Day 4: Breakfast for Dinner

Tonight we made an old favorite, Huevos Rancheros, which just happens to be vegetarian. We often make this for brunch when our friends Heidi and Jay come for a visit.

This is the first time, however, that Owen tried it. He's recently learned he likes spicy foods, so once he figured out this is basically nachos with eggs (we scramble them), he was game for a big plate, and gave it a 9 out of 10.

Noah, who wanted a plate exactly like Owen's, ate only the chips. Dipped in ranch. Ew.

Best Ever Huevos Rancheros
Serves 4

28 oz. can plum tomatoes, lightly drained
2-5 serrano peppers, depending on your spiciness preference, stemmed and coarsely chopped
1/2 small yellow or white onion, chopped
1 large clove garlic, chopped
1 tbsp. canola oil
Salt to taste
Refried Black Beans (recipe below)
4 eggs
2 tbsp. queso fresco or feta cheese, crumbled
Tortilla chips

To make sauce: place tomates, serranos, onion, and garlic in a food processor or blender and puree until smooth. Heat 1 tbsp of the oil over medium-high heat. When very hot, add the sauce (which will sizzle) and cook, stirring, until the sauce is bright orange-red and thickened. Add salt to taste.* The sauce can be made a day ahead.

*I had to add almost a 1/2 tsp. of salt, but check the saltiness of your chips before seasoning your sauce. I have had the overall dish turn out too salty because I made the sauce "just right" and didn't consider the chips.

To assemble: make the refried beans (recipe below), or reheat if made ahead. Put some beans on a plate and make a hollow for the eggs. Fry or scramble your eggs any way you like them. Add eggs and top with sauce and cheese. Serve chips on the side of the plate.

Refried Black Beans

1 tsp. canola oil
14 oz. can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. dried oregano
salt and pepper to taste

Heat oil over medium-high heat. Add beans and stir to coat with oil. Add cumin and oregano and stir and mash until heated through and the consistency you prefer. Add water or vegetable stock as needed to achieve desired creaminess. Add salt and pepper to taste (up to 1/2 tsp, but consider the whole plate as described above).