From my cookbook…Loaded Nachos
There are few things better to eat in the fall during football season than nachos. Especially loaded nachos!
There are over 300 recipes in my recently published cookbook, Everyday Cooking for Everyday People Like Us (Click on the link in Note 1 to get your own copy). Even in these inflationary times, we can prepare delicious meals for our family and do so in a way that does not break the budget. And it’s all in the cookbook!
Funny how things happen
I was in the grocery store checkout today. It was not too busy, and the clerk started up a conversation. I was there because I had to make a quick run since Diane had made turkey enchiladas, and we needed a few more ingredients than we initially thought we did. Because I always keep a running grocery list, I grabbed that list too so I could make the best use of my time and energy (a theme I talk a lot about, especially in the kitchen!)
Besides the couple of enchilada ingredients Diane needed, my list had tortilla chips, adobo sauce, and cheese. The guy asked me if I was making nachos and then went on to tell me how great his wife’s nachos are. Well, you know, after that primer, I just had to make nachos myself!
Anyway, I used the opportunity to hand the clerk my card and let him know that I have a simple but great nacho recipe in my cookbook, and perhaps he could just check it out sometime. And that conversation led me to want to share my recipe with you! I hope you enjoy this delicious dish!
David Giustozzi’s Nachos
Who doesn’t love a plate of nachos? This recipe stays with the theme of using leftovers whenever we can to save time and money. You can adjust the heat as you wish, depending upon your families’ tastes. Enjoy!
Ingredients
Tortilla chips (Note 1)
Leftover David Giustozzi’s taco meat (Note 2)
4 blend Mexican cheese (Note 3)
Jalapeño slices, fresh or pickled (optional, Note 4)
Salsa (optional)
Sour cream (optional)
Directions
Place tortilla chips in a single layer on a round metal plate.
Spread meat over chips, spread cheese on top.
Heat oven to low broil. When hot, place nacho plate under broiler. Broil until cheese is melted and chips are just beginning to brown on the edges.
Serve with salsa, sour cream, cilantro, limes, etc.
Notes
Choose your tortilla chips wisely. You want a chip that will stand up to the heaviness of the meat and other toppings but not so thick that all you get is the heaviness of an oil infused corn chip. I like Tostitos round chips the best due to them using white corn and they are the correct thickness for this use. They are more expensive than most chips, but there are some other good ones as well. Heck, if you are so inclined, just make your own!
If you know me, and I’m sure you do, I’m always looking for ways to deliciously repurpose leftovers or other unused portions of food. This is economical in several ways. First, it saves money by using everything you have, second it saves time by not having to shop for food or prepare food, you already have. And finally, and this particular item is getting a lot of press lately, is that we call can help reduce the amount of food we waste. While we may think we are the only ones affected by this, it is a bigger issue than you think. For example, I used to volunteer with a group at the Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma in Tulsa once in a while. Our job was typically to package up expired or soon to expire fresh and canned food for those who needed it. There are a lot of generous companies and organizations in the Tulsa area that donated, and it always made me feel good to be a part of something like this. All that to say if you are thrifty on your food purchases, the leftovers can go to a good cause rather than in your trash. Now you know!
It’s always best to shred your own cheese from blocks as the additive used to keep pre-shredded cheese free flowing will sometimes prevent it from melting well. You can use any cheese or cheese blend you like.
Depending upon your tolerance for heat, use either fresh or pickled jalapeno slices. My favorite pickled jalapenos are the homemade razzle dazzle recipe which are crunchy and taste really fresh because they are not boiled when they are canned.
David Giustozzi’s Nachos
What’s in it for me?
Good eats, that’s what!
Call to Action
Show someone how much you love them by preparing a delicious meal for them. Later, enjoy the time and money you save by relishing your leftovers, either for lunch at work or dinner at home. Take comfort in knowing you are eating healthy food you prepared. All because you made a good decision to follow the recipes and tips in the cookbook I developed just for you.
Besides getting a copy of the cookbook for yourself, it makes an excellent gift for those you love and care for, especially for those with a young family who are looking to save time and money in the kitchen. And learn a few things in the process! What a great idea!
Recommended Resources
Everyday Cooking for Everyday People Like Us by David Giustozzi
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Notes
Please note that as an Amazon Affiliate, I may earn a small commission on the sale of any of these recommended resources.
Everyday Cooking for Everyday People Like Us by David Giustozzi: https://amzn.to/437OhVQ