But...It's so...UGLY!

Ugly Dinner

2-3 Links Hot Italian Sausage

2 Cans Black Beans, 1 drained

1 C Herdez Salsa Casera

1 C Shredded Mexican Blend Cheese

1/3 C Sour Cream

Flour tortillas, warmed

Remove sausage from casing and break up while browning in a skillet over medium heat. When sausage is almost fully cooked, add black beans and salsa. Cook until the salsa and bean liquor have thickened.

When the liquid has reduced, stir in cheese until fully incorporated and melted. Stir in sour cream and heat through.

Spoon into bowls and serve with warmed flour tortillas.

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I know, This meal is NOT photogenic. It's just, well...UGLY. But hear me out!

Some meals are born out of desperation. This is one of those meals. While I was single and living in South Texas, I found myself in a predicament. I lived in the middle of nowhere with my roommate, a solid 20 minutes from a store. And I was hungry. I didn't want to haul it to the store or a drive through, and it was still a few days before pay day. So, I did what you do when you're hungry and broke. I rummaged through the fridge for anything that I could turn into a meal. I found some leftover links of Italian sausage, shredded cheese, half a jar of salsa, sour cream, some black beans, and tortillas.

I know what you're thinking. These things don't belong together. You're not wrong! They absolutely do not belong together. On the flip side of this recipe sounding like a mess, I can assure you that it's delicious! It has become a regularly requested meal at my house, and Italian sausage is now referred to as "Ugly Dinner starter." If you need something that tastes like a warm hug on a cold day, this oddity is just what you didn't know you needed.

Yes, it's junk food-esque in nature. Yes, it's cheesy and creamy and warm. Yes, you should absolutely give it a try! The best part about a struggle meal is that you can alter the ingredients to suit what you have on hand. Cheddar cheese is great, and so is the Italian blend stuff. Breakfast sausage would work, and so would ground beef. You can use mild salsa or hot salsa. The skillet is your canvas!