Cafe Rio Black Beans, Rice, & Dressing

Cafe Rio Black beans
1 Can of Black Beans, Rinsed and Drained
1 C Tomato Juice
2 Cloves Garlic, Minced
1 tsp Cumin
2 T Olive Oil
1 1/2 tsp Salt
2 T Fresh Cilantro Chopped

In a skillet, cook garlic and cumin in olive oil over medium heat until you can smell it. Add beans, tomato juice, and salt. Continually stir until heated through. Just before serving stir in the cilantro.


Cafe Rio Tomatillo Dressing:
1 pkg Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing Mix
1 C Buttermilk
1 C Mayo
2 Tomatillos
1/2 Bunch of Cilantro
1 Clove of Garlic
1/2 Limes Juice
1/2 to 1 Small Jalepeno, seeds removed. For a little spicier add some of the seeds.

Blend all ingredients well in a food processor & refrigerate.


Cafe Rio's Cilantro Lime Rice:
4 C Chicken Broth
2 C Uncle Ben's Original Long Grain Rice
2 Cloves of Garlic
1/2 Bunch of Cilantro
1 Can Green Chiles-(or equivalent fresh)
1/4 Onion
1/2 Limes Juice

Blend garlic, cilantro, green chiles, & onion together in food processor. Add all ingredients to your rice cooker stir and cook.

{ OLIVE GARDEN ALFREDO PASTA }

INGREDIENTS:
	1/2 cup (1 stick) butter 2 cloves garlic, minced 2 cups heavy cream 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper pinch salt 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese 1 12-ounce box fettuccine pasta (or your choice of pasta)
DIRECTIONS:
	1.      Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium/low heat. 2. Add the garlic, cream, pepper and salt, and bring mixture to a simmer. Turn the heat down if the mixture reaches a rapid boil or it could boil over. You just want a simmer. Add the cheese, and continue to simmer sauce for 8 minutes or until thick. 3. While sauce cooks, bring 4 to 6 quarts of water to a boil and add the pasta. Cook pasta for about 12 minutes or until done, then drain it. 4. Spoon pasta onto serving plates with Alfredo sauce poured over the top. Makes 2 to 3 large servings. Note: Be sure not to crank the heat up too high when simmering the sauce or it could break, resulting in a not-so-creamy, curdled Alfredo. We also like to use this sauce to make Chicken Alfredo pizzas.

{ CHILI FOR "VEG-HEADS" }

(Rachel Ray)

INGREDIENTS:

2 Tbsp olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
1 medium bell pepper, seeded and chopped
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped
4 cloves garlic minced ( I just used minced garlic in the can. It's a different amount though so look on the can).
1 cup vegetable (chicken) broth
1 can (32 oz) crushed tomatoes
1 can (14 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
1 can (14 oz) red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 to 1 ½ Tbsp cumin
1 to 1 ½ Tbsp chili powder
6 dashes Tabasco sauce
Salt
1 cup spicy refried beans
Cheddar cheese
Chips

DIRECTIONS:

Heat oil over medium. Add onion and peppers, sauté 3-4 minutes. Add garlic and cook 1 minute. Add broth, reduce by half (2-3 minutes). Add tomatoes, beans, cumin, chili powder, Tabasco, and salt. Thicken with refried beans. Serve with cheese and chips. YUMMY!

Heather's Note: I like to add another can of beans (pinto or whatever) and corn.

Chicken Crescents

INGREDIENTS:

¾ cup dry herb-seasoned stuffing

½ cup finely chopped pcans or walnuts

2 (3 oz.) packages cream cheese, softened

4 tbs. butter, softened

1/8 tsp. pepper

2 C. diced cooked chicken

1 tbs. chopped green onion

1 tbs. minced fresh parsley

2/3 c. chopped mushrooms

2 (8 oz.) can refrigerated crescent rolls

3 tbs. butter, melted

1 (10 ¾ oz) can cream of chicken soup

½ c. sour cream

DIRECTIONS:

Crush seasoned stuffing and mix with nuts; set aside. In a large bowl mix together cream cheese, the 4 tbs. softened butter, and pepper. Add chicken, green onions, parsely, and mushrooms. Set aside. Separate crescent rolls to form 8 rectangles; press seams securely. Place ½ c. of chicken mixture in the center of each rectangle and fold up ends to cover filling. Seal edges securely. Dip each roll into melted butter and then roll into stuffing mixture. Place on a greased baking sheet. Bake at 400 for 20 minutes. Serve with a sauce made by warming cream of chicken soup with sour cream and stirring until well incorporated. Makes 8 servings.

{ CHICKEN FAJITAS }

2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp. chili powder
1 tsp. cumin
1/2 tsp. onion powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts (unfrozen)
2 tsp. vegetable oil, divided
1 red onion, sliced
3 small peppers ( green, red, and yellow ) sometimes I add green too. I love peppers!
4 flour tortillas
sour cream
salsa

In a bowl, combine garlic, chili powder, cumin, onion powder and salt. Pat mixture onto chicken breasts. In a nonstick skillet, heat 1 tsp. oil over medium heat and cook 1 minute. Add peppers and onion and cook until vegetables are browned (about 5 minutes. Remove and keep warm. Add remaining oil and chicken to skillet. Cook 6 minutes. Turn chicken and continue cooking until cooked through. (about 4 minutes.) Warm the tortillas in the microwave. Slice chicken into strips and assemble fajitas. Serve with sour cream and salsa.

* Sometimes I double the seasoning for the chicken. I usually do 2 large breasts or 3-4 small. You can marinate the chicken and let it thaw in the fridge.

Crock Pot: Tomato-Basil Parmesan Soup

This is SO good and I love that I can make it in the crockpot. It makes about 2 quarts which is a lot.

Crock Pot: Tomato-Basil Parmesan Soup
2 (14 oz) cans diced tomatoes, with juice
1 cup finely diced celery
1 cup finely diced carrots
1 cup finely diced onions
4 cups chicken broth
1/2 bay leaf

Combine above and cook on low for 5-7 hours (add herbs if using fresh)

1 tsp dried oregano (1 TBS fresh)
1 TBS dried basil (1/4 cup fresh)
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup flour
1 cup parmesan cheese
2 cups half and half (warmed)
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper

About an hour before serving make a roux. Melt butter over low heat in a skillet and add flour. stir constantly with a whisk for 5-7 minutes. Slowly stir in 1 cup of hot soup from the slow cooker. Add another 3 cups soup and stir until smooth. Add all back into slow cooker. Stir and add Parmesan cheese, warmed half and half, salt, and pepper. Cover and cook for another hour.