Not Self, But Country

Today is National Navy Day, not to be confused with the US Navy’s actual birthday, which is October 13. So why is Navy Day not celebrated on the Navy’s birthday? Navy Day was established on October 27, 1922 by the Navy League of the United States. It is in recognition of Theodore Roosevelt’s Birthday.

Theodore Roosevelt once served as an Assistant Secretary of the Navy; and was a stanch supporter of the idea of a National Navy Day. Navy Day was last officially observed in this country on October 274, 1949. With the establishment of Armed Forces Day, Navy, Air Force, Army and Marines are all rolled into one National Day.

Once upon a time in our family, we celebrated January Birthdays with one big party for all the people born in January. While a big bash was fun, I often wondered if the birthday people felt that their individual birthdays were less important than the group. I guess that’s why I’d rather celebrate a day for each branch of the military than to have one big party. Each contribute differently to protect and to serve the people of this country. With the world in the state of uncertainty it is today, I for one am grateful to the men and women who have stepped forward. Thank you from a grateful nation. We salute you.

Today is also a Friday. You know me, without some sort of special dispensation (like Saint Patrick’s Day for the Irish), it’s a meatless day in our house. That’s okay, too. Meatless could mean fish, or in this case spicy beans with melted cheese. Yum! And I don’t know a sailor out there who would turn down a shot of tequila – especially one served Margarita Style. Enjoy!

Bean-Nacho Cheese Quesadilla Folds
2 Hatch or Anaheim Chilies
1 Red Jalapeno Pepper
1 teaspoon Spicy Olive Oil (Habanero or Jalapeno infused)
2 Roma Tomatoes
1 can Refried Beans
6 large Flour Tortillas
Cooking Spray as needed
6 tablespoon Nacho cheese Sauce
6 tablespoons Pepper Jack Cheese
6 tablespoons Sour Cream
1 cup Salsa Verde

Stem peppers, split open, scrape out most of the seeds. Cut into strips, then dice. Warm oil in a cast iron skillet. Roast diced peppers, set aside.

Seed and dice tomatoes into small pieces, set aside. Warm beans in the microwave for easy spreading, set aside. Warm tortillas with a little cooking spray to fold easily, set aside.

Working with 1 tortilla at a time, cut a slit in the tortilla just to the center. Spread beans on a quarter of the tortilla, just to the left of the slit, fold over. Spread Nacho Cheese on a quarter of the tortilla over the bean fold. Scatter Pepper Jack Cheese over the Nacho Cheese. DO NOT fold yet. Scatter tomatoes on the third quarter, alongside the cheese.

Fold cheese over the tomatoes. Finally, spread sour cream on the remaining quarter. Scatter roasted peppers over the sour cream, fold the entire quesadilla over onto the sour cream quarter. Set aside, repeat until all the tortillas have been filled and folded.

Heat a skillet or griddle to medium heat. Grill the triangle Quesadilla Folds until warmed through and golden on the outside. Serve with salsa for dipping and enjoy.

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Lord, teach me Your statutes