Tostadas Anyone?

 

Here’s a meal that hits close to home.

Growing up, my mom and dad always cooked dinner for my sisters and I, which I realize now is astounding considering how busy they were! And naturally, growing up, as kids we want to help. Whether it be mixing something in a bowl, setting a timer, or measuring out ingredients, we made sure we were the best mixers, setters and measures around. Now, one of the things my parents always let me and my sisters do was mash beans, mainly because there was little chance of a spill and no sharp objects involved. And so, that is the inspiration for the following, simple and delicious recipe.

Tostadas are a traditional Mexican dish that are quite delicious and incredibly simple! Now, all you’re going to need is:

• Tostadas (as much as you’d like which you can buy at your local grocery stores in the bread aisle)
• A can of beans (or as many cans as you like, and I personally prefer pinto, but you can use whichever you prefer)
• Whatever toppings you like!

Now, all you’re going to have to do is get your tostadas and lay them out (you can even make your own!). Next, you’ll take out a frying pan and pour the beans into it while heating them up on a medium temperature. Then, take a bean masher and, simply mash the beans. Once the beans have been cooked (for about 5-10 minutes), you’ll just take as much beans as you’d like and spread them out over the tostadas. Additionally, one of the great things about beans are their health benefits. And finally, all that’s left to do is add whatever toppings you’d like: cheese, meat, avocado, lettuce, tomatoes, the world is your oyster! If you’re looking for some more creative ideas, check out this article: Tostadas Can be Topped with Anything.

So, there you have it. This is an incredibly simple meal that you can make on any day of the week and, if you want to get others involved, it can be a fun meal to make together!

Hope you enjoy, and feel free to share how the recipe goes for you.

Eat and Sleep Always,

Katie

 

 

Crock-Pot Fix

So, let me guess… it’s going to be a busy week? Same here! And the last thing you want to worry about is what you’re going to make for dinner.

Well, I’ve come to save the day! This is literally one of the easiest meals I’ve ever made, and uses one of my favorite cooking tools… the Crock-Pot!

There are so many easy, effortless Crock-Pot meals, and this, by far, is one of the best! And for those looking for other easy Crock-Pot meals, check out my board on Pinterest. Or, if you’re up to spending a little more time on your Crock-Pot creation, I definitely recommend Food Network, you can never go wrong!

Now, there may be a few individuals who do not own a Crock-Pot, but I guarantee you, it is an investment worth making. And for fellow college students on a tight budget, have no fear! Guess where I bought my Crock-Pot? … At a garage sale! That’s right, I bought my slow cooker for $5 at a garage sale and made sure I cleaned it thoroughly. Definitely one of my best purchases. It works like a dream! And for those who can’t find a good, local garage sale, check out Amazon for some good deals, there are quite a few under $20!

Now, as I was saying, this week I experimented a little with something I found online and it worked wonderfully! Now, to make this meal all you really need is two simple things:

2 lbs of Your Choice of Meat

Marinade Packet (as shown in picture)

And that’s it!

(Now, personally, I’ve only tried chicken, so I would recommend it as it turned out very well.)

So, all that you do is place the raw chicken in the Crock-Pot, then take the seasoning packet and empty it in a separate bowl. Mix the seasoning as instructed on the bag (water, oil and vinegar), and then pour it all over the chicken in the Crock-Pot. Put the lid on, put the Crock-Pot on high for about 4-6 hours, or until the chicken starts to fall apart. Warning: it’s going to smell pretty amazing.

And that’s it! Then you’re free to enjoy as you please. I placed it on top of rice, which was excellent. And, you’ll more than likely have left overs, which is a huge plus! My roommate and I have been making tacos with the rest of the chicken, and it’s been as delicious as when it first came out!

So, there you have it! Hope you enjoy! And if you have any questions or want to share how the recipe worked out for you, feel free to leave a comment!

Eat and Sleep Always,

Katie