Creamy Cilantro Lime Dressing (Aka Cafe Rio Dressing)

Everyone already has this recipe, but thought I'd post it here to make it easy to find:

1 pack (1oz) Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing Mix
ignore directions on the packet
1C mayo
1/2 C milk
1 lime
2 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
1/2 C roughly chopped cilantro
1/4 C green salsa*
hot sauce

This is tough folks. Place milk, mayo, and ranch mix in a blender. Juice the lime in there too, you should get about 2T juice. Toss in the garlic, cilantro and green salsa. Blend ‘er up. Sample it and add hot sauce to taste. Make it several hours ahead of time to allow it to thicken.

San Diego Style Fish Tacos - AKA BEST FISH TACOS EVER

So I made these last night and Jack and I both thought they were the BEST fish tacos we've ever had.  Normally I don't fry things beacause a) it is unhealthy and b) I always get burned and make a mess.  But this really didn't make a mess OR burn me, it was really easy.  Ok maybe it is still unhealthy, but every once in awhile it is WORTH it.  I skipped the queso fresco cause it was so darn expensive at Dan's.  I also used halibut instead of cod because it was cheaper.

San Diego-Style Fish Tacos

1 c. all-purpose flour

2 Tbsp. cornstarch
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 egg
1 c. beer (non-alcoholic beer works great)
1 lb. cod fillets, rinsed, patted dry, and cut into 1-2 oz. strips
Corn tortillas (as many as you have pieces of fish)
Pico de Gallo (and/or Mango Pico de Gallo) (just use your favorite recipe)
Shredded cabbage (packaged coleslaw mix works great)
Creamy Lime-Cilantro Dressing (aka Cafe Rio Dressing)
Crumbled Cotija cheese or Queso Fresco
Fresh lime wedges and sea salt for serving

Preheat oven to 170 (or lowest setting on your oven).
Combine flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk an egg and then whisk in the beer. Add the beer mixture to the flour mixture.
Heat about 1 quart (3-4 inches) of canola oil to 375 degrees (use a candy or frying thermometer) in a heavy cooking pot. Lightly dredge each piece of fish in flour and then dip in beer batter. Gently drop into the hot oil and cook for about 7-8 minutes or until the coating is dark golden-brown and a test piece flakes easily with a fork. Remove from oil and drain on a paper towel-lined plate; stick the plate in the preheated oven to keep warm while you cook your tortillas.
Place tortillas, 1-2 at a time, in the hot oil and cook 1-2 minutes or until they start to get crispy but are still bendable. Remove from oil and drain on a paper towel. Assemble each taco with a piece of fish, shredded cabbage, pico de gallo, crumbled Cotija cheese (or Queso Fresco), and a drizzling of Lime-Cilantro Ranch.

Creamy Avocado Pasta

Serving Size: 2

Prep Time: 10-15 min
Cook Time: See pasta package

I found this recipe online and it is so easy to make and yummy if you like avacados.

Ingredients:

• 1 medium sized ripe Avocado, pitted
• 1/2 lemon, juiced + lemon zest to garnish
• 1/2 - 1 garlic cloves, to taste
• 1/2 tsp kosher salt, or to taste
• 1/4 cup or less Fresh Basil, (probably optional)
• 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 2 servings/6 oz of your choice of pasta
• Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Directions:
1. Bring several cups of water to a boil in a medium sized pot. Add in your pasta, reduce heat to medium, and cook until Al Dente, about 8-10 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, make the sauce by placing the garlic cloves, lemon juice, and olive oil into a food processor. Process until smooth. Now add in the pitted avocado, basil, and salt. Process until smooth and creamy.
3. When pasta is done cooking, drain and rinse in a strainer and place pasta into a large bowl. Pour on sauce and toss until fully combined. Garnish with lemon zest and black pepper. Serve immediately. Makes 2 servings.

*Please note: This dish does not reheat well due to the avocado in the sauce. Please serve immediately.

You may have to mess around with this recipe until you get it right to your tasting, but I really liked it!

Picture via: OhSheGlows.com

Tinga

This is an authentic dish from Mexico.  I had it at school a few weeks ago and it was prepared by a cute girl whose husband is from the area of Mexico where this dish is prepared (Northern Mexico City).  I am usually not a big fan of Mexican food, but this was really good!  This isn't her exact recipe (I need to get it from her), but I found this one online which got great reviews.

Servings: Plenty for 8 Adults and a handful of toddlers
Cook Time: 4 hrs
Prep Time: 10 min

Ingredients:

• 6 chicken breast halves (you can use beef or pork if you'd rather)
• 6 medium onions, 3 thinly sliced and 3 chopped
• 1 clove garlic, chopped
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 6 medium tomatoes
• 1 (7 ounce) can chipotle peppers in adobo sauce
• 1 tablespoon chicken bouillon granules
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 cinnamon stick or 1 tsp powder
• 1 Tbsp sugar

Optional:

• Cilantro
• Limes
• Avocado
• Shredded Lettuce
• Refried Beans
• Sour Cream
• Tostado Shells (or Tortilla Chips if you want to use chicken as a dip)
• Shredded Cheese

Preparation:

Place the chicken into crockpot. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the 3 onions that were sliced and garlic, and sautee until transparent. Add to crockpot.

Place the tomatoes, 1-2  chipotle peppers and a little bit of the adobe sauce (SPICY! so add as many peppers and as much sauce as you think you can handle), 3 chopped onions, chicken bouillon into a blender or large food processor. Process until smooth. Season with salt, pepper, sugar, and cinnamon. Pour this mixture into crockpot.

