Burning Down the House

So in an attempt to use the wonderful items we got at the Winchester Farmers Market, I decided to make Tostadas. Now, usually, I would have many other ingredients like vegetables and such but I was winging it so I just used what I had in the house.


I started off with the fresh tortillas we got at the market (about 30 of them for $1.50). They came loosely wrapped in paper and warm. We couldn't help but eat a couple in the car. Chris and I were impressed, the girl not so much. If I had butter to spread on them right there, I would have been in heaven.





I've never fried tortillas before so after a quick google search I was on my way. The oil was supposed to be 350 degrees but since I didn't have a thermometer I guessed. Frying was messy (as shown in the picture my stove top was an absolute disaster). They crisp up quickly so not paying attention wasn't an option.







After a couple of chewy messes, I got the temp just right. About 45 seconds in the oil, turning constantly, drained on some paper towels, and lightly salted resulted in a pile of awesome.






While I was cooking the tortillas, I fried up a couple of hamburgers I was saving for the grill with a chopped onion and taco seasoning. I broke them up enough to pass for taco meat. I also cooked a can of La Preferida (the BEST refried beans from a can).






I layered the crunchy tortillas with the beans and meat and some quesadilla cheese we also got at the market. I place the layered tostadas on a baking sheet covered in parchment paper and placed them under the broiler.






Now, I am deathly afraid of fire. More specifically, I'm afraid of catching on fire and becoming a flaming ball of death. Its an OCD causing phobia that I'm better equipped with handling the older I get (I no longer get up at 2am to make sure the stove is turned off).

I should have known better.

About 5 minutes after placing the tostadas under the broiler I opened up the oven to see my dinner on FIRE! The parchment paper that I placed them on is aflame. I'm usually pretty good in emergency situations. This time...not so much. I proceeded to dance around the kitchen like a crazy person shrieking and looking for the fire extinguisher. Chris calmly found a pot holder, pulled the fireball out of the oven, and in 2 breaths blew out what I was sure would be the death of me and the family.
I can laugh now but I was sure we were all going to end up on fire and as crispy as the tortillas.

Thankfully, I decided to only make a test bunch for the 1st batch so we didn't end up losing too much. Chris and I ate the survivor while the kid was distracted.






Round 2: I got out the Silpat and did it right.










This time we ate some of the left over fried tortillas with some beans while we were waiting for the cheese to melt. It was so tasty!







Finally, the cheese was melted sufficiently enough for us to eat and, I have to say, I was impressed. The quesadilla cheese was mild but melted beautifully, the browner tortillas kept their crunch under the broiler, and the whole family was impressed. It was super easy, took about 45 minutes from start to finish (minus the whole inferno thing), and tasted really good. Next time, I'll get some vegetables to go along with it, some wackamoley, some sour cream and try baking the tortillas to cut some of the fat/calories.