This week's meal...

I skipped two days!!! Lawda mercy! Ah, well, I've been busy.

So, this week's meal is a staple in our family; I've probably had a thousand of 'em (two within the last 24 hours). They are only made properly with my dad's chili bean recipe* (for which there isn't really a "recipe"). Anyway, it's pretty simple fair, but it contains all the food groups (carbs, fats, proteins and chili), and is very filling. And, for some reason, they're always bigger than you intend them to be.

Haystacks
Place a handful of tortilla chips on your plate (not Fritos, please... if you use Fritos, the Mexican Food Fairy will kill you in your sleep). Ladle beans onto chips and sprinkle with cheese. Top with lettuce (iceberg is best for this... it's crunchy!), tomatoes and onions. Add, to taste, salsa or hot sauce.

Try not to make a mess while eating.

*Chili Beans
(This applies to our crockpot size... YM, as they say, MV)
Rinse 5 cups of Pinto beans, cover with water and soak overnight.

In the morning, rinse again and transfer to crockpot with enough water to cover. Add, to taste (like I said, this has never been written down), chopped garlic and onion, salt, ground chili (you can buy this, or the dried red peppers to grind yourself, in any proper Mexican market) and butter.

Cook until soft (but not mushy), stirring occasionally. Add water as needed.