Top-your-own Tostadas
Kiddos in the Kitchen – Kids’ Activities
Veggie Variety
Don’t forget to add a little variety to your life! Every fruit and every vegetable has a unique combination of colors, textures, flavors, and nutrients to make life enjoyable and to make your body stronger. Vegetables can be big or small, soft or crunchy. Some vegetables you eat raw, and some you cook. Some vegetables you eat the leaves and some the root. Below is a link to a downloadable coloring page of vegetables for you to enjoy.
Tasty Tortillas
Tortillas have been a staple food in North and Central American cultures since pre-Columbian times. Corn tortillas come in a variety of colors and sizes and make a delicious base for tacos, enchiladas, and tostadas. The Co-op sells brands of tortillas that are made locally, including De Casa Fine Foods and Three Sisters Nixtamal. Below is a link to some great historical and process information and videos about making tortillas.
Now Let’s Make the Recipe!
To say that cooking for kids can be a challenge is an understatement. Their tastes change day-to-day; they hate spice and they don’t like texture. With kids, simpler is better. One solution to make things easier is to serve dinner like a salad bar, with toppings and choices that they choose to add laid out. It may be a few more dishes in the end but everyone will get what they want on their plate with a lot less drama, and it gives them the independence they crave. Dinners that work well with this concept include baked potatoes, rice bowls, pasta, tacos, and these tasty tostadas! Depending on your kids ages, they might be able to set the table, shred the cheese or slice the olives while you do the other cooking.
- 6 corn tortillas
- Olive oil, for brushing tortillas
- 1 can refried beans
- ½ cup cheese, shredded
Optional Toppings:
- Cooked ground beef
- Tomato, diced
- Red bell pepper, diced
- Scallions, sliced
- Avocado, sliced
- Lettuce, shredded
- Cabbage, shredded
- Cilantro, minced
- Black olives
- Salsa
- Sour cream
Instructions:
Brush tortillas with olive oil and bake 10 min. at 300°F. Flip and brush with more oil. Bake 5 min. longer, until crisp. Heat refried beans; spread each tortilla lightly with beans. Sprinkle with cheese. Broil until cheese melts.
Top with toppings of your choice. Let the kids pick and choose what looks tasty to them. If you want to require a minimum number of vegetables, feel free to institute some house rules!