Nachos

Once again, I find myself lost in making Mexican food dishes.  I am basically a Mexican food groupie.  Whenever I go out to a Mexican food restaurant, I always want to recreate the dish I had.  My boyfriend finds this ever so annoying.  I take pictures of my food, write down ingredients I think it is missing or could make it better, and alternative ways of cooking it.  However, the one dish that I consistently make the same is Nachos. Nachos are great as a snack or a meal time.  Nachos can also be made in large portions, perfect for sharing or big groups.  This is my take on nachos…a little different from others. 

Ingredients:

Tortilla Chips

Cheese

Beans (Black or Re-fried)

Sour Cream

Guacamole

Meat (Steak, Chicken, Pork)

Jalapeños

Salsa

Cheese Sauce (Homemade)

On a large cookie sheet, spread tortilla chips and sprinkle them with cheese and the meat of your choice.  Put them in the oven on broil until the cheese melts.  After the cheese has melted, add another layer of chips, cheese, and meat.  Also add on the beans and jalapeños.  Let the cheese and other ingredients heat and melt under the broiler.  Once everything is melted, bring out the dish and add the cheese sauce.  The cheese sauce I use is a roux.  It can be a little complicated to make, but it gets easier the more you experiment.  Once your cheese sauce is added, add the salsa, sour cream and guacamole. 

This dish definitely takes some time, but totally worth it.  You can feed a few people with this dish and let’s be honest; you can never go wrong with nachos.  

Chili Killi

If I haven't mentioned it before, I love Mexican Food.  Anytime I can make or eat Mexican food, I am all over it.  I also like to experiment with making different dishes and flavors.  This next dish was introduced to me by a friend, and I just had to take a test run at making it.  Chili Killi is the name, experimenting is my game.  This dish is also known as a Mexican Brunch.  I guess a similar comparison would be breakfast nachos. 

Ingredients:

• Tortilla Chips
• Enchilada Sauce
• Chorizo (Pork or Beef)
• Eggs
• Sour Cream and Guacamole are optional

Directions:

Cook the chorizo until most of the oil has evaporated.  Add the enchilada sauce in with the chorizo.  At this time you can scramble the eggs and shred the cheese.  

In a large pan or serving dish, put the tortilla chips in and layer them with the chorizo infused enchilada sauce.  If you want, you can even add black bean to the sauce.  Then top the chips with the cheese, eggs, and sour cream and guacamole.   After that you are ready to eat and enjoy. 

I know this is considered a brunch food, but it can be made anytime.  I always like breakfast food for dinner, or a late night snack. 

There are also other variations of this recipe if you are not satisfied with this one. 

The total cook time for this meal is around 30-45 minutes.  However, this dish can feed many people, or provide you with leftovers.  

Soft Shell Tacos

I am big on Mexican food.  If I could eat Mexican food every day, I would be a happy camper.  However, eating out every day would make me broke, so I have to make my own Mexican food.  A favorite of mine are soft tacos, or hard shell tacos if that is what you like.  With me being a fatty, I like soft shell tacos because you can fit more food in them.  Here are my steps for delicious soft shell tacos.  

• Pick the kind of meat you want…chicken, steak, pork, etc.
• Fully cook the steak and then slice into smaller pieces.  The seasoning is your choice.  I like to use taco seasoning in the packet
•  While the steak is cooking, you can grate the cheese, heat the beans, and chop the lettuce and tomatoes
•  Use black beans and heat them fully
• In the oven, warm the flour tortillas in aluminum foil for a couple minutes
•  If desired, use sour cream, salsa and guacamole

Once all the ingredients are cooked, it is time to assemble your tacos.  How you assemble your taco is up to you.  I always like to pile on the ingredients and over stuff the taco…that’s the fat kid in me! 

The total cook time, including preparation, is around 1 hour.  But when all is said and done, you have a delicious meal for two or more people in a short amount of time.

This recipe is so simple, my boyfriend made these for me the other night.  In the time it took me to get ready and take the 15 minute drive to his house, I showed up right as the tacos were being assembled.  This recipe really is so easy a cave man could do it.  

Steak and Fries...

Most people think that cooking is a long and drawn our process.  Cooking for more than you can also be a challenge.  However, not all recipes require extensive preparation and stress.  If you have a family or significant other, cooking for them can be a simple process.  One meal that I find quick and easy is Steak, Fries, and a Vegetable of your choice. 

The steak that I use is Filet Mignon.  The steak is not an expensive cut; you can buy it at Safeway for less than $15.  Depending on your taste buds, you can marinate the steak, or just season it with pepper and salt.  Here is a link that gives you options for the flavor of the steak.  How you cook the steak is entirely up to you.  You can BBQ, Pan Fry, or Char Broil the steak.  I like to BBQ my Filet Mignon because it brings out the flavor.  Cook the steak to medium, or to your preference, and let it set after cooking for 5 minutes.  Your steak is now finished.  Interested in cooking the steak another way?  Check these recipes out. 

The fries are your next step.  For quickness, use frozen fries and season them before you throw them into the oven.  Homemade fries are more complicated, but the payoff is definitely worth it.  The seasoning is entirely up to you and how flavorful you like your fries.  I use salt, pepper, garlic powder, and a little bit of onion powder.  If you are using frozen fires, follow the directions on the bag to achieve perfect fries.  The cook time is around 12 minutes. 

The next step is the vegetables.  You can buy a bag of frozen or buy fresh.  When I have the extra time, I like to buy fresh veggies.  Instead of veggies, you can also have a side salad. 

The total cook time for the meal is around 45 minutes.  There is enough food for two or more people.  If you are eating solo, you will have leftovers.  The total cost for this meal is around $25.  However, that money can feed up to four or provide you with another meal. 

I may not be a gourmet chef but I can throw together a meal for two or more people in under an hour.  The cost is also low, which is good for a college student like me.  Enjoy cooking and don’t stress.