DIY Tostadas

I was really wanting to make tostadas the other night- with guacamole instead of refried beans as the base (I want to make it again, now... mmmm).  But, the problem I've found is that the tostadas at the grocery store are always smashed to bits.  Even if you manage to find a package that is intact, good luck getting it home without breaking!

Then, I had an ah-ha moment.  I couldn't believe I'd never thought of it before, but why not fry tortillas and make my own tostadas?  My cousins in Arizona have done it for years, but it somehow slipped my mind.  So, I decided to give it a whirl, and they turned out great!

You will need:

• Store bought corn tortillas
• Vegetable oil

First, preheat your oven to 250.  Line the tortillas up on a baking sheet and bake for about 7 minutes.  This helps to dry out/firm up the tortillas before you fry them.

Then, heat a frying pan full of oil over medium-high heat.  You'll want enough vegetable oil in the pan to be able to submerge the tortilla completely (about a quarter inch thickness was enough for me).

Once the oil is piping hot, slip a tortilla in to fry.  If your oil is nice and hot, this should only take about 10-20 seconds on each side.

Remove the tortilla (now a tostada!) with tongs and set on a paper towel to drain and cool.  Repeat until you have as many tortillas as you need.

So sorry for the lack of pictures today!  My camera pooped out mid-project :(  But I can assure you that the guacamole made a great base in place of refried beans!