Thursday, May 21, 2009

Whoops!

Haha DaniBB, here I thought I was doing you a favor, and then I saw you posted a very similar recipe very recently. Sorry ladies!

Cafe Rio Pork

I had this at friend's house a few months ago and called her for the recipe this past week. I've never lived in Utah, so I've escaped the "have to" of eating at Cafe Rio...and though I can't compare it to the real McCoy, I do know that this pork is delicious. We ate it in soft tacos with black beans, guacamole, tomatoes, lettuce, cheese and sour cream, then had some in quesadillas, and then some with salads before I froze the rest. And DaniBB, it freezes really well! Also, we don't eat very many spicy things, but this is certainly not spicy at all. If anything, it could only be described as sweet. You could easily add more chili powder to spice things up. Here's the recipe:

CAFE RIO PORK

1 pork roast (the one I used was about 3 lbs.)
1 C. brown sugar
1 C. worcestershire sauce
1 tsp. dried oregano
1 tsp. ground ginger
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. chili powder
1 tsp garlic powder
2 Tbsp. dehydrated, minced onions

Combine all ingredients in slow cooker, then place roast on top. Cook on "low" for 6-8 hours, flipping the roast once, about halfway through cooking. One hour before serving, shred the pork, remove any bones, and stir in 1 cup brown sugar and 1 cup red enchilada sauce. Allow to cook for remaining time, and serve warm.

Sunday, May 17, 2009

Mexican Casserole

My son was recently diagnosed with Celiac disease so my cooking world has been turned upside down as I learn how to cook without wheat. Here is a recipe I've used a few times and it's always been a hit. It's great because you can substitute ingredients for whatever you have on hand and it still tastes great!

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

1 lb. ground beef (or turkey)
1/2 onion chopped
1/2 green pepper chopped
1 can diced tomatoes
1 can black beans drained (or whatever beans on hand)
1 can corn drained
1 packet Taco seasoning
2 cups cheddar cheese
10-12 white corn tortillas cut into strips
Sour Cream
Olives
Lettuce

Brown beef and add onions and pepper, cook until soft. Add seasoning and stir well. Add tomatoes, beans, and corn, let simmer for 5 minutes.

Cover bottom of 9X12 casserole dish with 1/2 of tortilla strips. Spoon half of hamburger mixture over tortillas. Sprinkle half of shredded cheese over top and repeat layers.

Cook 10 minutes or until cheese melts.

Serve with chopped olives, lettuce and sour cream.

Chicken Potato Casserole

This super simple and delicious recipe is perfect to freeze ahead of time, then thaw and bake on nights when you just can't face the kitchen.


Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 60 minutes


Ingredients:
10 oz. can condensed reduced fat and sodium cream of chicken soup
1 cup sour cream
1/4 cup milk
2 cups cubed cooked chicken
1-1/4 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
3-1/2 cups frozen hash brown potatoes, thawed
1-1/2 cups frozen peppers and onions, thawed
1-1/4 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
1-1/2 cups crushed potato chips

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium bowl, combine soup, sour cream, milk, chicken and 1-1/4 cups cheese. Spread three-quarters of this mixture in a greased 2-quart baking dish.
Sprinkle hash browns and peppers and onions over the top of the casserole and press down lightly, then top vegetables with remaining soup mixture. Sprinkle with remaining cheese and potato chips.
Bake casserole, uncovered, at 350 degrees for 50-60 minutes or until bubbly. Let stand for 5-10 minutes before serving. 8 servings
To freeze, assemble casserole as directed, except do not thaw potatoes, peppers, or onions and do not sprinkle with potato chips. Wrap casserole in freezer wrap or heavy duty foil and freeze. Reserve potato chips in pantry. To thaw and bake, let thaw overnight in refrigerator. Uncover and bake at 350 degrees F for 60-70 minutes until bubbly. Then top with crushed potato chips and bake 5-10 minutes longer.

Recipes Needed... HELP!

