Cafe Rio

This is a family favorite when we all get together--sometimes to make it quick I use ready made ranch dressing and then add the tomatillos, etc. I'll use quick rice with the seasonings, and sometimes the grocery store takes care of cooking the chicken for me. The original recipe called for pork, but I find the chicken to be quite good. I hope you enjoy.

Cilantro Dressing

1/2 pkg ranch dressing—or 3 tablespoons mix

1 cups milk

1 cups mayonnaise

2 tomatillos

½ bunch cilantro

juice from 1 lime

1 jalapeno seeded

Place all ingredients in a blender and mix until well bended. Place in fridge for 1 hour

Rice

4 cups water

3 tsp chicken bouillon

3 tsp garlic

½ bunch cilantro

4 oz. Can diced green chilies—mild

¾ teaspoon salt

1 Tlb butter

1/2 onion

2 cups original rice

Bring water to a boil. Meanwhile, put cilantro, chilies, and onion in blender or food processor and chop and blend well. Add all ingredients to boiling water and simmer, covered for 30 minutes or until rice is soft.

Sweet Meat

1 whole chicken cooked

3/4 cup salsa verde

1/2 cup brown sugar

Season chicken with salt, pepper and garlic. Bake in oven at 350 degrees for about 2 hours. Remove meat from bones and chop. Add chili sauce and brown sugar.

This is also delicious with Pork tenderloin

To Make Tostadas

Warm flour tortilla, melt cheese on it. Top with rice, black beans, meat, lettuce, cilantro, salsa and cilantro dressing.

Black Beans & Pork

1 1/2 lb. of boneless pork loin chopped into 1/2-inch pieces

1 teaspoon chili powder

1 teaspoon ground coriander

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1 small onion chopped

2 cans (14.5 oz) black beans drained and rinsed

1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes with green chilies

1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

3 cups cooked white rice (You could use brown rice...healthier :)

In a crock-pot combine pork, chili powder, coriander, salt, pepper and onion. Stir in black beans and tomatoes. Cook on (LOW for 6 hrs.) or (HIGH for 4 hrs.) If mixture is a little watery...mash some of the black beans to thicken. Serve over rice. Garnish with avocado, a little low-fat cheese, cilantro and a small spoon of low-fat sour cream. Servings: 6

Quinoa and Black Beans

I have found the best place to buy quinoa is Costco. They have a pretty big bag for about $10. My kids love this meal and I've fed it to lots of their friends who have liked it too.

1 t olive oil

1/2 or 1 onion depending on preference, chopped

1 c quinoa

2 c water

1 t cumin

1/4 t pepper

1 can corn

1 can diced tomatoes drained

2 cans black beans drained

chopped cilantro

Heat oil in large pan and cook chopped onion until tender. RINSE QUINOA IN WATER. (this gets rid of the bitter taste) Add quinoa, water, cumin and pepper to pan and simmer until tails of quinoa have "popped" 10-20 minutes. (you'll be able to see thin little curly threads coming out of the grain) Add remaining ingredients, except cilantro, and cook until heated through . Add cilantro and serve.

* I am guessing the original recipe had garlic in it, but because Chase is allergic to it I always omit it when recording recipes. If your family likes garlic I would add few cloves when the onion is almost done cooking.