Cafe Rio Pork

Ingredients

• 2 pounds pork 
• 3 cans Coke (NOT diet)
• 1/4 c. brown sugar
• dash garlic salt
• 1/4 c. water
• 1 can diced green chilies
• 3/4 (10oz) can red enchilada sauce (I use Old El Paso brand, medium spiciness but any will work)
• 1 c. brown sugar

Throw everything in the crockpot and cook for 8hours on low. then shredd

Cilantro Lime rice

• 1 c. uncooked rice (long-grain, white rice)
• 1 tsp. butter or margarine
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp. freshly squeezed lime juice
• 1 can (15 oz) chicken broth
• 1 cup water
• 1 Tbsp. freshly squeezed lime juice
• 3 tablespoons fresh chopped cilantro

Instructions

• In a saucepan combine rice, butter, garlic, 1 tsp. lime, chicken broth and water. Bring to a boil. Cover and cook on low 15-20 minutes,. Remove from heat.pour lime juice and cilantro over hot cooked rice and mix in as you fluff the rice.

Black Beans

• 2 Tbsp. olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp. ground cumin
• 1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 1/3 c. tomato juice
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 2 Tbsp. fresh chopped cilantro

Instructions

• In a nonstick skillet, cook garlic and cumin in olive oil over medium heat until you can smell it. Add beans, tomato juice, and salt. Continually stir until heated through. Just before serving stir in the cilantro.

Cilantro Ranch 

• 1 packet TRADITIONAL Hidden Valley Ranch mix (not BUTTERMILK)
• 1 c. mayonnaise
• 1 c. buttermilk
• 2 tomatillos, remove husk, diced
• 1/2 bunch of fresh cilantro
• 1 clove garlic
• juice of 1 lime
• 1 jalapeno (we like it SPICY so we kept the seeds in it, if you like it mild, just remove the seeds)

Instructions

• Mix all ingredients together in the blender. 

SALAD

• 6 large Tortillas (click HERE)
• Shredded cheese, Mexican blend
•  Rice 
•  Black Beans
• Cafe Rio Sweet Pork
• Lettuce (NOT iceberg, use leafy green or Romaine)
• Diced tomato, onion, and cilantro (pico de gallo)
• Guacamole 
• Sour cream
• Tortilla Strips 
• Cotija cheese, crumbled (or you can use Parmesan or feta)
•  Cilantro Ranch 

Melt Cheese on tortilla and layer everything for a delicious salad!!

Moms whole wheat pancakes

Versatile recipe! Replace that Bisquick with this in your pantry!  So good!


Pancake mix:
12 C whole wheat flour
1/2 C Baking powder
4t salt
3/4 C sugar
4 C dry milk

Sift together and keep on hand for these delicious options

Pancakes/waffles:
1 C pancake mix
1 T Oil
1 egg
1/2-3/4 C water

Biscuits (use this for corn dogs, Just substitute cornmeal for part of pancake mix)
1 C mix
1/4 C water
1 Egg

Healthy Orange Julius

This ones from Brianna! MMM!



2 frozen bananas
2 C Almond milk
2 C Ice cubes
3 Large spoonful frozen Orange Juice

Blend and Enjoy!

Cucumber Tomato Avacado Salad

Ingredients for Tomato Avocado Salad:
1 lb Roma tomatoes
1 English cucumber
1/2 medium red onion, sliced
2 avocados, diced
2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil or sunflower oil
Juice of 1 medium lemon (about 2 Tbsp)
1/4 cup (1/2 bunch) cilantro, chopped*
1 tsp sea salt or 3/4 tsp table salt
1/8 tsp black pepper
*Note: if you aren’t keen on cilantro, fresh dill is a good substitute

Better than.........Cake

Well, obvious this is good stuff! ENJOY!



Devils food cake mix
1/2 Jar/tube Caramel
1 Whip Cream
3 toffee candy bars (like scores bars, broken up)

MIx cake mix as directed. Pour 1/2 into greased cake pan. Sprinkle 1/2 scores bars on then pour other half over and bake as directed. When done poke holes with chopsticks (not to the bottom) Pour caramel over. Let cool and spread whip cream over and then scores bars bits and drizzle on caramel to make it pretty.

Janels Icecream Cake

Delights bday is in July so I remember having this often for her bday on a hot summer day. We love it!


Chocolate cake box (mix up as directed but use only 1/2 oil it calls for)

spray two small cookie sheets with pam (holds wax paper in place) and then put on wax paper.pour 1/2 batter on each pan and cook for less time since it's thinned out. When cooked take out and let cool shortly. Roll into a loos roll, to give it shape and out in fridge.

