what you should know

In 1950, tortilla chips originated in Los Angeles as a tasty solution to an imperfect tortilla problem.

Rebecca Webb Carranza took misshapen corn tortillas from her family's new automated tortilla factory, cut them up and fried them to a crisp for a party. Soon, the chips were the company's best selling product.

changeable crunch While tortilla chips are most common as an envoy for salsa and other dips, they can easily make their way into eggs, soups, and muffins. (They also figure prominently into a well-known hangover remedy.)

not your cheese Top your chips with melted cheese or place them around a pile of chile-braised pork shoulder, and you have nachos. If you're a true enthusiast, consider attending the International Nacho Festival in Mexico.

sweet treats Tortilla chips don't have to be confined to salty snacks. For something sweet, try a homemade cinnamon tortilla chip, or pick up a bag of Chocolate Tortilla Chips from Food Should Taste Good.

what you need

Making homemade chips? Start with corn or flour tortillas -- some are bound to be misshapen -- and then pick up one of these.

Have tortilla chips everyday by cooking Mexican Everyday.

The best way to serve chips and salsa? Keep it nice and simple with this dish.

Want to combine chip topping ideas with some Spanish lessons? Try a bilingual cookbook.

Salad tastes better in an edible bowl. Make your own with this tortilla mold.

what you should do

Chips out of the bag are easy, but deep-frying them at home is also easy and so much better.

Use your tortilla chips to make cornbread for skillet spoonbread cobbler.

For a gluten-free alternative to tortilla chips, try this brown rice version.

As an appetizer for many or a lunch for a few, scoop up some bites of layered chicken-avocado bowl.

Layer tortilla chips with cheese and veggies and you'll get Karina's nachos fabuloso.

Featured: With a creative spin on matzo brie, soaked tortilla chips and eggs make a savory breakfast dish. Congratulations to Olga of Mango & Tomato, who submitted this week's Root Source Challenge featured recipe.