The Dinner Bar: Pizzadillas & Fruit with Chocolate Fondue

This Dinner Bar features a quick stress-free meal that will be fun for the whole family.  If you have never tried a pizzadilla, you are in for a treat!  As its name suggests, it is simply a marriage of pizza and quesadilla which is especially easy to make and delicious.  Merging these two ordinary items creates an enticing vegetable-packed supper your kids will be begging for again and again.

You will need:

Protein:

• Turkey pepperoni slices
• Roasted shredded chicken (optional)

Grains:

• Burrito-size (10-inch) whole wheat tortillas (1 per person)

Vegetables:

• Jarred marinara sauce
• Chopped green pepper
• Sliced mushrooms (no salt added, canned or fresh)
• Chopped onions

Fruits:

• Sliced apple
• Sliced banana
• Sliced strawberries

Dairy:

• Shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
• ¼ cup skim milk

Fats:

• (See others)

Others:

• 1/2 can Sweetened condensed milk
• 6 oz. Dark chocolate
• 1 tsp. Vanilla extract
• Olive oil or non-stick cooking spray
• Wood skewers or popsicle sticks

How to prepare the fruit:

Slice desired amount of apple, banana and strawberries.  Purchase sliced apples in a bag, or use an apple slicer for quick cutting.  Arrange sliced fruit on a large plate or in separate bowls and set out alongside wood skewers or popsicle sticks.  Use the skewers to spear the fruit and dip!

Tip:  Any leftover fruit can be combined to create a fruit salad that can be enjoyed later.

How to prepare the chocolate fondue: (adapted from www.lifemojo.com )

Break chocolate squares into small pieces and drop in a medium sized bowl and set aside.  Combine skim milk and condensed milk in a saucepan and place over medium heat. Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring constantly.  Remove the mixture from heat and pour it over the chocolate. Once the chocolate has melted, whisk until smooth.  Whisk in the vanilla extract.  Pour the chocolate in a fondue pot if you have one.  If not, pour into a microwave-safe bowl.

Tip:  Reheat the sauce in the microwave if it becomes too thick.

How to make pizzadillas:

Place a tortilla on a large plate or cutting board and spread with a thin layer of marinara sauce.  Add a thin layer of cheese on half of the tortilla.  Layer chosen pizza toppings on top of the cheese.  Top off with another thin layer of cheese and fold the tortilla in half.  Brush the top of the tortilla with olive oil (or spray with cooking spray) and invert onto a non-stick skillet on low heat or a Panini grill with the sprayed side down.  Brush the other side of the tortilla with olive oil (or spray with cooking spray).  If using a non-stick skillet, flip the pizzadilla when the cheese is melted and the bottom is crisp.  Once the other side is crisp, remove from the pan.  Slice the finished product with a pizza cutter.  Place remaining marinara sauce in a microwave-safe bowl and heat in the microwave.  Pour marinara sauce in small bowls or ramekins  and use for dipping.

Tip:  Wrap any leftover pizzadillas and pack in lunches for the following day!

Enjoy!

Contributing Author: Katherine Fowler, MS, RD