I am due with a baby in 3 weeks. I was wondering if you guys have ideas for meal I can make and freeze. Preferably things that done have excecss tomatoes, onions, garlic or brocoli. Thanks!- Dani

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Sweet Pork & Rice

,If you've ever been to Cafe Rio you'll love this. It's Soooooo easy!
6-8 servings

Sweet Pork:
1-2 lb. Pork tenderloin (you could use chicken or beef as well.)
1 C. Brown sugar
2 C. Salsa

Mix sugar & Salsa, pour over pork. Cook in crock pot for 8 hrs. on low. Remove pork, shred, and return to salsa. Serve with tortillas.
I don't have a crock pot, and I'm cheap when it comes to meat. I cooked pork chops, by boiling them in water until done. Then I shredded them. I mixed the salsa & sugar together, then I boiled it. I added the shredded pork and then let it simmer, covered for about 1 hr. It still turned out great.

Green Chile Rice:
1 C. Rice
2 C. Chicken broth
4 oz. diced green chiles
1/2 C. diced onion
1 t. Oregano
1/2 t. Salt
1-2 t. Cumin
Mix together and cook as usual.

I made these into burritos, layering rice, black beans and pork. Then I melted cheese ontop. They were so good.

Sunday, May 3, 2009

Chocolate Oatmeal-Crispy No Bake Cookies

Ingredients:
1 cups Sugar
1/2 cup Margarine
3 Tablespoons Cocoa
1/4 teaspoon Salt
6 Tablespoons Milk
1 teaspoon Vanilla
3 cups Rolled Oats
1 cup Crispy Rice Cereal

Instructions:
1. Mix oatmeal and crispy rice cereal together in a bowl.
2. In a saucepan, bring sugar, margarine, cocoa, salt, and milk to a boil. Add vanilla and stir.
3. Add chocolate mixture to oatmeal mixture. Stir.
4. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto cookie sheet or wax paper. For less crumbly cookies, smash the cookie mixture against the side of the pan or bowl, or your hand (if cool enough to handle).
5. You can make balls with your hands (if cool). Let cool.

Makes about 90-100 small teaspoon sized cookies.
Note: Add a little more milk if it gets too crumbly and warm up for a small amount of time.

Oatmeal Cake

Oatmeal Cake

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cup Boiled Water
1 cup Oatmeal
1/2 cup Margarine or Butter
2 Eggs
1 cup Sugar
1 cup Brown Sugar
1 1/3 cup Flour
1 teaspoon Baking Soda
1 teaspoon Cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon Salt
1/2 teaspoon Nutmeg
Frosting:
1 cup Chopped Pecans
1 cup Coconut
1 cup Brown Sugar
1/4 cup Milk (can be evaporated milk)
1/4 cup Margarine or Butter
1 teaspoon Vanilla

Instructions:
Pour water over oats. Add margarine. Beat eggs and then add to oats. Add sugars. Mix. Add flour, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, and nutmeg. Mix together.
Bake at 350° for 20 minutes.
For frosting, heat all ingredients together in saucepan on stove. Pour over cake and broil in oven for a few minutes. Watch carefully.

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chunk Cookies


This cookie recipe came from the Kraft Foods website. It is SO good!

Prep Time:
15 min
Total Time:
28 min
Makes:
About 2-1/2 doz. or 30 servings


Ingredients:
1 cup flour
1 cup old-fashioned or quick-cooking oats
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. CALUMET Baking Powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 egg
1-1/2 tsp. vanilla
6 squares BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Chocolate, coarsely chopped

Make It

PREHEAT oven to 375°F. Mix flour, oats, baking soda, baking powder and salt; set aside. Beat butter, sugars and peanut butter in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add egg and vanilla; mix well. Gradually add flour mixture, mixing until well blended after each addition. Stir in chocolate.

DROP heaping tablespoonfuls of dough, 2 inches apart, onto ungreased baking sheets.

