Cafe Rio Pork Salad

There are 3 parts to the salad: the rice, the pork, and the dressing.

[ LIME-CILANTRO RICE ]

2 Tbsp. oil
4 c. long grain rice (6 c. water)
1 bunch cilantro, finely chopped
juice of 2 limes
2 tsp. crushed garlic

Heat oil in a large skillet. Add rice, cilantro, and garlic. Saute 3-5 minutes, stirring frequently. Add water and lime juice and bring to boil. Then reduce heat and simmer until all the liquid is absorbed by the rice (about 20 minutes). You can also use a rice cooker if you have one.

[ CAFE RIO PORK ]

pork roast
1 (16 oz.) bottle of salsa
1 1/2 cans coke
2 c. brown sugar

Place pork in crock-pot and fill it half way up with water. Cook roast on high for 5 hours. Drain off water. Cut pork in thirds. Mix together ingredients (salsa, coke, brown sugar) and put on top of pork. Cook an additional 3 hours on high. Shred pork with forks. Leave it on low until ready to serve.

[ CREAMY TOMATILLA SALAD DRESSING ]

1 packet hidden valley ranch buttermilk dressing
1 c. buttermilk
1 c. mayo or sour cream
2-3 tomatillas (peel off outer leaf/shell)
1 tsp. crushed garlic
¾ bunch fresh cilantro
1 tsp. cayenne pepper
juice from 1 lime (about 2 tsp.)
salt & pepper

Blend all ingredients in the blender. Refrigerate.

[ SERVING ]

Of course you can assemble everything burrito-style. I prefer salad-style. For one serving, I first put a tortilla on a plate (or a large serving bowl, like the pasta bowl shown in the photo). Then put rice, pork, some chopped lettuce, and the dressing. Finally, garnish your salad with shredded cheese, tomatoes, sliced avocados, or whatever you want.

Jamie's Spinach Manicotti

1 box manicotti shells, cooked
1 140z. jar ricotta cheese
3 c. spaghetti sauce
2 cups mozzarella cheese
1/2 c. parmesan cheese
1 egg
1 (10 oz.) pkg spinach, chopped

Mix together all cheeses, egg and spinach. Stuff into cooked manicotti and put in 13 x 9 dish. Pour sauce over noodles. Cover with foil and cook at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes. Remove cover and add extra mozz. cheese if desired.

Triple Chocolate Mess

TRIPLE CHOCOLATE MESS

1 chocolate cake mix

1 small chocolate instant pudding

1 12 oz. chocolate chips

1 16 oz. sour cream

4 eggs

3/4 c. oil

1 c. water

Spray crockpot with cooking spray.  Mix ingredients together and pour into sprayed crockpot.  Cook on low low 4 hours or 2-2.5 hours on high.  Serve hot over vanilla ice cream. 

California-Crab Chowder

CALIFORNIA-CRAB CHOWDER

2c. loose-pack cauliflower                                                3/4 t. pepper

1/2 c. water                                                                         3/4 t. thyme

3T. butter                                                                            1-1/2 t. tabasco

3T. flour

14 oz. chicken broth

1 1/4c. milk

3oz. cream cheese, cubed 

2T. chopped red pepper

2T. fresh parsley

1T. fresh chives

1/4 t. salt

6 oz. pkg frozen crabmeat, thawed and drained

In a medium saucepan combine cauliflower and water.  Bring to boiling; reduce heat.  Simmer covered about 5 minutes or just until crisp-tender.  Do not drain.  Cut up large pieces of cauliflower, set aside.  Meanwhile, in a large saucepan melt butter.  Stir in flour.  Add chicken broth and milk.  Cook and stir until slightly thickened and bubbly.  Stir in undrained cauliflower, cream cheese, pepper, parsley, chives and spices.  Stir over low heat until cheese melts.  Stir in crabmeat; heat through.  Serve immediately.  Makes 6 appetizer size servings.  

Pumpkin Cake

I'm usually not a big fan of pumpkin cake, but this is the BEST recipe! It is so moist and actually tastes better the next day!

Mix in bowl:
2 c. sugar
4 eggs
1 c. applesauce
2 c. pumpkin (15 oz. can)

Add dry ingredients:
2 c. flour
2 tsp. cinnamon
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt

Put in greased 13 x 9 pan. Bake at 350 for 35 minutes. Let cool and then frost.

Frosting:
1 stick margarine
1 tsp. vanilla
2 c. powdered sugar
8 oz. cream cheese

Provolone Chicken

My friend brought me this dish after I had my baby and it was so delicious. The whole family loved it so I got the recipe from her and it was really easy to make...

4-5 chicken breasts
sliced provolone cheese
1 can cream of chicken soup
1/2 c. margerine
1/2 c sour cream
1 pkg dry stuffing mix

Put chicken in baking dish. Put a slice of cheese on each peice of chicken. Mix soup, marg. and sour cream and spread over top the chicken/cheese. Sprinkle with stuffing and bake at 350 degrees for 35 min.

Favorite Breadstick recipe

3 1/2 c Flour
1 1/2 c water
2 Tbsp. sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1 Tbsp yeast

Mix ingredients and knead for 3 minutes. Let rest, and make the sauce. Roll dough onto greased cookie sheet, cut into 10 strips (lengthwise) then in half. Spread sauce on and let rise for 30 min. Bake @ 350 degrees for 18-20 min.

Sauce:
1/3 c butter
1/3 c Parmesan cheese
1/3 c mayo
1/4 tsp garlic