Italian Nachos

We love the Italian Nachos at Old Chicago; this is our version! We usually just "wing it" when we make this, so don't fret if you're missing an ingredient - the only thing you really need are the chips, the sausage, and the cheese! (Our family doesn't really like peppers, much less banana peppers, but there's something about the peppers in this dish that adds a little extra kick, and they're really not that spicy.)

Ingredients:
options for chips:
2 pita bread rounds
1-2 T olive oil
1-2 tsp Italian seasoning
1-2 tsp garlic powder
1-2 C pizza sauce or spaghetti sauce
Parmesan cheese
bite-size tortilla chips

topping:
1 lb bulk Italian sausage
1/4 C sliced pepperoni, cut into quarters
small can sliced black olives
small can sliced mushrooms
sliced banana peppers, to taste (if the centers of the peppers are intact, I pull the centers out and throw them away, just keeping the outside "round" of the pepper to cut down on the spiciness)
2-3 C shredded mozzarella cheese

1) Brown the Italian sausage in a skillet, crumbling it as it cooks. Drain grease off sausage.

2) You can use plain tortilla chips, or make these pita chips (or do both!). To make the pita chips: preheat oven to 350 degrees. Using kitchen shears or a knife, cut the pita rounds in half and then into triangles. Separate the two sides of the pita to make thinner pieces. Spread chips in a thin layer on a cookie sheet. Using a kitchen brush, spread a small amount of oil on each pita triangle. Sprinkle pita chips with garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and Parmesan cheese. Bake for 12-15 minutes until slightly brown and crispy. When finished, leave chips on cookie sheet.

3) Set oven to broil, oven rack should be in center of the oven.

4) If desired, add regular tortilla chips to pita chips on cookie sheet. Top with sausage and pepperoni, mushrooms, olives, and banana peppers. Sprinkle mozzarella cheese over chips and toppings. Broil for 2-5 minutes until cheese is melted and starts to brown.

Serve with pizza sauce or spaghetti sauce for dipping. Enjoy!