preheat oven to 350 degrees

In a medium sized skillet brown ground beef, when meat is completely browned add in onion, and pepper, cook until soft. Add in refried beans, chili powder, and cumin stir and continue to cook for an additional 2 minutes. Remove from heat.

This step can be skipped, however I think it adds more texture and defines the layers of the casserole more, but it you are in a hurry or rather not add the calories skip 2. and move to 3.

In a small frying pan add 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil just enough to coat bottom of the pan, heat until oil is smoking place corn tortillas in oil one at a time for 10 seconds on each side, remove from pan with tongs and place on paper towel help soak up excess oil. Repeat this, adding more oil as you need it, until all 12 corn tortillas have been fried.

Next step assembly. Spread a ladle of sauce over the bottom of baking dish, place 4 tortillas over sauce in a pattern that will best cover the sauce. Take 1/3 of the meat mixture and spread it over the tortillas, sprinkle with 1/2 cup of cheese. Place 4 more corn tortillas over cheese, spread a ladle of sauce over tortillas, then meat, and cheese and repeat. There should be 3 meat layers and 4 tortilla layers. After the last layer of tortillas ladle the remaining sauce over the top and sprinkle remaining 1 cup of shredded cheese over the top.

Bake at 350 degree for 45 minutes, remove from oven allow to sit for 15 minutes before cutting into squares.

Serve with sour cream, guacamole, lettuce, fresh cut tomato, whatever your heart desires!