Photographing food gives one a new perspective on things. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure certainly applies when it comes to props and backgrounds. That tarnished spoon tucked away in the drawer, which would need a vigorous polish to be fit for the Thanksgiving table, finds its way into many photos. Its gray patina lends a rustic feel and the muted surface stops light from reflecting. Oh good – now I have an excuse not to polish my silver! (Hold on, I’m getting to the Caprese Quesadilla. Just humor me.)
A couple of months ago, my husband trundled into the backyard with an old wooden table hitched over his shoulder. He picked it up from a neighbor’s garbage pile, knowing that it would make an ideal background for photographing food. We started talking about how we should re-finish it, but the longer I looked at the little round table, with it’s worn wooden slats, I decided it should be left just as it was.
That table has been used in several posts, such as this one and this one. However, it has become something much more than a background. My husband and I work from home on most days, which gives us the luxury of eating lunch together. Since the table worked its splintery self into our backyard, we have taken to setting it under the large cottonwood tree in our backyard, which lets in flashes of sunlight through the leaves when the breeze is blowing. Faced towards the craggy and green Wasatch Mountains, and surrounded by blooming rose bushes and buzzing hummingbirds, we set out our lunch out on our little wooden table and take time to re-connect before heading back inside to work. Someone’s trash, our treasure.
Yesterday was such a day. It happened to be my husband’s birthday, but we followed our routine as if it were any other day. He made a wrap of leftover grilled molasses tri-tip, rice, red pepper and corn. I rummaged through our garden and picked a ripe tomato and several leaves of basil. The basil mayonnaise came together in a flash – slice basil, stir into mayo, done. The rest of the quesadilla didn’t take much more time. I spread the mayo on the tortillas, layered on tomato slices and strips of fresh mozzarella and cooked it in a hot skillet for a few minutes. It epitomizes the flavors of late summer and tastes even better when eaten outside…with a loved one…at a special little table.
The recipe:
For the mayonnaise, stir together mayonnaise and basil. Really, that’s it.
For the quesadillas, spread the basil mayonnaise on one side of each tortilla. Lay tomato slices and mozzarella strips on 4 of the tortillas. Cover with remaining tortillas.
Preheat skillet over medium-high heat (you can use 2 skillets to make this process faster). Place quesadillas, cooking one at a time, in skillet. Typically, I cook quesadillas over medium heat. For these ones, however, I want the tortillas to crisp quickly, before the tomatoes start to release moisture and make a big, soggy mess.
Cook until cheese is melted and tortillas are golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Remove from pan and let rest for a couple of minutes. Cut each quesadilla into 4 wedges.
Other quesadilla recipes:
Cookin’ Canuck’s Shrimp, Sun-Dried Tomato & Feta Quesadillas
Use Real Butter’s Carne Adovada Quesadillas
In Good Taste’s Shrimp, Kale & Avocado Quesadillas
My Colombian Recipes’ Bacon-Apple & Cheddar Quesadillas
Ingredients
- Basil Mayonnaise:
- 6 tbsp mayonnaise (I used low-fat)
- 3 tbsp thinly sliced fresh basil
- Quesadilla:
- 8 whole wheat tortillas
- 4 medium tomatoes, cut into 1/2-inch thick slices
- 6 oz. fresh mozzarella, cut into strips
Instructions
- For the mayonnaise, stir together mayonnaise and basil. Set aside.
- For the quesadillas, spread the basil mayonnaise on one side of each tortilla.
- Lay tomato slices and mozzarella strips on 4 of the tortillas. Cover with remaining tortillas.
- Preheat skillet over medium-high heat (you can use 2 skillets to make this process faster). Place quesadillas, cooking one at a time, in skillet.
- Cook until cheese is melted and tortillas are golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes per side.
- Remove from pan and let rest for a couple of minutes. Cut each quesadilla into 4 wedges.
{ 43 comments… read them below or add one }
I completely understand, relate and agree. Find some junk on the side of the road and it makes for a pimp background!
And uh, that quesadilla’s just caused me to lose my balance and fall down. YUM.
Let’s just pretend I make sense in the above comment.
“that quesadilla”
Good. Grief.
Wish I could find an old table as beautiful as the one your husband found. My kids would love these quesadillas, and they’re good for them too, on whole wheat tortillas!
I love tomatoes and basil, so I like the sound of these quesadillas. I think they would make a delicious quick lunch.
And stunning photos they make – these quesadillas are simply perfect.
Lovely story! That fellow who put the table out for trash had no idea it would be the setting of not only beautiful food photography but many a lunch with pleasant conversation under. Wonderful
I enjoyed this post! I love that table and I’m glad you left it as is, it’s so beautiful I think in the photo, sometimes old, rustic items adds mood to a pic and draws your attention in. You can kinda imagine being there and sitting at that table! Thanks for sharing and Happy Belated Birthday to your hubby!
Dara,
It’s been WAY TOO LONG since I’ve been on your blog!!! That table is fabulous – how thoughtful of your husband to snag it for you!!
That is so wonderful that you and your husband get to have lunch together – what a great time to reconnect and discuss things without the distractions of kids (wonderful as they are!!).
