what is really important and used. I do plan to hold onto all the cookbooks, though! 😀
This looks like such a wonderful combination! I have never tried quesadillas with pears. I am going to try this!
Sure hope you like it!
Where’s the “love” button? ❤ Mmm, pears and goat cheese…I'll definitely be back for seconds! With moving multiple times in the life of my marriage, I've had similar conversations with my husband…I ALWAYS win! 😉
Yeahhhh, Nancy! So glad that you win!! Hey, what a great idea! We should ask WordPress if they can install LOVE buttons on our sites! That would be very cool! And thanks so much for loving this, by the way! 😀
– No, no, no. I made the mistake of downsizing my cookbooks . Two years ago, a few of us posted about our cookbooks (http://fae-magazine.com/2013/04/19/favorite-cookbooks/). I am so glad that you chose to keep them ALL.
– Look at this beautiful recipe. So~ delectable. I would love to serve it when I have my most sophisticated friends over for lunch. 🙂
Ah yes, what a good post that was! You have re-inspired me to keep them all, Fae! Glad you like this recipe, and if you do make it, I sure hope your friends enjoy it! 😀
Cookbooks are like shoes to me; you can never have too many 🙂 These sound and look absolutely delicious!
Thanks so much for your support! I think I have many more cookbooks than shoes… 🙂
I love this dish Julianna! I love the combination of flavours 🙂 Definitely can’t wait to try this as I LOOOVE pear and chevre!
I have had this conversation with my husband too! We live in a very small apartment and I’ve stored all my cookbooks and baking gear in the small extra room! He cannot believe how I’ve accumulated so much and doesn’t even want to step into that room (because it’s so “cluttered” – which isn’t for me! 😀 Good luck with moving!!
Haha! Sounds like we have a lot in common! I think I will have to look for a new house that has a spare room for all of my blogging stuff, including all the cookbooks! 🙂
Oh wow! Yes please! They look so good!!! xx
And can anyone really ever have too many cookbooks?? I know I couldn’t pick and choose any to offload if I had to!
I don’t think any of them are going anywhere, except maybe into temporary storage! Glad you like the dish, Elaine! 🙂
Ha ha! The husband or the cookbooks…??? Decisions, decisions…! 😉
Pear and cheese! A lovely combination. An alternative to getting rid of some books is to give them to people who want them and give you access to them – very good friends and family – with big houses,
This is a great idea, Hilda! I still may have to keep them all, though! …
how yummy looking is that! you take such wonderful photos. 🙂
Thanks so much, Geraldine! I appreciate that!
PS: And say nooooo way to any cookbook culling. Unacceptable!!!😀
A wonderful recipe, Julianna 🙂 It looks absolutely tasty.
Thanks Linda!
I don’t think I could get rid of any cookbooks either, though there are a few that are currently in my parents attic as I didn’t quite have room to move them one place I lived and they have never quite escaped. These quesadillas sound unusual but I can see it working. They look great!
Yes, I have asked my parents to do that before too! But now they are all home…
there’s no such thing as too many cookbooks, and without them you wouldn’t have this yummy looking quesadillas recipe!
Haha, yes, this is what I have been trying to convince my husband! 🙂
I hope your husband saw the error in his thinking after he tasted this quesadillas! It sounds amazingly delicious to me!
Oh yes, he is a great fan of my recipes, but I think he still thinks I have too many cookbooks…. 🙂
I’m so glad you did too Juliana! Love the grilling of the pears first. Yum! You should prove your point by making irresistible recipes from all your cookbooks for your husband!
Yes, the grilling really makes them sweet and flavourful! I will have to make a strategic plan about the books…
Oooh you should never give away your cookery book. Its like a treasure. The quesadillas look yumm. 🙂
Thanks for your vote, Sadia!
I completely understand being attached to your cookbooks, I love mine! When we moved last year I did get rid of the ones I hadn’t opened for the past 5 years but it was painful.
The quesadillas looks so delicious with the oozing cheese and fresh pear, and the cilantro crema, just inspired! 🙂
So glad you like them, Petra! I think I will just store some of the books temporarily. That will solve the immediate problem…but they are coming with me for sure! 😀
Keep your cookbooks until you are ready to part with them. I have given mine away to schools, and women organizations so they continue to get good use. Love your recipe by the way – quesadillas are always a favorite 🙂
Yes, I love donating tons of stuff to my school too! I have done that a lot in the past.
[…] Julianna […]
What a fabulous recipe! I have way too may cookbooks myself, but I just can’t seem to part with them! 🙂
It seems to be a bit of a bloggers’ syndrome…the books. 🙂
I LOVE my new and old recipe books – and now I am adding to my collection with some oldies from my mom and grandma! My pear tree (hopefully) will bear fruit this year. What better way to celebrate than with your delicious recipe! YUM!!
I love the idea of collecting the recipes from mom’s and grandmas. Unfortunately, we seem to have mis-located my grandma’s recipes and my mom has mountains of recipes, just like me!
Lucky you that you have a pear tree! Be sure to try this when you get fruit! 🙂
Very delightful recipe ! Thanks for sharing on FF
Yummy!!!
I also have too many cookbooks….Probably more than I need, as I usually end up using my favourite ones…But I couldn’t get rid of them!! 🙂
I think it is safe to say that we bloggers love our cookbooks! 😀
🙂
Nooo..Please don’t chuck out the books. They are supposed to be priceless. But if ever you decide to do that, please I am taking all of them.
I’ll let you know, skd! But don’t hold your breath….. 🙂
Haha ok. ☺
I am glad you show your hubby the valuable of ALL your cookbooks by making him something delicious from the old recipe 🙂 I don’t think he will make you get rid of anything now that he realises he could be depriving himself from delicious meals. Good luck with the move etc. 🙂
xoxo
Thanks Pang! Well, I do know that he appreciates the food that he gets to eat! And I will keep the books, so in the end, I think we both win out! Don’t you agree? 😀
Yummy! My sister and I chaperoned a cabin full of young college ladies this weekend. Many of the ladies were vegetarian, so our menus reflected this. I made these Friday night as an appetizer for them and we all loved them. The only change I made was that I did not use the green onions-only because I forgot them. These will be a regular now. Thank you!
Oh wow lovely teaming- looks delicious…
Great idea to grill the pears first to soften them. Anything with melty cheese gets my top vote. Looks delicous.
This is the fanciest quesadilla I’ve seen, Julianna! The flavors sound divine.
Oh my, asking a cook to get rid of their cookbooks is like asking her to go to work with no pants.