Vegetarian Tostada Recipe

10 Cook the tortillas until crisp using one of the following two methods:
14 Bake: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Spread the tortillas out in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake, turning halfway through cooking, until crisp on both sides, about 2 to 3 minutes per side. 
15 Fry: Pour a 1-inch layer of oil into a heavy-bottomed saucepan. Use a pan that is large enough in diameter to hold the tortillas. Heat the oil to 375 degrees F. Use a knife to poke a small hole through the center of each tortilla (this will prevent large bubbles from forming as they cook). Use tongs to gently lower one tortilla into the oil and cook it on both sides until golden brown and crisp, about 2 minutes per side. Continue until all of the tortillas are crisp, transferring them to a cooling rack or paper towel-lined plate as they finish cooking.
1 Next, combine the refried beans, chili powder, ground cumin, and garlic powder in a small saucepan over medium heat. Heat the beans, stirring occasionally, until warmed through. 
16 Spread beans over the top of each of the tortillas and top them with shredded cheese.
2 Finish the tostadas with your favorite mix of toppings or set everything out on the table so that everyone can assemble their own.