#NACHOCHELLA – Ditch Coachella and Make Nachos
Coachella is upon us… and Coachella is my worst nightmare.
Don’t get me wrong, I love music. I have worked in the music industry for over 7 years. I used to have to go to Coachella for work every year and trek around from stage to stage working with bands. As glamorous as that sounds… it wasn’t. It was hot, dirty & there were billions of drunk/high sweaty people.
I get it, people love the whole festival experience. One great thing about getting a little older is my ability to embrace my personality and admit whole heartedly, I’m NOT one of those people! I’d rather listen to music in the bathtub with a glass of wine and a box of pizza. The one perk of Coachella (especially the VIP area) is the food. I’ll miss my daily “Beyonce Dog” aka a hot dog wrapped in bacon and topped with avocado.
In the sprint of NOCHELLA (aka Not Going to Coachella), I give you NACHOCHELLA. I can’t take complete credit for the idea (one of my Instagram followers asked for it). If you’re not going to Coachella, celebrate all of the money you’re saving, how awesome your bed is, how much you enjoy being able to use a normal bathroom and shower & make yourself a large batch of NACHOCHELLA Nachos! Let’s get this shit trending… show all of your friends how much fun you’re having listening to the music YOU like, relaxing in air conditioning with a big plate of cheesy goodness.
I’m going to give you my “lightened up” version of nachos. I’m also going to give you the standard, greasy, delicious version. So, depending on what mood you’re in, you can make either one or BOTH!
What you’re gonna need:
– Chips: You can pick whatever chips your heart desires. I went with a Trader Joe’s version, but you can choose a lower cal version or whatever you have in your cupboard.
– Cheese: I recommend using a blend. I like the “Taco Blend”, but it really doesn’t matter. You can go with a low fat version or go all out and buy some nacho cheese.
– Meat: I use Jenny-0 Lean Taco Seasoned Ground Turkey. It’s not dry like a lot of ground turkey and the flavor is a good base. You can use beef or chicken depending on your preference. I have my own special Taco Seasoning & Sauce recipe, but you can use a standard Taco Seasoning Mix and it will be delicious.
– Beans: Enough said
– Rice: This is optional. I know a lot of people don’t like rice on their nachos, but I had some leftover and really wanted to go all out.
– Lightened Up Guacamole: Recipe below (or your own guacamole)
– Other Options: Salsa, Sour Cream, Jalapeños, etc…
Lightened Up Guacamole Recipe
*This is kind of a combination between sour cream & guacamole. It’s also a lower fat/lower calorie alternative!
– Avocado
– 0 % or 2% Plain Greek Yogurt
– Chopped Onion, Tomato & Cilantro
– Garlic Powder, Salt & Pepper
For each serving, use 1 Avocado & 1 Tablespoon of Greek Yogurt. Onion, Tomato & Cilantro are a preference. I usually add about a tablespoon of Onion (chopped), a couple of slices of Tomato (chopped) and a teaspoon of Cilantro.
Add a pinch of Garlic Powder, Salt & Pepper.
So now you’re ready to go…
Step One: Line a baking sheet with Parchment Paper or Tin Foil. This reduces the mess/clean up time an also makes it easier to slip the nachos onto a plate.
Step Two: Layer a couple of handfuls of chips on the baking sheet.
Step Three: Spread a layer of beans, followed by rice, meat & cheese. Again, this is all preference. I don’t recommend piling it too high or your chips will get soggy.
Step Four: Throw your creation in the oven and broil until warm, melty & gooey. Oven times will vary. You can also use a toaster oven or bake if your oven doesn’t have a broil function.
Step Five: Pick the sides of the Parchment Paper or Tin Foil up to slide the nachos off of the tray and onto your plate.
PARTY ON! You’re at NACHOCHELLA! Blast your favorite band, grab your favorite beverage & bask in the glory that is not Coachella!
