$5 Dinner Challenge -- Nachos

I've posted this before, but I wanted to share it with $5 Dinner Challenge over at $5 Dinners.  I also wanted to add some thrifty ways to make these so the cost is cut back.


Nachos

1/2 ground beef (80 cents)
1 cup refried black beans (40 cents)
1/4 cup taco sauce (15 cents)
1 cup tomatoes (free from garden -- frozen or 60 cents)
1/4 cup onion (10 cents)
1 tsp dried cilantro (5 cents)
1/2 to 1 cup cheese depending how much you like ($1)
Taco shells ($1)
 2 to 4 Tbsp Veg. oil (20 cents)


Total: $3.70 to $4.30

1. Heat vegetable oil on medium in small skillet.  Add taco shells for 20 seconds each side. Set aside to cool.
2. Ground beef. Drain.
3. Place tortilla shells on platter or casserole dish.
4. Mix together ground beef with black beans and taco sauce.
5. Mix together tomatoes, onion and cilantro. Blend in food processor if desired.
6. Place ground beef/bean mixture on top of tortilla shells. Pile toward middle.
7.  Place tomato mixture on top of beef/bean mixture.
8. Sprinkle cheese over all.
9. Bake on 350 degrees for 10 minutes or until cheese is melted.



**I use corn taco shells that are about $1.20 for a 12 pack.  I will use about eight shells and fry them in a little oil about 15 seconds each side.  This gives the shells a really good crisp taste.  I simply break the taco shells a part into tortilla chip size.**


**Homemade black refried beans make this meal a little cheaper, yet.  Here's a good tutorial on how make dried beans.  To make them refried, warm up in skillet and add fat.  I added shortening, but you could use butter, oil, bacon fat.  Just keep adding more fat until they are mashed about a 1/4 cup.  They will not look like canned refried beans.  When you add the taco sauce with the ground beef they come together really well.  The taste is great, too**

This post is also linked to Life as a Mom recipe swap!