Super Nacho's

Super Nacho's have been the traditional meal on Super Bowl Sunday at our house for years!  We've had them that day for so long our older kids think it's an unbreakable tradition.  I don't love watching football, but I do love fixing dinner and hanging out with the family while they watch.  I first started making this dish layered in a 9x13 pan.  Now we just set all the ingredients out buffet style and everyone builds their own.  The pre-assembled dish works really well for taking to a potluck but the build-it-yourself style is nice here because I LOVE all the toppings, and my little girls prefer just the basics.  I don't see any reason to waste perfectly good onions, tomatoes, and sour cream by making them pick it off. :o)   

This year I thought I'd change it up a little and serve Hawaiian Haystacks for Super Bowl Sunday.  Similar build-it-yourself meal.  The idea did not go over well.  Only 2 of us voted for haystacks - and they're really good!  The others insisted we ALWAYS have Super Nacho's.  So - Super Nacho's it was. :)  

I make my own refried beans.  They're super easy but you do have to think ahead.  Substitute cans of refried beans if you prefer.  I will put the recipe for my refried beans on here just in case you'd like to try doing them yourself.

Super Nacho's

Lots of refried beans (2 29oz cans or 1 pkg of pinto beans made into refried beans)

2 -3 cups shredded cheese

1 lb. bulk sausage, fried and crumbled

1 can olives, sliced

1 small onion or bunch of green onions, diced

2 tomatoes, chopped

salsa, optional

Sour Cream optional

Guacamole optional

1-2 bags of tortilla chips 

If you're preassembling, spray a 9x13 pan with cooking spray.  Spread refried beans on bottom.  Add each of the next ingredients in their own layer:  shredded cheese, cooked sausage, olives, onion.  Heat in oven for 30 minutes or until warmed good clear through.  Add remaining ingredients in layers just before serving.  Serve with chips.

If you're doing a build-it-yourself style nacho...  heat refried beans and then set out other ingredients in the order listed (for a convenient layering sequence) Serve with chips.

Joy's Refried Beans

2-4 C. dry pinto beans, cleaned and rinsed

8 C. water

Put beans in large pot and cover with water.  Soak overnight. Add more water if necessary to cover about 1 inch above the beans.  Bring beans to boil, turn down to simmer and then let simmer for 2-3 hours. OR - clean and rinse your beans, put them and the water in a crockpot.  Set on low overnight & then turn up to high to cook about 4 hours.  I like my beans for this nice & soft. We like our beans smooth rather than chunky...  Put beans a few cups at a time in your blender or food processor and blend until smooth.  Pour into large saucepan.  Heat over medium heat until bubbly.  Add 1-2 tsp. salt, 1 tsp. chili powder, 1/2 tsp. garlic powder, 1/2 tsp. onion powder, black pepper to taste.  Simmer a few minutes to let the flavor of the spices develop.  Cool slightly before serving.

Joy's Notes:  Usually refried beans have fat in them.  If I decide to do that, I add bacon fat.  It does taste best that way.  Other than salt, all seasonings are optional... I just add the ones listed because that's the way we like them.  Experiment and find what you like best.  Once in a while I add a tsp. of chicken bouillon.  If you want your beans chunky, put some fat or oil in your pan, add a few cups of beans and mash as they heat, with a potato masher - put the rest of the beans in the blender and blend smooth... add to the pan of mashed beans.  These beans freeze really well.

Next time you want a fun, easy dinner, consider serving these Super Nacho's!  We've done them for a group as small as 6 and as large as 50. Easy assembly, most of it can be done ahead.   Enjoy!