Later, untoll it, spread icecream (that is softened by letting it sit out for a bit) on top and  and roll it up and store in tin foil in freezer

Slice and enjoy

Apple Crumble

I'm not a huge pie person but I love me some apple crumble with vanilla icecream! Porter brought this recipe home from school one day and insisted we make it. So we made it for FHE and it's become a favorite of ours!



butter a round pie dish
preheat oven to 350

5C peeled and thinly sliced apples
1C Sugar
1 C flour
1t cinnamon
1/4 pound butter (one butter cube)

Put apples in baking dish. Mix sugar, flour and cinnamon. Cut butter into muxer till it resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle this over the apples. Bake for 30 mins or untill top is crisp and brown. Serve warm with vanilla icecream

Big Girl Smore's Pie

We're obsessed with this dessert and I'm sure you will be too!! SOO GOOOOD!!

 

INGREDIENTS

• 6 Regular sized Hershey Bars, broken into pieces
• ¾ cup white sugar
• 1 cup all purpose flour
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• ½ cup salted butter (1 stick), room temperature
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 cup graham cracker crumbs
• 1 7oz container of Marshmallow Creme
• wax paper

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350°
2. Spray a 9" pie pan with baking spray.
3. Beat butter and sugar together until combined.
4. Add egg and vanilla.
5. On low add flour, graham cracker crumbs and baking powder.
6. Divide the dough in half.
7. Press half the dough in the bottom and up the sides of the prepared pie pan.
8. Evenly spread the Marshmallow Creme over the bottom crust
9. Now spread the broken chocolate pieces on top of the Marshmallow Creme.
10. Now, form the remaining dough into a ball and place on a piece of wax paper. Top with another piece of wax paper and flatten into a 9" circle.
11. Carefully peel the top piece of wax paper off.
12. Flip the crust onto the top of the pie and peel the other piece of wax paper off.
13. Pinch the dough together to form the crust.
14. Bake 20 minutes until lightly browned.
15. Cool completely on wire rack and slice when ready to serve.

Cuban-Style Pork Shoulder

This is a delicious recipe for the Strouds, who are well known in our ward for their amazing food!

This is easily put in the crockpot and then serve with  Coconut Rice and avacado sliced! A great side is a cuban style refried beans (or black beans and rice) and if you want to be real fancy Plato Fritas! YUMM


Serves 8

Ingredients:

5lbs pork shoulder cut into 2 in cubes (can just throw the whole thing in and buy without bones and skin so I don't have to mess with it)
9 garlic cloves chopped (or 7t minced garlic from my fridge, thankyouverymuch)
2T salt
4t dried oregano
1Tground cumin
2t black pepper
2 t ground chile pepper
2 dried bay leaves, finely crumbled
1 T grated orange zest
2 T vinegar
2 T fresh orange juice
2 T lime juice
3 onions sliced
1/3 C chicken or Vegetable broth

Directions
layer sliced onions on bottom of crockpot, then cubed pork. then mix rest of ingredients together in a bowl till it's a paste. pour over meat and onions. Cook on low for 8hours (or high for 4 1/2 if you don't have the time)

ENJOY!!

Crepes

I used to not like crepes!! Can you believe it?! We love having these for a nice big breakfast or dinner often! I love that this is a recipe I can throw into the blender and pour out onto a pan! So easy!  We usually have a little Crepe bar so people can put whatever they want on it!



Ingredients:
3 eggs
1 1/3 C milk
3T melted butter
1/2 t salt
1 C flour

Directions
Beat eggs untill well blended. Beat in milk and butter and blend. Then Add salt and flour and mix till creamy. Refridgerate for one hour. (Although I almost ALWAYS skip this step for lack of time and they turn out great everytime!) Heat up a 6" pan or 2, spray with pam or coat with butter every other time. Pour batter, maybe less than 1/4 cup. into middle and rotate pan till the batter spreads to a thin layer on the bottom. Then when sides curl up slightly it should be ready to flip. Cook the 2nds side till golden and then remove. Repeat till batter is gone.

I think I double this recipe for our family but then we have some left over..

Favorite Toppings:

Strawberries diced
whip cream
bananas
nutella
Peanut butter
powdered sugar
cheese
Cinnamon
Lime or lemon juice (powder sugar, cinnamon and lemon juice is a killer combo!!)
other berries

Curry

We had dinner at a friends home and her husband had gone to Japan on his mission so they made this delicious meal for us! It's on our regular rotation and is oh so good! I really just follow the instructions on the box OR when I am thinking beforehand I just throw everything in the crockpot raw and cut up and let it cook on low for 6 or so hours! Easy and delicious! Do I do anything else?




Oh! and THIS rice is a MUST! So much tastier than normal white rice and actually healthier for you too! Sometimes if I want to get all fancy I thrown in a can of coconut milk to replace half of the water. YUMMY!

Ingredients
4-5 Potatoes diced
1 onion diced
3 carrots sliced
1 large chicken breast diced
1/2- 1 pkg of curry depending on how flavorful you want it

Directions
Dice and throw in a crockpot on low for 6 hours

OR

Start Cooking Rice w/ or without coconut milk

Dice everything. Saute chicken and onion in Olive oil till cooked then add carrots and potatoes and cook for a few mins. then add 2 cups of water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat , cover and simmer until tender (about 10mins) Remove from heat and add curry mix in pieces and stir untill completely melted (about 5 minutes) . Serve over rice and ENJOY!!

