Cafe Rio Rice

3 c water
4 t chicken bouillon
4 t garlic –minced
½ bunch cilantro
1 can green chiles—or equivalent fresh
¾ t salt
1 T butter
½ onion
3 c rice (see note)

Blend cilantro, green chiles and onion together in food processor. Bring water to a boil and add all ingredients, simmer covered 30 minutes.
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Creamy Tomatillo Dressing

1 package Ranch Buttermilk Dressing mix
1/3 cup buttermilk
1 cup Mayonnaise (I use half mayo and half sour cream)
3 fresh tomatillos
1 cup fresh cilantro
2 cloves garlic
¼ tsp cayenne pepper

Just put everything in a blender and puree.
Refrigerate for a couple of hours and if you need to, adjust the thickness by adding more buttermilk to thin it out, or sour cream to make it thicker.

Guacamole

2-3 ripe Avocados
1-2 Tbl lime juice
1/2 tomato, finely chopped
2 Tbl finely chopped onion
salt, to taste (or use garlic salt)

Mash avocado and lime juice with a fork. Fold in the tomato, onion, and salt.

Pico de Gallo

4 ripe Tomatoes
1/2 cup chopped white onion
1 jalapeno, minced (remove the seeds and veins if you don’t like a lot of heat)
1/4 cup cilantro, finely chopped
lime juice, to taste
salt, to taste

Mix everything together.

Cafe Rio Pork Barbcoa

Cafe Rio Pork Barbacoa

Pork Roast: Put it in a crock pot with a little water and cook until very tender (about 8 hours on low).

Shred pork and add:
1 can enchilada sauce
2 cloves minced garlic
1 small can diced green chilies
1 can Coke (not diet coke)
1 cup brown sugar
salt to taste

Cook for one more hour.

Cafe Rio Chicken

Cafe Rio Chicken

3 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1/2 bottle Kraft Zesty Italian Dressing
2 tsp cumin
2 tsp chili powder
2 cloved minced garlic

Cook for about 4 hours in a crock pot. Shred chicken with a fork.

Black Beans

1 can black beans, rinsed
2 Tbl finely mined onion
2 cloves minced garlic
1 tsp ground cumin
1 cup tomato juice
3 Tbl chopped Fresh Cilantro
1 tsp salt

Fry onion, garlic and cumin in a small amount of olive oil. Add beans, tomato juice, cilantro and salt and heat through.

Cafe Rio Salad

Café Rio Salad


Build your salad using the following ingredients in the order given. You can use disposable pie or cake pans to make these salads.

1. Large Flour Tortillas
Use homemade or buy the uncooked ones and cook them on a griddle. Sprinkle some cheddar cheese on top and cook until the cheese is melted. Place the cheesy tortillas in a cake pan.

2. Spanish Rice or Cilantro Lime Rice Recipe below (or cook a packaged Spanish Rice Mix)

3. Black Beans

4. Meat of your choice
I like sliced grilled chicken, but you can also use shredded chicken (try Cafe Rio Chicken) or shredded pork (try Pork Balbacoa)

5. Romaine Lettuce
Wash thoroughly, and cut into large squares.

6. Pico de Gallo

7. Guacamole
8. Lime Wedges

9. Grated Cotija cheese

10. Cilantro sprigs

11. Crispy Tortilla Strips
Just cut some corn Tortillas in thin strips and quickly fry until crisp. Drain on paper towels and sprinkle with a little bit of salt.

12. Creamy Tomatillo Dressing