November 6th is National Nachos Day #NationalNachosDay and I need to let Charlie know I plan on making Ground Beef Nacho’s for dinner this evening for myself. Before you ask what about Charlie and David I have no, clue what they want for dinner but knowing Charlie if David makes the Nacho’s he may want them with me.
Before he believes his dad is the only one who can make Nacho’s which Charlie likes to call Dad’s Famous Nacho’s when I’m the one who taught David how to make Nacho’s. Instead of fussing or arguing I will #Pickmybattles and let Charlie believe David came up with the recipe then I don’t have to cook.
On National Nacho Day we celebrate everyone’s favorite snack no matter how you make Nacho’s. Which could be Chicken or Beef? Beans or Salsa? Cheddar or that yellow stuff they top chips with at football games that taste so yummy. You will find out there is no one specific way to prepare Nacho’s as long as it has two main ingredients: Chips and as much Cheese as you can pile on!
Did you know 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, added Shredded Cheddar and Jalapeño Peppers and started a new tradition which bears his name to this day. Thanks Nacho because where would Super Bowl parties be without Nacho’s?
Speaking of which, there is 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 rather simple dish into an American tradition.
Note: Piedras Negras continues to celebrate “The International Nacho Festival” each October — complete with live music, art, cultural activities, and a “giant Nacho” contest. Sounds like a #RaodTrip to me. Would you like to come with me?
National Nacho Day Festivities
- I’ sure you’ve heard of a Chili Cookoffs, Barbecue Competitions, and even Bake-offs, so why not an annual Vacho competition? Well, you’ll be happy to know that at the Port Jefferson Station in New York, they actually do hold an annual Nacho Fest, but you don’t have to go there to experience it! What with the many ways you can serve up Nacho’s, invite some of your most talented Tortilla artists over to bring their best recipe to the table.
- At this point, Nachos have become just as much a movie theater staple as Popcorn. On National Nachos Day, try taking in a movie while skipping on the Popcorn. Instead, when you hit the concession stand, ask for Nachos and don’t forget the extra cheese!
- There is 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 those Chips on a cookie sheet and space them apart. Cover each chip with Cheese and bake. Plate the Chips and top with your favorite extras. You’ll guarantee those bottom Chips get all the Cheesy love they deserve. Or you could do like my family does lay down a layer of Chips add Cheese and the other fixings you want then another layer of Chips and more Cheese and fixings then one more layer and cover it in Cheese and the remining fixings and every Chip should be covered this way.
Why People Love National Nacho Day
It’s hard to really classify what Nachos actually are because the 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. Nacho’s are perfect for either lunch or dinner, and Nachos are also only one fried Egg away from being a breakfast staple as well!
I have a question for you. Is there any celebration where Nachos aren’t welcome? Seriously, Super Bowl, Fourth of July, 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! Don’t be that person who shows up with a five-dollar bag of plain Potato Chips; whip out that Salsa and make a statement!
It doesn’t have to be all about the Guacamole and Hot Sauce. You can make Nachos that fit any style of cuisine. How about giving your Nachos a Mediterranean flare by subbing out those Tortillas and bBeans for Pita Chips and Hummus? if your a fan of Italian food? Try crisping up Pizza Dough and topping it with Marinara and Mozzarella! When it comes to Nacho’s the possibilities are endless.
Recipe for Ground Beef Nacho’s
Prep Time: 25 mins Cook Time: 20 mins Total Time: 45 mins Servings: 12
Ingredients
- aluminum foil
- 1 pound ground beef
- ¾ cup water
- 1 (1.25 ounce) package taco seasoning mix
- 1 (18 ounce) package restaurant-style tortilla chips
- 1 cup shredded sharp Cheddar cheese, or more to taste
- 1 (15.5 ounce) can refried beans
- 1 (10 ounce) can pitted black olives, drained and chopped
- 1 cup salsa
- 1 cup sour cream, or more to taste
- 4 green onions, diced
- 1 (4 ounce) can sliced jalapeno peppers, drained
Directions
- Gather all ingredients.
- Preheat the oven broiler. Set the oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
- Cook and stir ground beef in a skillet over medium heat until meat is crumbly and no longer pink, 5 to 10 minutes. Drain excess grease. Stir in water and taco seasoning mix; simmer until beef mixture has thickened, 8 to 10 minutes.
- Spread tortilla chips on the prepared baking sheet. Top with Cheddar cheese, then dot with refried beans and ground beef mixture.
- Broil in the preheated oven until cheese is melted, 3 to 5 minutes. Top nachos with your choice of fixins including olives, salsa, sour cream, green onions, and jalapeño peppers.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
