You Better Get Hip to the Clean Up Woman

Just as teen girls currently dress like their moms, I cook as if I'm in my mom's depression era of the 1930's. I don't like to waste food and always try to use what I buy.  Chicken soups are great for this purpose because you can throw in the last of your jarred hot sauce, vegetable scraps, herbs that need used up and put in fillers, like rice or grains.  This is a great way to use up corn tortillas, to thicken and add a little corny flavor. 

I Just Came Back to Let You Know

Beef Tostadas 

This year's food theme highlights simple but perfect foods.  The tostada, for example, is a treasure in its simplicity.  It's a sin not to make them more often.  Toast a corn tortilla and top it with just about anything.  But put a party on top and it becomes a festive dinner, worthy of celebration.  Instead of refried beans as a base, I used guacamole this time for the glue that holds it all together.  

This is a very common version but try mashed black beans smeared up with sour cream and diced pickled jalapenos, some crunchy onion and cabbage on top, a little cotija cheese and a squeeze of lime.  This is a delight you have not experienced. Such a treat!   Meat is not needed to get your creative-genius on with this easy vessel.  Use the no-fail template of a soft smear on the toasted shell bottom (beans, guac, yogurt, sweet potato mash, etc) topped with something crispy cold or cheesy,meat and creamy.  

I am guilty as anyone of sticking to my beloved traditional pairings, but now is the time to step out of our comfort zones and make these work with whatever seasonal vegetables we need to use up and are available.

Lefty the cat making the most of lack of birds outside