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Its too hot to grill out!  Stay at home, catch up on your DVR, and enjoy a new American TV dinner.

As the 4th of July approaches, I was thinking of sharing a recipe for ribs, or wings, or maybe even a couple of my favorite burger recipes.  But quite honestly, those dishes are just too much work.  After 3 days in a concessions trailer in 100 degree heat, all I want is to sit in the A/C, turn on the tube, and veg out until its time to do it again.  So were going to talk about my favorite TV food, the American classic, Nachos! 

First, we have to talk about the ingredients, chips & cheese sauce.  It makes no difference what types you use .  It depends solely on your tastes.  I prefer to start my nachos with yellow corn tortilla chips and Rotel dip, that’s just what I like.  But you may prefer white corn tortillas and canned nacho cheese sauce, and that’s ok too.  You can find cheese sauces in any grocery that come ready for the microwave.  Tostitos makes a good one that can be found anywhere, but you can also find local restaurants packaging and selling them in the dairy case. 

Also, don’t be afraid to try something on a nacho.  A kitchen mentor once told me, “if it tastes good to you, someone else will like it as well.“  If you like the taste of it, chances are it’ll make a good nacho topping.  I’ve had fish, BBQ, even pickles on nachos in restaurants around the country.  Pickles?  Well, they can keep those, but the fish and BBQ nachos left me wanting more! 

I know what some of you are thinking, “Nachos aren’t American!”  Well your wrong.  They are fast, easy, very, very inexpensive.  That sounds pretty American to me. 

So here is my favorite nacho recipe, just in time for the 4th. 

Ingredients:
Chips
Cheese sauce
1 lb ground beef
1 can ranch style or refried beans
1 small onion, chopped
1 large tomato diced
1 jalapeno, diced
1 sprig cilantro, minced
Juice of 1 lime.
1 tbsp salt
2 tsp chili powder
1 tsp cumin
Sour Cream
Pickled Jalapeno slices

Brown the ground beef with ½ the onion, all the salt, chili powder, and cumin.  Drain, set aside.  Warm the beans in the microwave or a small pan. They should be heated through but not boiling. 

In a small bowl, mix tomato, jalapeno, cilantro, lime juice, and the rest of the onion.  Sprinkle with salt & pepper.  (Congratulations, you’ve just made Pico de Gallo)

Layer your chips with cheese sauce, beef and beans, then another layer of cheese.  Next, a layer of Pico de Gallo, jalapeno slices, and top it all off with a dollop of Sour Cream. 

I’ve found these taste best laying on the couch with the plate on my chest and the remote in my other hand.  Enjoy!