NACHO MAMA...

Not your average nachos.

A dish inspired by the very best kind of leftovers--the kind that can be transformed into a totally new meal in mere minutes. And that makes me happy.

The Leftovers:
1. Beans from the previous night's Beans and Cornbread
2. Homemade Ranch from pizza night earlier in the week

Ingredients:

• 1 can refried beans (or in my case, the equivalent in leftover pinto beans)
• 1 can diced green chili peppers, drained
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 yellow onion, grated or finely chopped
• 4 TBSP salsa

Pick your toppings: tomato, avocado, grated carrots (huge fan!!), more diced onion, diced bell pepper, shredded lettuce, salsa, sour cream, ranch dressing, guacamole, shredded chicken or ground beef, cheese, and the list goes on and on...

I just used what I had on hand: salsa, cheese, carrots, and ranch dressing... and we were all happily filled, no meat involved! 

To do:

• In a small pan on the stove, mix together your beans, peppers, garlic, onion, and salsa. Heat through.
• Assemble the nachos in whatever manner suits your fancy.

Notes to self:

1. Sam does not like the nacho chips on the bottom in the event that small children must be attended to before we're able to eat, and the chips get soggy. Moral of the story: Sam does not like soggy chips. 

2. Next time I think I'll throw everything up on top of a beautiful bed of lettuce and forget the chips. I suppose that undoes the whole "Nacho" theme for a third of the family, but perhaps I could crumble some chips up on top of it and call it "Nacho Mama's Salad..." Enough said. 

Recipe adapted from The Probiotics Revolution