BAKE 10 to 12 min. or until lightly browned. Cool 1 min.; remove from baking sheets to wire racks. Cool completely.

Kraft Kitchens Tips

Substitute
Substitute 1 cup BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chunks for the chopped chocolate squares.

Monster Cookies

Monster Cookies

Ingredients:
1 cup Butter
1 1/2 cup Brown Sugar
1 1/2 cup Sugar
3 Eggs
3/4 teaspoon Vanilla
3/4 teaspoon Corn Syrup
1 1/2 cup Peanut Butter
2 1/4 teaspoon Baking Soda
4 1/2 cup Oatmeal
2 cup Flour
1/2 cup each kind of chip (butterscotch, chocolate, white)

Instructions:
Mix all ingredients together. Drop onto cookie sheet. Bake at 350° for 10 minutes.

Poor Man's Cookies

These are called poor man’s cookies because they contain no eggs, nuts, or milk. They are rich in taste though. They also taste better with a cup of chocolate chips or whatever else you'd like to add.

Ingredients:
2 cups Oatmeal
1 cup packed Brown Sugar
1/2 cup Sugar
1 cup Flour
1/4 teaspoon Salt
1 teaspoon Baking Soda
1/4 cup Hot Water
1/2 cup Shortening, melted
1 teaspoon Vanilla
2 Tablespoons Water

Instructions:
In a mixing bowl, combine oatmeal, brown sugar, sugar, flour, and salt. Combine baking soda and water and stir in oatmeal mixture. Stir well. Add shortening and vanilla. Add 2 Tablespoons water to help them stick together (a few Tablespoons more if needed) when you roll into walnut-sized balls and place on a greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350° for about 10 minutes or until golden-brown. Makes about 36 cookies.

Quick Apple Crisp

4 medium tart cooking apples, peeled and sliced (4 cups)
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup oats (quick or old fashioned)
1/3 cup butter or margarine, softened slightly
3/4 teaspoon cinnamon, plus extra
3/4 teaspoon vanilla
Ice Cream or Cream, if desired

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Grease bottom and sides of an 8 inch square pan with shortening. Spread apples in the pan. Sprinkle apples vanilla and extra cinnamon. In a medium bowl, cut butter into remaining ingredients (except ice cream) until well mixed; sprinkle over apples.
Bake for about 30 minutes or until topping is golden brown and apples are tender when pierced with a fork. Serve warm with ice cream.

I usually double the recipe for the topping and fill a 9x13 pan with apples to make a larger batch.

Neiman-Marcus Oatmeal Cookies

This the best cookie recipe. It is originally a chocolate chip recipe, but I substitute whatever I am feeling like and usually make the batch half of one mix in and half of another.

1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated white sugar
1 1/4 cups blended oatmeal*
1 egg
5 oz Hershey chocolate bar, grated
6 oz chocolate chips
1 cup flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. vanilla
3/4 cup chopped nuts (optional)

*Measure oatmeal and blend in blender to a fine powder.
Cream butter and both sugars. Add egg and vanilla. Mix together with flour, oatmeal, salt, baking powder and baking soda. Add chocolate chips, Hershey bar and nuts. Roll and place 2 inches apart on a cookie sheet. Bake for 10 minutes at 375. Yield is 2-3 dozen depending on how big you make the cookie.

I don't like chocolate, so I usually use white chocolate chips, coconut and pecans for a macadamia style cookie. The dough also freezes really well. I can fit a double batch in my Bosch bowl so I make all of it into dough balls and freeze half of them on a cookie sheet in the freezer, then put the balls into a freezer bag for quick cookies later on. They cook better if they can thaw a little first, or just don't cook them for quite as long without checking on them (they might need to be smashed down with a fork half-way through).

Wanted: Oatmeal recipes

I've got to start using all the oatmeal I have stockpiled. Does anyone have a great oatmeal cookie recipe (preferably one without raisins)? Or other recipes that include oatmeal?