Paying Our Respects...

Dane and I paid our respects from 300 miles away to the death of the family restaurant, Rafael's.  For those who don't know Rafael's has been a part of my family since before I was born.  Grandma Bonnie & Grandpa Bob loved it and any time we had a family gathering it usually was at Rafael's.  We would also go for lunch when Grandma & Grandpa would babysit me.  My dad would take us there when my mom was hosting Bunco at the house and we were kicked out.  We would go for birthday's to partake in delicious sopapillas.  We also went there the first time Dane's parents were introduced to my parents for all the fun wedding planning.  Within the last few years my aunts and uncles would gather there every Monday with Grandma Bonnie and it became a tradition that still stuck after she passed away last fall.  Sadly though, our delightful family restaurant shut it's doors on Saturday 7/31/11 and since Dane and I weren't able to go one last time with the family, we 'attempted' to make their famous 'Bean Dip Chips'!  They turned out delicious!

Recipe Items:
Tortilla Chips
Re-fried Beans
Tomatoes (1-2)
Onion (we used half)
Green Pepper (1)
Cheese

Prep:
Lay the tortilla chips on a baking sheet
chop the onion & green pepper and throw in a frying pan, you don't want to cook them but let them sweat to make them soft.  Warm up re-fried beans in a pan, once warm spread evenly on the chips.  Next sprinkle the peppers and onions on top.  Then chop the tomato and sprinkle on next.  Last you'll want to sprinkle shredding cheese across the top.  Set your oven to broil and watch closely, as soon as the cheese is melted they are done (ours took about 10 mins)

tuna melts!

okay okay, i know that when some people think of, or smell, tuna fish they tend to vomit in their months a little. I admit that I'm not one of those people i actually enjoy a good tuna fish sandwich. but I think that I have finally found the one and only tuna recipe that will swoon tuna fish haters over to from the dark side! this is not your grandmothers tuna loaf! this is really good!

and of course it would be because guess who the recipe came from? pioneer women! and she has yet to steer me wrong when it comes to meal time. here is the link to the recipe (you can even print it out to take the list to the store with you!).

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2011/06/tuna-melts/

and here our my sweet pics of making it and loving every bite.  the meal was easy, fast and so filling and healthy! and best part, I hardly even remembered I was eating tuna fish!!

see you can't even see the tuna....

 so here is our batch of the veggies, mustard, mayo, and tuna fish.  I dipped a Ritz cracker in this and it was so so good. I even thought that if I ever need an appetizer for a summer shindig, I might make this and just serve it up on crackers, or some good bread.  quick and easy!

and here it is out of the oven, like a I said so quick and easy and so so good!

these were so good and filling! and james loved them so i have a sneeky feeling that kids would eat them too! looks like a gorment grilled cheese! any way, if you are in a bind and don't want to run to your local fast food joint give these a whirl! they were a nice refreshing meal!! i promise everyone will enjoy them!