Cook for 3.5 minutes.  Take out chicken and shred into fine pieces with fork.  Put back in crockpot for an additional 30 minutes.

To serve, each person spreads some refried beans on their tostada shell, and top with a spoonful of the chicken, sour cream, cheese, avocado, cilantro, shredded lettuce, cheese, and a squirt of lime.

It seems like there are a lot of onions and tomatoes, so we will probably have to mess around with this recipe until we get it right.

Picture Via
Recipe Via

Chile and Lime Veggie Bowls

Ingredients:

1 Tbsp. soy sauce

1-2 Tbsp. lime juice

1 tsp. chili powder

1 tsp. fresh oregano or 1/2 tsp. dried
1 Tbsp. olive oil

2 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and cut in 1-inch cubes

1 15-oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained

1 cup sliced cherry or grape tomatoes

1 cup shelled edamame

1 medium avocado sliced

large cabbage/iceberg or boston lettuce (I’m not a huge fan of cabbage)

1/4 cup thinly sliced green onions

lime wedges (optional)

Directions

~ Make Dressing; set aside *if you remember make it the night before

Yogurt-Lime Dressing

In small bowl combine 1/2 cup plain low-fat yogurt, 2 TBS lime juice, 1 TBS soy sauce, 1 TBS chili powder, 1 clove minced garlic, 2 TBS chopped cilantro, 1TBS chopped chives.  Salt & Pepper to Taste. Whisk in 1/4 cup olive oil until well combined.

~ In a zip lock bag combine diced potatoes, soy sauce, lime juice, chili powder, oregano, and olive oil; add diced sweet potatoes and toss to coat. Roast at 425° for 30-40 minutes on a foiled cookie sheet or until done.

~ Divide potatoes, beans, tomatoes, edamame, and avocado among cabbage leaves. Sprinkle with green onions.

Drizzle with the dressing and wrap it all up!

You can add grilled chicken if you want to it be heartier. 

Salmon BLT

Ingredients:
Salmon Filet
Extra virgin olive oil
Low sodium soy sauce
Juice of one orange
Salmon Directions:
Brush salmon filet with olive oil on both sides and then coat with soy sauce and orange juice.  Crack some fresh pepper on top and then broil 15 - 20 minutes (depending on size and thickness) turning once until flaky and done.

Dressing:
1 c. low fat sour cream or plain yogurt
Juice of one lemon
2 T. white wine/cooking wine
1/2 c. italian parsley
1/2 c. chives
5-10 fresh basil leaves
sea salt & cracked pepper
Dressing Directions:
Blend all ingredients in a blender

slice some sourdough bread and brush with olive oil and broil OR toast.  Spread toasted bread with dressing and top with salmon, bacon, lettce and tomato.  Serve with sweet potato fries.

Paradise Bakery Black & White Chippers

Prep Time: 10 min
Cook Time: 10 min
Servings:

Ingredients:

1 3/4 cups flour
1 1/4 cups cocoa powder (I used Hershey’s Dark Chocolate Cocoa Powder)
1 cup white sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 tsps. baking soda
1 cup butter
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1/4 tsp. salt
2 cups white chocolate chips

Preparation:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease cookie sheet.

2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar and white sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well with each addiction. Add the salt and vanilla.

3. In another bowl, combine the flour, cocoa and baking soda and gradually add to the creamed mixture. Fold in chocolate chips. Drop by rounded spoonfuls onto the prepared cookie sheet.

4. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes until fluffy but still soft. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

Printing Recipes

Hey Everyone,

I have just set up a convenient new way to print our recipes!  See right hand side of blog for instructions on "Printing a Recipe," located under "Recipes"!

Learn how to do this here

Hawaiian Haystacks - Slow Cooker

This is one of those recipes you can quickly throw together in the morning, forget about it, and then have a yummy meal in the evening.  I like to make this when I have to bring someone dinner - people always say that they loved it and that it was nice not to get another lasagna.

Makes 4-6 servings

• 10 to 12 chicken tenders, cut in chunks
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 2 cans (10 3/4 ounces each) condensed cream of chicken soup
• 1 can (12 ounces) evaporated milk
• 6 cups cooked rice

1. Place chicken in greased 3 1/2 to 5-quart slow cooker.
2. Combine remaining ingredients and pour over chicken.
3. Cook on high heat 3-4 hours or on low heat 6-8 hours.
4. Serve over hot rice with a variety of cold toppings that could include grated cheese, peas, pineapple tidbits, shredded coconut, raisins, Chinese noodles, olives, diced tomatoes, diced green peppers, sliced green onions, and other family favorites.

Cashew Chicken Salad

A friend made this for me and I loved it!  The recipe calls for egg noodles, but I like bowtie pasta better.  Since it has chicken you could eat it for dinner with breadsticks.  We ate it tonight and Jack LOVED it. Enjoy!


Ingredients:
4 chicken breast cooked and cubed
1 12 oz pkg egg noodles
1 pkg spinach large bag
¼ cup green onions
1 cup cashews
½ cup sunflower seeds

Dressing:
1 cup vegetable oil
½ cup soy sauce
4 TBLS Sugar
½ cup vinegar

Mix all ingredients EXCEPT spinach and onion in a bowl.  Toss with dressing and let it sit in fridge for at least one hour.  Add green onions and spinach just before serving.