Good evening, welcome to our series sharing Food Holidays: November 6th, 2021. It’s to bad David is working a double today or he could have made Daddy’s Favorite Nacho’s for Charlie. Even though I taught David how to make them I get no credit because as far as Charlie is concerned its David’s recipe. Which is fine with me because I don’t have to cook dinner when they want Nacho’s.
November 6 is National Nachos Day! On this Holiday we celebrate everyone’s favorite snack Nacho’s. No matter how you make Nacho’s using Chicken, Beef or Beans and Salsa? Cheddar Cheese there’s no specific way to make Nachos as long as they has two main ingredients: Chips and Cheese.
HISTORY OF NATIONAL NACHOS DAY
Any discussion about the History of Nachos has to begin in the Mexican border town of Piedras Negras — just west of the Rio Grande — across which sits Eagle Pass, Texas. One day in 1943 the wives of U.S. Soldiers stationed at Ft. Duncan dropped in on a Piedras Negras hotspot called the Victory Club.
Unfortunately the restaurant had closed for the day.
Still, a manager named Ignacio “Nacho” Anaya decided to throw a dish together based on whatever ingredients he still had left. Among them? Cheese and Tortillas. Anaya sliced the Fried Tortillas into Triangles, then he added Shredded Cheddar Cheese and Jalapeño Peppers which started a new tradition bearing his name to this day.
Speaking of which, an alternative take on Nachos — using the now familiar Cheese Sauce — appeared at a Texas Rangers baseball game at Arlington Stadium in 1976. Two years later the iconic ABC Sportscaster Howard Cosell mentioned the term “Nachos” during a Monday Night Football Game — helping to turn this dish into an American tradition.
Five facts about Nachos
- Piedras Negras continues to celebrate “The International Nacho Festival” each October — complete with live Music, Art, Cultural Activities, and a “giant Nacho” contest.
2. Nachos were invented near the Amercian/Mexican border in Piedras Negras, Mexico.
3. The term “Nacho” is a common nickname for Ignacio which was invented in 1943 by Ignacio “Nacho” Anaya.
4. Nachos aren’t Mexican food, they’re Tex-Mex.
5. The first known appearance of the word “Nachos” in English dates to 1949, from the book A Taste of Texas.
NATIONAL NACHOS DAY ACTIVITIES
- There is Chili cookoffs, Barbecue competitions, and Bake-offs, so why not a Nacho competition? Well, you’ll be happy to know that at the Port Jefferson Station in New York, they do hold an annual Nacho Fest. But you don’t have to go there to experience this Festival! Create your own Nacho Cook-Off.
- Nachos have become just as much a Movie Theater staple as Popcorn. This National Nachos Day, try taking in a Movie while skipping on the Popcorn. Order Nachos at the Concession Stand.
- One flaw many people note about Nachos is that you can only cover so many Tortilla Chips with cheese. Eventually, you’re left with the bottom chips, which might as well have been left in the bag where you found them. This doesn’t have to be the case! Next time, place the extra Chips on a Cookie Sheet. Space them apart and cover each Chip with Cheese and bake.
WHY INDIVIDUALS LOVE NATIONAL NACHOS DAY
- Nacho’s are perfect for any party were there any celebration including the Super Bowl, Fourth of July, or Birthdays. If you’re bringing Nachos, you might as well throw on a cape while you’re at it because you just became the hero of the party!
- Nacho’s can be topped with just about anything it doesn’t have to be all about the Guacamole or Hot Sauce. You can create Nachos that fit any style of Cuisine. How about giving Nachos a Mediterranean flare by subbing out Tortillas and Refried Beans for Pita Chips and Hummus? If your a fan of Italian food crisp up Pizza Dough and top with Marinara and Mozzarella! T
- t’s hard to really classify what Nachos actually are. The Tortilla Chips would lead you to believe they’re a snack. But what with all those toppings, how can Nacho’s not be a meal? That’s the great thing about Nachos, they can be either.
Recipe Ground Beef, Refried Beans and Cheese Nachos
- 1 pound Ground Beef
- 1 (1.25 ounce) package Taco Seasoning Mix ( we use Ole El Paso)
- ¾ cup Water
- 1 (18 ounce) package restaurant-style Tortilla Chips (We use On the Border Scoops)
- 1 cup shredded sharp Cheddar Cheese, or your favorite flavor of Cheese
- 1 (15.5 ounce) can Refried Beans
- 1 cup Salsa
- Sour Cream to taste
- 1 (10 ounce) can pitted Black Olives, drained and chopped
- 4 Green Onions, diced
- 1 (4 ounce) can sliced Jalapeno Peppers, drained
Directions
- Step 1. Cook and stir the Ground Beef in a skillet over medium heat. Then cook until the Ground Meat is crumbly and no longer pink. Cooking takes about 5 to 10 minutes. Drain the Excess grease. Stir in a package of Taco Seasoning or Seasonings of your choice with Water and simmer until the Ground Beef mixture has thickened, 8 to 10 minutes.
- Step 2. Set the oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source and preheat the broiler. Line a baking sheet with Aluminum Foil.
- Step 3. Spread the Tortilla Chips on the prepared baking sheet. Top the Chips with Cheddar Cheese and the Refried Beans and Ground Beef mixture.
- Step 4. Broil in a preheated oven until the Cheese is melted. Watch carefully to prevent burning, cooking for about 3 to 5 minutes.
- Step 5. Serve the Nachos. Then let everyone add Salsa, Sour Cream, Black Olives, Green Onions, or Jalapeno Peppers if they want them. Charlie and I don’t use any of this but at times David does.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
