Mexican Straw Hat (similar to Frito pie)

“Mexican straw hat” is a recipe that’s similar to Frito pie. It contains corn chips (Fritos), plus beef, cheese, and more. The recipe dates from the 1960s.
 
“Mexican straw hat” is also called “Texas straw hat.”
   
 
Cooks.com
MEXICAN STRAW HATS  
1 lb. cheese, grated
1 head lettuce
1 pkg. Fritos
2 qts. homemade chili (or can substitute canned Brooks Quik N Easy Chili)
 
Heat chili through. Place in bowl. Top with Fritos, grated cheese and shredded lettuce.
 
Cooks.com
MEXICAN STRAW HAT DINNER  
Frito corn chips
Ground beef
Pinto beans, cooked
Shredded cheddar cheese
Shredded lettuce
Chopped onions
Chopped dill pickles
Sliced ripe olives
Sour cream
Ketchup or taco sauce
 
Fry ground beef until done. Drain fat. Warm beans. Serve ingredients individually. Have guests layer each on plate in order as above. Make as much of each ingredient as your family likes.
 
Cooks.com
MEXICAN STRAW HATS  
3 med. size diced tomatoes
1 (15 oz.) can pinto beans
1 (10 oz.) can Ro-Tel diced tomatoes with peppers
1 can tomato soup
1 1/2 lbs. ground beef
1 lg. bag round or triangular corn chips
1 head shredded lettuce
1 lb. grated Cheddar cheese
1 lg. diced onion
   
Google Groups: alt.college.food
Newsgroups: alt.college.food
From: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Date: 12 Aug 93 15:12:45 -0500
Local: Thurs, Aug 12 1993 3:12 pm
Subject: And now for something completely different
 
In article <1993Aug12.151245.1…@muvms6.wvnet.edu> .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) writes:
 
>Take a bowl or plate and crush taco shells or chips into it.
>Put _a__LOT___ of cheese on it.
>Nuke it.
>Stir it and add:
>    Sour cream
>    taco sauce/picante/salsa
>    any other taco type stuff you like.
>Stir again.
>Nuke again if you need to.
 
I *love* doing that. Here at Ohio State, they’ve unleashed some concoction called a “Western Straw Hat”, which is a scoop of taco “meat” served over a bed of Fritos. I’d grab a salad bowl, toss cheese, onions, taco sauce, and Tobasco sauce on it and nuke the mixture. That’s one of the few things I can eat multiple plates of.
   
Google Groups: rec.food.recipes
Newsgroups: rec.food.recipes
Followup-To: rec.food.recipes
From: Patricia D. Hill
Date: Tue, 23 Dec 2003 00:36:16 +0000 (UTC)
Local: Mon, Dec 22 2003 7:36 pm
Subject: REQUESTS from Thursday, December 18, 2003
From: Dick

Subject: Mexican Straw Hats
Date: Thu, 18 Dec 2003 06:43:00 -0700
 
Back in the 60’s, at a progressive dinner in Claremont California, we experienced a buffet-style dish called Straw Hats.  I have also seen it referred to as Mexican Straw Hats.  It is made with a base of Fritos, and a topping of grated cheese, taco meat, olives, tomatoes, lettuce, salsa, etc.  It’s a great, quick meal that everyone loves.
 
I am looking for the original recipe.  I believe that the original had beans in addition to the taco meat.  Our children swear that it never had beans.  Anyone have the history of this great dish?
 
Dick Hughes