Chalupas

Heat a couple of inches of oil in a skillet on about medium heat. When it’s hot, drop in a tortilla.

Let each tortilla cook until they are crispy on both sides, but not brown. You might need to adjust the oil temperature if they are cooking too quickly and are getting brown on you.

Drain each and place on a cookie sheet. Spread beans on each tortilla, putting an equal amount on each one. (Any kind of refried beans will do.)

Top each with a handful of cheese. Don’t skimp! (Like the beans, just about any kind of cheese that you like with refried beans will do. Cheddar, colby jack, etc.)

Place cookie sheet on the middle rack in the oven, and set to broil. Broil for a few minutes, watching carefully. You want the cheese nice and melted, and even a little brown. These go from unmelted to burnt amazingly fast though, so you really need to watch!

Pull them from oven and enjoy plain or topped with anything you can think of!

Note: see the “Related Blog Post” link, which is a post with step-by-step pictures, and a short discussion on tortilla thickness.