Nachos - amped up!

It's amazing the lengths you'll go to when faced with one solitary child home for the week on spring break, while the other two are off for an exciting field trip on the other side of the country. When one child is condemned to spend hours of time with only his parents for entertainment. Extra screen time? Why, of course darling! Round of my most hated board game: monopoly (choke, splutter, cough...), oh, ok then, if you're sure you wouldn't like some more screen time instead... Nachos for dinner? Why, yes, we can.

To be fair, we are not talking nachos with canned jalapenos and fake cheese and so much salt that you need a 'big gulp' soda to recover, like the ones they sell at the movies. These are nachos you can make a meal of. And nachos which you can serve up, safe in the knowledge that you can hide a multitude of sins (or beans and vegetables) sandwiched between a layer of melted cheese and a base of tortilla chips. So yes, nachos for dinner it is (but you have to have some salad with it...that's the deal...take it or leave it...)

Amped Up Turkey Nachos
adapted from Family Circle
Serves 5

8 oz multigrain tortilla chips
canola oil
1 lb ground turkey
1 green bell pepper, finely chopped
1 8oz can tomato sauce (pureed tomatoes/passata)
1 package of taco seasoning
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
1/2 cup salsa
4 green onions (spring onions), finely sliced
1 cup shredded Monterey jack cheese/cheddar
1 large plum tomato, finely chopped
1/3 cup cilantro/coriander leaves, coarsely chopped

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C).
2. Line a 9" square baking dish with tortilla chips, standing some up the sides of the dish.
3. Heat oil in skillet and add turkey and bell pepper to hot oil. Saute over medium heat, breaking up the turkey, until it is no longer pink and the bell pepper is slightly softened.
4. Stir in tomato sauce, 1/3 cup water and the taco seasoning and continue to cook until heated through and bubbling.
5. Spoon turkey mixture over tortilla chips in baking dish. Sprinkle black beans over the top, then salsa, green onions and shredded cheese.
6. Bake for 20 minutes in oven, until heated through and cheese is melted.
7. Scatter chopped tomatoes and cilantro over the top before serving.