02/23/2024
Fun Fact Friday: Tomorrow (February 24) is national Tortilla Chip Day! Tortilla chips are made from corn tortillas cut into wedges and then fried. The tortillas are made from corn, vegetable oil, salt, and water. Typically made with yellow corn, tortillas can also be made with white, blue, or red corn. Even though tortilla chips have always been considered to be Mexican food, known as tostadas, they were first mass-produced in Los Angeles in the late 1940s. Rebecca Webb Carranza and her husband are credited with making the crisp chips popular. Inspiration for the tortilla chip struck when the tortilla manufacturing machine discarded misshapen tortillas and Carranza realized they could be cut into triangles and fried. She then sold them for a dime a bag at the El Zarape Tortilla Factory. Carranza received the Golden Tortilla Award in 1994 for her contribution to the Mexican food industry.
Another favorite dish made with tortilla chips is nachos. Ignacio “Nacho” Anaya created the dish we call nachos around the year 1943. The tortilla chips are served with melted or shredded cheese. Additional toppings are often added, such as meat, salsa, refried beans, tomatoes, diced onion, lettuce, olives, jalapenos, guacamole, and sour cream. Have you ever wondered how to get a smooth, creamy cheesy sauce for your nachos? Find out in these kitchen hacks!