Cilantro Lime Rice

1 cup uncooked rice (long grain, white rice)

1 tsp butter

2 cloves garlic minced

1 tsp lime juice

1 can (15 oz) chicken broth

1 cup water

In a sauce pan combine all ingredients and bring to a boil. Cover and simmer on low for 15-20 min until rice is tender. While rice is cooking, in a small bowl, combine:

1 Tbsp lime juice

2 tsp sugar

1 Tbsp chopped cilantro

When rice is done stir in cilantro mixture and fluff rice.

Cafe Rio Enchilada Sauce (Medium)

I found this recipe on pinterest and it is delicious! just as good as cafe rio. This also makes a big batch so feel free to half it or make the whole batch and freeze the extra.

2-3 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1 Large onion, minced (I used half a jumbo onion)

5-6 cloves of garlic

2-3 green bell peppers, chopped

1-2 jalapenos, seeded and ribs removed and chopped

1-1.5 lb tomatillos, husked and quartered

1/2 bunch fresh cilantro chopped coarsly

1 1/2 tsp kosher salt

1/4 tsp black pepper

1 1/2 tsp cumin

4 cups chicken broth

2-3 Tbsp sugar

In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Saute garlic and onions until tender and fragrant.

While onions are cooking, combine tomatillos, green bell peppers, jalapenos, and cilantro in your blender. Process until smooth. You may have to blend in batches or add some chicken broth so that it's blendable.

Pour the tomatillo mixture over the onions and garlic and add the chicken broth, salt and pepper, and cumin. Simmer 15 min to 1 hour depending on the consistency you want.

Cafe Rio Sweet Pork

I'm sorry for the next few posts because they do not have pictures, but i will take some the next time I make this. Also, this first recipe is credited to Michelle since she is the one who gave this recipe to me.

Cafe Rio Sweet Pork

1 lb pork roast (can do up to 3 lbs with this recipe)

1 cup dark brown sugar

1 cup Worcestershire sauce

1 tsp dried oregano

1 tsp powdered ginger

1 tsp salt

1 tsp chili powder

1 tsp garlic powder

1 Tbsp dried minced onions

Cook all ingredients in crock pot all day. 1 hour before serving, shred pork. dump out juice and return pork to the crock pot and add:

1 cup dark brown sugar

1 cup red enchilada sauce

Norwegian Sugar Cookies

I love these cookies. These are Grandma Campbell's sugar cookies. They bring back so many memories. I don't make them very often because they are a crunchier cookie and Sterling only likes soft cookies, so I was glad when Mom made them for Amy's baby shower.

Ingredients:
1 C Sugar
1 C Shortening
1 Egg
1/2 t Cream of Tartar
1/2 t Baking Soda
1 t Vanilla
2 C Flour

Set aside one cup of sugar in a bowl for later.

Directions:
Cream sugar and shortening together. Mix in beaten egg and vanilla. Add dry ingredients. Mix. Roll into small balls then roll in the bowl of sugar. Place the ball on a cookie sheet. Dip the bottom of a mug in the sugar and press it down on the ball to flatten it. Bake at 350 degrees until they are only the tiniest bit browned on the edges. If the edges are very browned, you have gone too long.

Chicken Tortilla Soup

Okay, this might not be the best picture. I promise this soup is delicious. It's also very easy to make. Basically you are just dumping a bunch of stuff in the crockpot. It makes a ton, so you'll definitely have leftovers. This recipe came from my sister-in-law Annetter, who is an amazing cook. I can't wait until winter every year so I can make it.

Ingredients:
1 Small Onion, Chopped
4 oz. Can Diced Green Chilies
2 Cloves Garlic
2 T Olive Oil
14 oz. Can chopped Tomatoes in juice, do not drain
3 C V-8 Vegetable Juice
14 oz. Can Beef Broth
1 t Cumin
1 t Chili Powder
1 t Salt
2 t Worcestershire Sauce
1 lb. Chicken Breasts, can be frozen
14 oz. Can Corn with Juice
2-3 Cans Kidney Beans in juice
Tortilla Chips
Cheddar Chips
Sour Cream
Green Onions
Guacamole

Directions:
Saute the first 4 ingredients in a frying pan for 5 minutes. Transfer to a large crockpot.

Add the next 8 ingredients into the crockpot. Let cook on high for at least 4 hours (It will take longer if the chicken is frozen.)

Take out the chicken, shred it and return it to the crockpot. Add corn and beans and heat through.

Top with chips, cheese, sour cream, guacamole, onions, or whatever you want.

Speedy Chicken Stir Fry

This recipe came from Kraftfoods.com. I love it. It is so easy and fast. It has a little bit of spice to it, but not too much. It's one we make a lot because we usually have all the ingredients on hand.

8 oz. Angel Hair Pasta, uncooked (I use spaghetti because I prefer thicker noodles.)
2 C Broccoli Florets
1 lb. Boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite sized chunks or strips
1/2 C Kraft Asian Toasted Sesame Dressing (I put in a little extra because I like it saucier.)
2 T Soy Sauce
1/4 t each: Ground Ginger, Garlic Powder, Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
1/3 C Chopped Peanuts (I don't put these in.)

Cook pasta as directed on package, adding broccoli to the boiling water for the last 3 minutes.

While the pasta is cooking, cook chicken on medium high heat. when it is cooked through, add dressing, soy sauce, ginger, garlic and crushed red pepper. Cook 1 minute, stirring occasionally.

