[1] Homemade nachos (photo © Chee Hong | Wikimedia).

[2] You can make them as simple or as layered as you like. This verson has both salsa and crema (sour cream—photo © Natasha Bhogal | Unsplash).

November 6th is National Nachos Day. Who doesn’t enjoy a hearty plate of nachos for a snack, or even for the main course? They’re the easiest Mexican dish to make at home.

At the most minimal, you can simply cover tortilla chips with shredded Cheddar or other semi-hard cheese, with or without salsa; then use the microwave or broiler to melt the cheese.

Serve the nachos with a beer or a Margarita, of course.
 
 
NACHOS FULLY LOADED

You can get creative with your nachos, adding anything you have on hand. You can add a couple of extra ingredients, or go fully loaded.

Our favorite add-ons to nachos:

 
For visual and flavor interest, use a mix of yellow and blue corn tortillas (for Independence Day, use red, white and blue).

And for a more legitimate main course, here’s a recipe for Nacho Stuffed Shells, “nacho pasta.”
 
 
FOOD TRIVIA

In Mexico, nachos are called totopos, the word for tortilla chips (totopos).

French fries, potato chips and even popcorn are sometimes substituted for the tortilla chips.

Nachos are an example of necessity being the mother of invention.

As the story goes, in 1943 a group of Army wives from Fort Duncan, in Eagle Pass, Texas, had gone over the border to Piedras Negras, Mexico, on a shopping trip. By the time they arrived at the Victory Club (Club Victoria) restaurant, the kitchen was closed.

But the accommodating maître d’hôtel, Ignacio “Nacho” Anaya (Nacho is a nickname for Ignacio), threw together a snack for the ladies from what was available in the kitchen: tortillas and cheese.

He cut the tortillas into triangles, added shredded Cheddar cheese, quickly heated them and garnished the dish with sliced jalapeño chiles.

When asked what the tasty dish was called, he answered, “Nacho’s especiales,” Nacho’s Special. It was an instant hit.
 
 

Should it be chocolate, vanilla, mocha or another flavor?

Should it be cream-cheese based or buttercream?

Should it be penuche frosting, made with brown sugar?

Why decide on one, when you can have two?

Thanks to Yummy Cupcakes in Los Angeles—one of our favorite cupcake bakeries anywhere—for the suggestion that you can use two types of frosting on one cake or cupcake.

The red velvet cupcake in the photo is crowned with both cocoa and vanilla cream cheese frostings. The duo adds even more excitement to an already exciting treat.

So don’t be single-minded: Enjoy two frostings.

Another benefit of two frostings: You get to lick two bowls!
Find more of our favorite cake and cupcake recipes.

Ceviche, raw fish or shellfish cured by acidic citrus juice, has been popular in Latin America for many centuries. In the early 1500s, the Spanish conquistadors wrote of an Inca dish of raw fish marinated in chicha, a fermented maize beer that dates back some 2,000 years.

The concept evolved into ceviche (pronounced say-VEE-chay) (here’s the history of ceviche). There is something about fresh, homemade ceviche that is refreshing and satisfying, as well as low in calories and healthful (here’s why ceviche is so good for you).

We love the tangy twist of lime, the briny hit of fish or seafood, the sprightly cilantro and creamy avocado.

Throughout South America, the mix of fish or seafood changes depending on the local catch and regional preferences.

This recipe can be used with any fish or seafood. It is courtesy of chef Giovanna Garcia and I Love Blue Sea, an e-tailer of premier seafood, where the team enjoys their ceviche with raw tuna or trout.

The recipe is so easy to make, you’ve just got to try it. Warning: You may become a ceviche addict.

Ingredients

MacFarland Springs Trout. Photo courtesy I Love Blue Sea.

Preparation

1. CUT trout into pieces and place in a glass dish or bowl. Cover trout with lime juice and let sit in refrigerator for at least an hour. Mix the rest of the ingredients in a large bowl.

2. DRAIN the lime juice from the fish and add to the bowl. Toss to combine.

3. TASTE and season with sea salt and pepper.

4. SERVE with crackers or tortilla chips, in a lettuce cup or with mixed greens.
Here’s THE NIBBLE’s ceviche recipe for mixing and matching your favorite ingredients into your dream ceviche.

Find more of our favorite fish recipes.