Fresh Salsa

This is soooooooooo close to my favorite restaurants' salsa, that I *almost* don't need to go there. -almost- Also, I could live, eat, drink this stuff!

Ingredients

-1 lb roma or vine ripened tomatoes, seeded and roughly chopped
-1/2 red onion chopped
-4 jalapenos, seeded and chopped
-1-2 limes, juiced
-1 1/2 tsp kosher salt
-1/2 tsp ground cumin
-1/4 tsp garlic powder
-bundle of cilantro (if desired)


Instructions

Add ingredients to blender and mix until a chunky puree has formed. Serve right away or store in airtight container and refrigerate for up to 5 days.

Cari's Famous Salsa

1/2 medium onion -chopped
1- 28oz can diced tomatoes
3/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp ground cumin
1-2 seeded jalapenos -chopped
1/2 bunch cilantro -chopped
3/4 tsp sugar
1/4 tsp garlic powder

Mix all ingredients. Car likes to blend ingredients in blender. You can also leave chunky, as per preference. Store in refrigerator.

Cafe Rio Shredded Pork

6 lbs pork
1 16 oz. jar salsa
1 can Coke
2 c. brown sugar
Place roast in crockpot and fill halfway up the roast with water. Cook 5 hrs, drain water. Cut into smaller pieces or shred if tender enough. Mix salsa, coke, and brown sugar and pour over roast. Cook 3 hrs longer, shred. 

Serve inside tortillas or over salad blend. Mix with Creamy Cilantro Ranch Dressing for a great meal!

Cafe Rio Shredded Chicken

1 small bottle Zesty Italian dressing
1 Tb chili powder
1 Tb cumin
3 cloves minced garlic
5 lbs chicken breast
Mix all together in crockpot, cook 4-6 hrs. Shred chicken and cook 1 hr longer 

Serve inside tortillas or over salad blend. Mix with Creamy Cilantro Ranch Dressing for a great meal!

Cafe Rio Rice

3 c. water
4 tsp. chicken boullion
4 tsp. minced garlic
1/2 bunch cilantro
1 can green chilis
3/4 tsp. salt
1 Tb. butter
1/2 onion
3 c. rice
Blend cilantro, chilis, and onion in processor or blender. Boil water, add all ingredients, simmer covered 30 minutes or until liquid is absorbed. 

Creamy Cilantro Ranch Dressing

This is a apparently the copycat version of Cafe Rio's totamtillo ranch. Although it looks slightly different to me, it tastes delicious, so..... 

1 buttermilk ranch dry dressing pkg, prepared according to directions
2 tomatillos
1/2 bunch cilantro
1 clove garlic
juice of 1 lime
1 jalapeno (its pretty spicy with no seeds at all, but add some if you want extra hot)
Blend all together in food processor or blender, store in fridge.

Serve with Shredded Chicken or Shredded Pork to make a delicious meal!

Summer's Sweet Crock Pot Chicken

Okay, I had this at Summer's house and it was delicious!! I guess it's a bit "Cafe Rio"-ish... but I've never eaten there, so I have no clue. Anyway, she told me how to make it....


Put some chicken in your crock pot, then add equal parts brown sugar and salsa, then let it cook for several hours, shred it up, mix it around and cook a bit longer, and then you've got some delicious sweet and spicy shredded chicken. We had this in burritos with lots of yummy toppings, but I also make this along with some Celery Salsa and either serve together, or pile all of it on a bed of lettuce and have an awesome salad!

I don't really have any good measurements or dimensions for you... I think I did about 3 chicken breasts and maybe 1/2 cup sugar and salsa. You could also substitute a can of Rotel and some hot sauce, it would be very much the same.

Lime Rice

Lime Rice

in a sauce pan, saute

2 Tbs butter
1 yellow onion chopped
4 cloves garlic minced

In a large pot bring to boil:
6 2/3 cups water
8 tsp chicken bouillon
1/2 bunch of cilantro ( i didn't have any and so i didn't put this in)
2 tsp cumin
2 small cans diced green chili's
1 Tbs lime juice
1/2 tsp pepper

Add three cups of rice, and the butter/garlic/onion mixture. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 30 min. (stir occasionally so rice doesn't stick to bottom of pan)