Drain pasta and broccoli, place in a large bowl or back in the empty pot. Add the chicken mixture, and toss together with noodles.

So yummy. So easy.

Caramel Apple Spiced Cider

Last week I went to Starbucks and got some of their yummy hot chocolate. David was a little more adventurous and tried their caramel apple spiced cider and we both ended up loving it. Since then I have been craving it daily so I looked up a couple of recipes online and kind of came up with my own recipe and it turned out SO good! And luckily, since this is a seasonal drink at Starbucks I can now make it whenever I want it!

Caramel Apple Spiced Cider

Serves 2

2 cups 100% juice apple cider or juice

1 tsp caramel syrup (the drink flavor syrup, not the ice cream syrup. I found it at Smiths by the coffee)

1-2 tbsp cinnamon dolce syrup (I used cinnamon coffee creamer)

whip cream

caramel syrup (the ice cream kind)

Heat apple juice, caramel syrup, and cinnamon syrup or creamer on medium heat until hot. About 5 min. separate into two cups and scoop whip cream on top. drizzle a little of the ice cream caramel syrup on top and enjoy!

Baked Ziti

This is the best pasta recipe ever! I got this from Mel's Kitchen Cafe, like 90% of the recipes on this blog. I have to half it, because for the two of us, it makes plenty. It's always a happy day in our house when it's Bake Ziti night.

Ingredients:
1 lb Cottage Cheese
2 Large Eggs
3 oz. Grated Parmesan (about 1 1/2 cups)
1 lb Ziti or Penne (I usually do a little more than what it calls for, because I don't like it really saucy.)
2 T Olive Oil
5 Cloves finely mince Garlic
1 (28 oz.) Can Tomato Sauce
1 (14.5 oz. ) Can Diced Tomatoes
1 t Dried Oregano
1 T Dried Basil
1 t Sugar
Black Pepper
3/4 t Cornstarch
1 C Heavy Cream
8 oz. Mozzarella

Whisk cottage cheese, eggs and 1 cup paremesan together and set aside. Cook pasta. Don't let it get too soft because it will continue cooking in the oven. Drain it and keep it in the colander. You will use the pot in just a minute.

Ina skillet over medium heat, cook the garlic for about 2 minutes. Stir in tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, sugar, basil and oregano. Simmer until thickened, about 10 minutes. Take off heat, and salt and pepper to taste.

Stir in the cornstarch into the heavy cream in the empty pasta pot. Bring it to a simmer and cook until thickened, 3-4 minutes. Remove pot from heat and add cottage cheese mixture, 1 cup of the tomato sauce mixture and 3/4 cup mozzarella. Add pasta and mix completely.

Transfer into a 9x13 inch baking dish. Spread remaining tomato sauce evenly over the pasta. Sprinkle remaining mozzarella and parmesan over the top. Cover with tin foil and bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees.

Remove foil and cook for a few more minutes until the cheese is bubbly and begins to brown, about 20 more minutes.

Country Fried Pork Chop with Gravy and Asparagus

This is another one that I don't really have a recipe for but is really good and I did take a picture so I had to share even though I don't quite remember what I did exactly.

Country Fried Pork Chop and Gravy

Take your

Boneless Pork Chops and dredge in some flour seasoned with- Salt, Pepper, Red Pepper Flakes, Garlic Powder, (or whatever you want I don't remember exactly what I put in those are some of my go to spices). If you want to keep it simple you can just use seasoning salt.

Put Floured pork chops in egg wash (2 eggs and some milk)

Put Pork chops back in flour one more time. (Save your flour for the gravy)

Heat Pan with some oil and when it is hot add pork chops. Brown all the pork chops and place on a wire rack over a cookie sheet (to keep the crust from falling off and they don't get soggy) and bake at 350-400 till done.

Add some butter to your pan (about 2Tbs) and melt and add your flour (same amount as your butter) Make a rue and let it cook for a minute to get rid of the flour taste. Start thinning the rue with some milk (Slowly whisk it in). You will need about 2 cups of milk just slowly add it till it is at the consistency that you like.

Pull out your pork chops and enjoy with mashed potatoes

Baked Asparagus

Asparagus

Olive Oil

Sea Salt

Coat asparagus in oil and salt and bake at 400 for about 10-15 min. until they are done and a little crispy.

Chili

I made Chili last night for Halloween and some of you wanted the recipe, the problem is that there is no recipe because I just put things in the pot randomly. So I figured I should right down what I did before I forget. I'm not much of a recipe follower so there aren't any measurements, I'll put down some rough estimates of what I think you will need but you may need to add a little more, just taste as you go.

Chili

1/2 lb. hamburger

1 can tomato sauce

2 cans beans ( I used pinto and red beans but you can use pretty whatever you have on hand)

1 can diced green chilies

chopped onion- as much as you like I only put in maybe a quarter of a small onion

2-3 Tb. Chili powder

1/2 - 1 Tb. Garlic Powder

1 tsp. Oregano

1/2 Tb. Cumin

1/2 tbPaprika

Salt to taste

Pepper to tase

1/2 tsp. Cinnamon

Cook your hamburger, add the onion when the hamburger is almost done and continue cooking. I like to add my seasonings to the meat, I added about half of the seasonings at this point. Drain the beans and add, add the tomato sauce and green chilies. Taste add more seasonings. Let simmer for 30 min or more to let the flavors develop.

When your chili is done you can put it in a jar and add corn bread mix and bake until the cornbread is done if you want. As per package directions.