We may be geeks, but that doesn’t mean we don’t know how to create great things in the kitchen. Some of the best dishes – even snacks! – can be made quickly and easily as long as you know what you’re doing. Let’s get cooking!

So many of the things I attempt to make in the kitchen are just simplified adaptations of things I watched my mother make. As a full-time homemaker and housewife, she had a lot more time to carefully craft amazing dishes. And her food – to this day – is some of the best I’ve ever eaten. These chilaquiles – a Mexican breakfast dish – are another adaptation that are both delicious and really quick to make.

First things first, heat up some oil in a large pan or pot. As that warms up, dice up a small onion and, once the oil has warmed up, throw the diced onions in the pot.

Typically, chilaquiles are made by cutting corn tortillas and lightly frying them to make up the basis of the dish. Of course, you can check out how I do that in a previous CASUAL COOKERY. But in the interest of getting food on a plate a little faster, I just buy a bag of Tostidos or another kind of tortilla chip.

Once the onions have cooked for about a minute or two, dump the tortilla chips into the pot and stir them so that as many of the chips in the pot can absorb as much of the oil on the bottom as possible.

Once you’ve lightly fried the chips a bit, take your preferred type of salsa to spread over the top of the chips and the onions in the pot. I’ve always been partial to a nice salsa verde, but your mileage may vary. If you want to add some meat to the chilaquiles as well, here’s where you do it. Take some pre-cooked diced chicken or steak (or whatever kind of meat you want to add) and throw it in the pot, too, mixing well to integrate it into the mixture.

Topping the pot off, take some queso fresco or queso blanco and crumble it over the top, mixing lightly. Let the cheese melt a bit over top and your meal is basically complete!

Personally, I like to top the chilaquiles off with a couple of eggs made over easy, but it can be a bit much if you’re adding the meat in as well. Still, either way, it’s a really easy and absolutely delicious way to start your day!