Sunday, January 30, 2011

Cilantro Lime Tomatillo Ranch Dressing

Ingredients:
  • 1 buttermilk ranch dressing packet
  • 1/2 cup buttermilk
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 4 tomatillos(husks removed)
  • 1 large clove of garlic
  • zest and juice of 1 lime
  • large bunch of cilantro
  • 1/2 jalapeno pepper(more or less depending on the heat level you like)

Directions: Put all ingredients into food processor or blender and blend away until smooth and creamy. I usually don't have buttermilk, so I put 1 T vinegar into measuring cup and add milk to the 1/2 cup mark.

Cafe Rio Burrito


Ingredients:


3 lb Pork Roast
1 can Dr. Pepper
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup salsa
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon ground mustard
salt and pepper


Place pork in the crock pot. Then add all ingredients. Cook on low for 6-8 hours. Shred pork with about an hour left to cook.


1 can black or pinto beans, rinsed and drained
1 can red enchilada sauce
Cilantro
Mexican style cheese
Tortillas


Rice

Do as much rice/water that you need for your family. I usually do three cups of both.
Once the water boils, add the rice and the following ingredients.
2 teaspoons chicken bouillon
2 garlic cloves-minced
1 can diced green chili's
1/2 cup chopped cilantro
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon butter
1/4 cup chopped onion

When you are ready to make your burritos, just layer them. One layer of pork, then rice, then beans. Wrap your tortilla and place seam side down. Cover burritos with enchilada sauce and sprinkle with cheese. Cook under the broiler until cheese is bubbly. Enjoy!





Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Strawberry Creme Puff Cake


2 cups or one carton of strawberries, sliced

Cream Puff Base:
5 tablespoons butter
2/3 cup water
1 tablespoon sugar
2/3 cup flour
3 eggs

Cream Cheese Mixture:
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 teaspoon fresh orange zest
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup heavy whipping cream
2/3 cup powdered sugar

For the cream puff layer, preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Bring the butter, water and sugar to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add the flour all at once and stir quickly until the mixture pulls away from the sides of the pan. Remove the pan from the heat and stir the mixture until smooth. Let cool for 5 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time and beat until the mixture is shiny with a satiny sheen. Don’t overbeat. Lightly grease the bottom and sides of a 9-inch springform pan (or in a pinch, you could use a 9-inch circle cake pan).

Using an offset spatula, spread the mixture on the bottom and one inch up the sides of the prepared pan. Don't look at my picture. I skimmed the instructions and put it 2 inches up the side instead of one. This part can be tricky. I've found sometimes it's easier to spread with clean hands.

Bake for 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and prick pastry with a toothpick 10-12 times. Return to the oven and bake 5-10 minutes more until golden brown but not overbaked (you can insert a toothpick into the center and if it comes out with sticky dough, it still needs longer in the oven). Cool completely.
For the cream cheese mixture, beat the cream cheese until smooth. Gradually add the powdered sugar (sift if necessary)and beat with the cream cheese until mixture is smooth and light. Add the remaining ingredients and beat until stiff peaks form. Spread onto the cooled cream puff shell.

Top with fresh sliced strawberries. Keep in the fridge until serving. My strawberries weren't that sweet so I put the sliced strawberries in the fridge with a couple tablespoons of sugar for an hour and they made their own sauce.

Mini Carmel Apples

Breakfast Casserole


12 slices of bread
18 oz of grated cheese
1 pound of your favorite meat
Veggies
8-10 Eggs
Salt and Pepper
Butter

Directions: Butter all slices of bread. Place 6 slices of bread, buttered side down in a 9 x 13 pan. Then top with grated cheese, meat and veggies. Then place the other 6 slices of bread, buttered side up on the top. Beat 8-10 eggs in a bowl, with salt and pepper. Pour the eggs over the whole casserole...make sure to get all the bread covered with eggs. Cover the pan in foil and refrigerate over night. Bake at 350 for 1 1/2 hours (30 of which is without the foil).
Tip: We make two different kids...one with chedder cheese, ham and sometimes we add onions. And then on the other one we use pepper jack cheese, breakfast sausage and peppers. Feel free to experiment!

Chicken and Guacamole Tostadas


Ingredients

  • 1 ripe peeled avocado
  • 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons finely chopped tomato, divided
  • 3 tablespoons minced fresh onion, divided
  • 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice, divided
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt, divided
  • 1 small garlic clove, minced
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
  • 1 tablespoon minced seeded jalapeño pepper
  • 2 cups shredded skinless, boneless rotisserie chicken breast
  • 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 8 (6-inch) corn tostada shells

Preparation

1. Place avocado in a small bowl; mash with a fork. Stir in 2 tablespoons tomato, 1 tablespoon onion, 1 tablespoon juice, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and garlic.

2. Combine remaining 1 cup tomato, 2 tablespoons onion, 1 tablespoon lime juice, 1/4 teaspoon salt, cilantro, and jalapeño; toss well.

3. Combine chicken, remaining 1 tablespoon juice, and paprika; toss well to combine. Spread about 1 tablespoon guacamole over each tostada shell; top each with 1/4 cup chicken mixture and about 2 tablespoons salsa.