Cafe Rio Dressing, Chicken and Rice

Cafe Rio Dressing:

1 buttermilk ranch dressing pkt--make per package directions

2 tomatillos

1/2 bunch cilantro

1 clove garlic

juice of 1 lime

1 jalapeno or a few dashes of green tabasco sauce

Use a food processor to blend all together.  Refrigerate.

Cafe Rio Chicken:

1 small bottle Kraft Zesty Italian dressing

1 Tbsp. chili powder

1 Tbsp. cumin

3 cloves minced garlic

5 lb. chicken breasts

Cook all together in crock pot for 4 hours.  Shred meat and cook for an additional hour.

Cafe Rio Rice:

3 cup. water

4 tsp. chicken bouillon

4 tsp. minced garlic

1/2 bunch cilantro

1 can green chilies

3/4 tsp. salt

1 Tbsp. butter

1/2 onion

3 cups rice

Blend cilantro, onion and chilies together in a food processor.  Bring water to a boil and add all ingredients.  Simmer, covered for 30 minutes.  

Serve like tacos or taco salad with whatever toppings you like--cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, etc.

From my friend Traci!  

White Bean Chicken Chili

2 Tbsp. vegetable oil

1 lb. cooked chicken, diced

1 small onion, diced

2 cloves garlic, minced

 14oz. chicken broth

1- 16 oz. mexican tomatoes

1-16 oz. diced tomatoes--petite

1-7 oz diced green chilies

1/2 tsp. oregano

1/2 tsp. coriander

1/4 tsp. cumin

1 15 oz. can white beans

2 cup. corn (frozen works well or canned)

black pepper

chopped cilantro

Heat oil and cook onion and garlic until soft.  Stir in broth, tomatoes, chilies, and spices.  Bring to a boil then simmer for 10 minutes.  Add corn, chicken and beans.  Simmer and season with salt and pepper.  Top with cheese, sour cream and tortilla chips.  

could be made with canned chicken for food storage recipe.

Black Bean Salsa

One of my favorites!

2 cans black beans, rinsed and drained

1 can whole kernal corn, drained

2 cans diced tomatoes, drained

chopped red onion

1-2 avocados, peeled and chopped

1/4 cup chopped cilantro

3 Tbsp. lime juice

2 Tbsp. olive oil

1 Tbsp. red wine vinegar

1 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. pepper

Serve with chips!  

Mandarin Salad

Perfect for spring!  

1/2 cup sliced almonds

3 Tbsp. sugar

Bagged lettuce mix--I like some with romaine and the butter leaf lettuce

1 cup chopped celery

2 whole green onions, chopped

1 can mandarin oranges, drained

sliced strawberries

1/8 cup chopped cilantro

Dressing:

1/2 tsp. salt

1/4 cup vegetable oil

2 Tbsp. sugar

2 Tbsp. vinegar

dash of tabasco

caramelize almonds by mixing with sugar in a skillet until sugar in melted onto almonds.  mix all the salad ingredients together.  Toss with almonds and dressing just before serving.

Chicken Pasta Salad

really yummy on croissants for lunches etc.  --sorry no photos

1/2 box bow tie pasta, cooked

1-20 oz. can crushed pineapple

2 cans sliced water chestnuts, drained and sliced

2 cups chopped celery

1 pkg. craisens

1 can cashews

1 cup red grapes, cut in half

6 chicken breasts, cooked and cubed

1 bottle cole slaw dressing (the refrigerated kind by the lettuce in the market)

1 cup mayo

Mix it all together and serve cold.  One-half of this recipe will easily serve 12-15 people.

Lisa's Sweet Chicken Fingers

This recipe from Lisa Peterson is one my kids favorite meals. We always have it for New Years--with other asian inspired things. We had is yesterday for dinner--so yummy--but I forgot to take a picture when it was fresh and pretty.

Chicken tenders (as many as you need to feed your family)
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup cornstarch
1/2 tsp. garlic salt
2 beaten eggs
1 Tbsp. oil
1 1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup ketchup
2 Tbsp. soy sauce
1 tsp. salt

Dip chicken in eggs. Then dip in combined flour, cornstarch and garlic salt. Coat chicken with flour then fry in lightly oiled skillet till browned on both sides. Add extra oil as you go--or between batches. I have to do two skillets worth of chicken. Place chicken in a 9x13 baking dish. Whisk together ketchup, water, sugar and soy sauce in a saucepan, then simmer until warm. Pour over chicken and bake for 45 minutes at 350. You may want to make extra sauce or save some to pour over your rice or with egg rolls. Serve with white rice.

Super Sloppy Joes

Ok, normally I'm not a fan of sloppy joes. But these are really good! I was sending this to my sister so I figured this could be my first post here too! No photos--sorry.


1 T. olive oil—once around the pan
1 ¼ lbs. ground beef—I use turkey
¼ cup brown sugar
2 ½ T. steak seasoning blend
1 medium onion, chopped
1 red pepper, chopped
1 T. red wine vinegar
1 T. Worcestershire sauce
2 cups tomato sauce
2 T. tomato paste
Buns & pickles

Warm oil, add meat. Sprinkle brown sugar and steak seasoning over meat. When meat is browned, add onion and red pepper. Reduce heat to medium and cook for 5 minutes. Add vinegar, cook for 1 minute than add rest of ingredients. Reduce heat to simmer and cook for another 5 minutes. Serve on warm or toasted buns.