A Month of Breakfast - Huevos Rancheros

Welcome to a month of breakfast. Start your day with the The 99 Cent Chef's special morning menu. Every blogpost this month will feature budget breakfast entrees including a gamblers's favorite "Vegas Eggs Benedict", the photo story "Diary of a Frittata Maker", a couple of "coffee comedy" videos, and the following "Huevos Rancheros" recipe. Check back for those recipes and more! It is a special grand slam multi-media breakfast month of May presented by The 99 Cent Chef.

This hearty Mexican breakfast is quick and easy following The 99 Cent Chef's method. I got all my ingredients from this 99c Only Store, but any market stocks corn tortillas, eggs, cheese and salsa at budget prices. To get the cheese nice and melty just heat-up your favorite salsa on the stove top or microwave just before serving over cheese-topped eggs.

There are many variations: instead of refried pinto beans, try it with black beans and top with white "queso fresco"- soft and crumbly Mexican cheese (similar to feta cheese, but milder), or instead of tomato salsa try a green chili sauce. With this recipe The Chef stays traditional. Eggs are commonly fried "sunny-side up", but you can fry it your way; this Chef likes when the eggs underside is crunchy. If you have any leftover refried beans, use them the next day scrambled together with eggs and make breakfast tacos, quite delicious and an early breakfast memory dish served when the family stayed with our grandmother "Big Mama".

Ingredients (one serving)

• 2 eggs
• 3-4 tbsps. refried beans (or black beans)
• 1 or 2 corn tortillas
• 1/4 cup salsa - or more
• Cheese - "queso fresco" or your favorite, enough to cover eggs
• 2 tbsps. of cooking oil
• Salt and pepper to taste

Directions 
Use your favorite method of frying eggs. Heat corn tortilla in tbsp. of oil on grill or pan over medium heat, about 15 seconds on each side. Heat beans until hot on stove top or microwave. When eggs are 1/2 done add cheese on eggs to begin melting. Heat salsa in microwave until hot. On a serving dish spread refried beans on a warm tortilla, add eggs with cheese and top with warm salsa. And don't forget the hot sauce!