Chalupa Grande

This dish easily serves 10 people.

Chalupa Grande

1 lb. dry pinto beans (washed)
1 pork roast (3 lbs) trimmed of fat
8 cups of water

1/2 cup chopped onion

3 garlic cloves minced
3 tsp. ground cumin
2 T. chili powder
1 T salt
1 tsp. dried oregano
3 cans (4 oz. ) green chilies
fresh cilantro for garnish

Place first 10 ingredients in a large dutch oven. ( beans do not need to be soaked first). Bring to a boil and reduce heat. Simmer covered for 3 hours or until beans and roast are tender. Remove roast; cool slightly and shred with a fork. Return meat to the beans. Cook uncovered until thick, approximately 30 minutes. Garnish with fresh cilantro.Serve over corn chips and top with suggested item below.

Suggestions:

Corn chips

shredded cheese

fresh pico de gallo or store bought salsa works also

fresh guacamole if you have it

chopped green onions are a nice addition

Feel free to use 1/2 the required amounts of everything if you aren't feeding a huge group.

Any dinner that is prepared at home has to be healthier than something that comes from a box or snarfed during the typical drive -thru experience. Growing our own food has encouraged my family to eat vegetables and learn new ways of preparing them.
 Kids are more likely to try a vegetable when they have planted the seed in their own backyard and watched the plant mature into something edible. If your family does not have the space for a garden then please consider allowing your children to go to the market and pick out a few interesting vegetables. Involve everyone in the cooking process.
 I often (purely for hobby sake) make items that could be purchased cheaper in the local grocery store such as: pickles and salsa. It's fun to sit down at dinner and know that every aspect of that meal has truly been my creation.
I know too many kids who order from the fast food menu ten times more often than they ever spend washing a vegetable for dinner. Recently my youngest child had a friend over and I allowed the friend to actually unearth a carrot from the garden. This is the same friend who tells me she orders her tacos with no lettuce and no tomatoes from our old pal the Taco Bell drive-thru. That evening at our house she ate a fresh carrot. Mission accomplished!