The recipe for the minestrone soup only used a half-pound of the hamburger. Instead of just making a couple of hamburgers try turning the hamburger into another meal. The tostados are really yummy and very filling.

Heating Tortillas

Place a tortilla flat on a microwave safe plate. Cover the tortilla with a damp paper towel. Repeat until you have as many tortillas as you need on the place. Microwave for 30 seconds to one minute. The more tortillas you have stacked, the longer it takes to warm them.

Once the tortillas are warm, remove from the microwave and place in a Tortilla Warmer or wrap the plate of tortillas with a warm damp dishtowel. If it is going to be quite some time before you are ready to serve the tortillas, you can wrap them in a warm damp dishtowel and put in the over at 250 degrees.

Tostados

Ingredients
4 corn tortillas
1/2 pound hamburger
1/4 onion, diced
1 small can enchilada sauce
1 can refried beans
1 tomato diced
1 1/2 cup cheddar cheese
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 1/2 cups lettuce, cut up
1/2 cup black olives (optional)
4 teaspoons sour cream (optional)
Guacamole (optional)
salsa (optional)

Preparation
Take one can of refried beans and add a cup of cheddar cheese. Stir well. Put in microwave safe covered dish and heat through. Turn the dish a couple of times while the beans are getting hot. Depending on the container it will take about 5-8 minutes to heat through. When hot remove from the microwave.

In a small skillet, add hamburger, half of the diced onion, salt and pepper. When the pink is gone, drain the hamburger. Put back on the stove and add 1/4-1/2 cup of enchilada sauce. The more enchilada sauce you add the hotter the hamburger will become. Let the sauce get bubbly and turn the skillet off.

Place the warm tostado on a plate. Spread a layer of the beans onto the tostado. Place 1/4 of the hamburger on the top of beams. Continue the layers by adding the lettuce and then add a sprinkling of tomatoes, onions, olives and cheese. Place a dollop of sour cream and guacamole on top. Serve salsa on the side.

Avocado Tostadas

Ingredients
4 whole wheat tortillas
1 avocado, peeled and cut into bite size pieces
1 can black beans, warmed
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 cup Mexican blend cheese
picante sauce or salsa
lettuce cut up
½ cup onion, diced
1 tomato, diced
jalapenos (optional)

Preparation
Warm the tortillas as shown above.
In a saucepan, add the black beans and chili powder. When heated through remove from heat.
Layer each tortilla with picante sauce, black beans, lettuce, avocado, cheese, tomatoes, and jalapenos.
Serve salsa on the side.