This quesadilla sounds delicious – when I saw your tweet all I could think was “this sounds so much like a Dara recipe “… so of course, I’ve added mozzarella to my shopping list so I can make this for lunch!!!
Wish your husband a belated “happy birthday” from me!!!
I’m always looking out for great old pieces like that, they add great character to photos. Happy birthday to your husband!
I think I could eat this every day. Looks amazing and delicious! Happy belated birthday to your husband!
Hey! I haven’t connected in so long – just that kind of summer. I loved the whole feel of this story and I read it with a giant smile on my face the whole time. I also am loving the whole basil mayo and have just a handful of tomatoes left in my raggedy garden at this point. I’ll be making this in the next couple days! Sending a hug.
A belated birthday to your husband and I can’t decide if I love this post because the recipes looks so good, or because of the beautiful photo’s, or if it’s the sentimental and heartfelt story. You know what, it’s all three!
This looks like the perfect lunch – especially enjoyed outside!! And I love finding other people’s trash that I can use.
What a lovely setting to eat your summer fresh quesadillas in!
Love the Italian/Mexican combo. I really like your comments about food photos too. I was jut digging through draws looking for those little touches I see in great pictures like yours. Thanks for sharing!
Bree
looks fabulous!
this is like the perfect quesadilla!!! lunch please
looks so delicious!!!
Happy birthday to your husband!
I love finding all pieces of furniture, usually we go antique shopping
This quesadilla sounds like a wonderful lunch!
Great post with another wonderful recipe. Thank you.
what a fun story! I wish I could get my husband to bring home treasures!
Does yours give lessons? The quesadillas look great! I need to make them….tomatoes are coming out of my eyeballs.
xx
H
Q:How does a food blogger know when she’s married the right man?
A: When he salvages food photo props for her!
an excuse to not polish the silver, indeed!
the thing I like most about this story is your husband coming home with it – just… so great. I love the rustic look of the table.
Caprese is my absolute favorite flavors – I am making as many variations as possible while I still can!
Simple and lovely. Yum!
Love that this table brought a little something special to your lives! What a delicious lunch in your backyard. Seriously wish I could join you.
I love the simplicity of this meal. The flavors sound amazing and this looks so delicious. Yummy!
LOVE this! In fact, my daughter will have this packed in her school lunch on Monday
Thanks for the healthy idea!
love that the table has turned into something more than just a prop!
these would be perfect football food, for sure.
heck, that looks like a good piece of furniture to me… the hummers just came back down in our area to fatten up before they head south over the gulf… they will be here to about middle of Oct so we all do our part with feeders everywhere… like these quesadillas a lot too as well as the shrimp ones…
I’m dreaming of your backyard!! Ahh….what I wouldn’t give! Love this flavor combination!
I love your table and also love the looks of the quesadilla. Basil mayonnaise, what a brilliant idea! Sounds like you had a nice birthday celebration!
I love the simplicity of this Dara and am reminded that we don’t have to just share the dish that took us hours. Actually my friends remind me of that. They want to know why something I threw together isn’t on the blog and I say I didn’t think it worthy but this is a great example of just how worthy something simple can be. Think I need to go rummage a bit too! I’m hungry.
There’s something so lovely about rustic though. Just comforting and unpretentious, and always seems to make the food taste better in my opinion. Hope you had a wonderful day celebrating with your husband.
Sound like the perfect day & a delicious quesadilla. Had not a clue you had views of the Wasatch mountains. You lucky gal
I can see why your pictures are so amazing now. You really put so much thought and care into them, not to mention the food is always wonderful. I would never have thought to add fresh basil to mayo, and what a refreshing change it would be.
These quesadillas look incredible! I have so many tomatoes and fresh basil in my garden…I have to give this a try!
I’m always on the lookout for roadside stuff to use as props! I especially love it when someone is replacing their fencing.
These quesadillas look great. I never thought to use the caprese combination in a quesadilla!
Don’t you love finding odd props? We’ll have to go prop shopping, I have a couple of good, cheap spots. See you on Wednesday!
For the past few months we’ve been deeming Sunday’s as quesadilla night – this is so dinner tonight!! Thanks for the gorgeous recipe, I cannot get my fill of caprese.
I love the idea of you and your husband sitting outside and enjoying a peaceful lunch together on your old and well-loved table. Sounds perfect to me.
And I love this recipe! With the end of summer tomatoes, I am eating caprese like crazy (ha! is that a pun?) and this is a great variation.
Your pictures here express a thousand words of delight! Not to mention that your “junk” makes your food pictures look like “treasure!”
Your recipe is simple and easy, but I have no doubt delicious!
~Virginia
Hello lovely friend…my goodness, basil mayo? Too tempting! This looks so good! Thanks for making my morning a little bit more delicious
I’m baking a batch of cookies and then heading to work. Sounds like a good start, huh? Much love and hugs from Austin!
What a great find. I once picked up a shelf that my neighbour was throwing away- painted it white and it’s now become my go to background for all my photos! It’s great that yours is dual purpose for eating a nice spot of lunch in the garden.