Here's the story on how the idea for this blog came about. It all started in a hotel room. At a casino. In Mt Pleasant, Michigan. And a plate full of the most enormous room service nachos any of us had ever seen. Truly one of those "you had to be there moments" but, suffice it to say the hours of hilarity that ensued will never be forgotten. My sister (we had a name for her in high school: Stupid Judy) donned the nacho bounty "Littly Ricky's Cuban Nachos" and the result was several dozen TV show themed foods (like Things Chicken Fingers and Herman Muenster's Chicken in a Casket). And thus, this blog was born. It all just goes to show you how important a food group nachos truly are. And believe you me, I have eaten my share to recognize the good, the bad and the ugly ( ie, anything with liquid "cheese" like those found at stadiums). Yes, I consider myself to be a nacho afficiando. The best have a combination of stewed chicken or beef, black beans, roasted corn, black olives and enough jalapenos to give it a kick without setting off a three alarm fire in your mouth. Nachos are really the quintessential bar food (and, as so happens, room service as well). Pictured are one of my faves - Horns Bar on Mackinac Island. The key to making nachos at home is to layer the chips and cheese - don't only put the cheese on top - and to bake, not broil. Broiling burns the chips faster than you can say McGillicuddy.
Little Ricky Ricardo - in some ways the original Cousin Oliver. Written into the finest television comedy show in the history of television comedies, I Love Lucy, as cover for Lucille Ball's own pregnancy, Little Ricky never really fit into the show's premise. Beginning with the fact that the network censors would not allow the use of the word "pregnant" on the show, Lucy had to cleverly tell Ricky that she was expecting. Tried as she might, she ended up at The Tropicana Nightclub and requesting the song "Were Having a Baby, My Baby and Me" as the way of letting big Ricky know a Little Ricky was on the way. After the birth, the Ricardos went out of their way to avoid Little Ricky, always conveniently leaving with the the old lady neighbor Mrs. Trumball - even when they drove across country with Fred and Ethel on the the big trip to California (granted, who could stalk William Holden with a kid in tow?). From 1951 until 1957, Lucy revolutionized television, from on the first on-air pregnancy to the birth of the rerun. Seriously, where would we be without reruns (and no, I don't mean the character from "What's Happening") ? I hope we never run out of reasons to love Lucy.
The Recipe:
Restaurant quality tortilla chips (no crap chips, like tostitos)
Chicken or beef, cooked and simmered in taco sauce or some other mexican seasoning
Shredded cheese, preferably a mix of Monterrey jack, sharp cheddar, Asadero and Queso Blanco
Roasted corn (can be salsa, but not dirty dancing)
Black beans
Black olives, sliced
Tomato, chopped
On a cooking sheet or round pizza pan layer ingredients (except tomato) evenly distributing the chips, cheeses, meat and veg. Bake in a 400 degree oven just until cheese is melted (5-8 minutes). Remove from oven, garnish with tomato, crack open some cervazas and enjoy. Serves Lucy, Desi, Desi Jr and Lucie Jr.
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