Best buttermilk pancakes

Best Buttermilk Pancakes- Camille


If you ever have time to make these delicious pancakes from scratch you wont be disapointed!! Camille shared these with me years ago and I'm so happy she did!! Heaven!!

INGREDIENTS

2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons sugar
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
3 cups buttermilk
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, plus 1/2 teaspoon for griddle
1 cup fresh blueberries (optional)
DIRECTIONS

Heat griddle to 375 degrees. Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and sugar in a medium bowl. Add eggs, buttermilk, and 4 tablespoons butter; whisk to combine. Batter should have small to medium lumps.
Heat oven to 175 degrees. Test griddle by sprinkling a few drops of water on it. If water bounces and spatters off griddle, it is hot enough. Using a pastry brush, brush remaining 1/2 teaspoon of butter or reserved bacon fat onto griddle. Wipe off excess.
Using a 4-ounce ladle, about 1/2 cup, pour pancake batter, in pools 2 inches away from one other. Scatter with berries, if using. When pancakes have bubbles on top and are slightly dry around edges, about 2 1/2 minutes, flip over. Cook until golden on bottom, about 1 minute.
Repeat with remaining batter, keeping finished pancakes on a heatproof plate in oven. Serve with Cranberry Syrup.
COOK'S NOTES
If serving with bacon, reserve half a teaspoon of bacon drippings to grease the griddle.

Pasta Salad

Nikaela made this for me as well and it's oh so good!



Start with about 2 cups pasta uncooked. Cook the pasta. Drain it but don't rinse it. (I usually do this earlier so its cool and the cheese doesn't melt when I add it.) Then start adding mayo and mixing it in until it is about as moist as you want. Then the 4 spices you use are Season Salt, Lemon pepper, Garlic salt and Onion Powder. I make it in a big bowl and measure the spices this way: Cover the top twice with Season Salt and then once with lemon pepper, garlic, and onion. But I always end up tasting and adjusting a little. Remember you can always add more!  These are my favorite things to add after that: cucumbers, tomatoes, cheese, celery, shredded carrot and olives. You can of course add whatever you want, but add the shredded carrot last because otherwise it turns it all orangey.

Baked Penne with Chicken and Sun Dried tomatoes

When I had Bennett Nikaela made this deliciousness for me and I HAD to have the recipe! I am a lover of fettuccine Alfredo but this has a great flavorful twist with mushrooms and sun dried tomatoes! A MUST TRY!!




INGREDIENTS

6 tablespoons butter, plus more for baking dishes
Coarse salt and ground pepper
1 pound penne rigate
1 teaspoon olive oil
2 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves (8 ounces each), halved horizontally
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
4 garlic cloves, minced
6 cups whole milk
10 ounces white mushrooms, trimmed and thinly sliced
1/2 cup oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, drained and thinly sliced
1 1/2 cups shredded provolone (6 ounces)
1 cup finely grated Parmesan (4 ounces)
DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 400. Butter two shallow 2-quart baking dishes. In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta 3 minutes short of al dente; drain pasta, and return to pot.
In a large nonstick skillet, heat oil over medium-high. Season chicken with salt and pepper; cook until opaque throughout, 3 to 5 minutes per side. Halve each piece lengthwise, then thinly slice crosswise.
 WATCH: How to Thinly Slice Meat
In a 5-quart Dutch oven or heavy pot, melt butter over medium. Add flour and garlic; cook, whisking, 1 minute. While whisking, gradually add milk; bring to a simmer, whisking frequently. Add mushrooms and tomatoes; cook 1 minute. Off heat, gradually stir in provolone and 1/2 cup Parmesan.
Add chicken and pasta to pot; season with salt and pepper. Divide pasta mixture between baking dishes; sprinkle each with 1/4 cup Parmesan.
Bake, uncovered, until top is golden and bubbling, about 25 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.
COOK'S NOTES
To Freeze: Prepare through step 4; let cool. Cover tightly with foil, and freeze, up to 3 months.

To Bake From Frozen: Preheat oven to 400, and bake (still covered in foil) on a rimmed baking sheet until center is hot, about 1 1/2 hours. Remove foil; bake until golden, about 15 minutes more.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

- Nikaela
A great way to change things up (not that you ever need to in my opinion) is to turn this into a Panookie or Pazookie! Just put dough into a pan or baking dish, like a remekin, bake and then add a scoop of vanilla icecream over it and enjoy! YUMMMM



1/2 C Butter
1/2 C Shortening
2/3 C Sugar
2/3 C Brown Sugar
2 Eggs
1 1/2 tsp Vanilla
1 tsp Salt
1 tsp Baking Soda
3 C Flour (Sometimes I do 2 cups flour and 1 cup oatmeal which I think I did for yours)
1 1/2 C Chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350. Cream together butter, shortening and sugars. Add eggs and vanilla and beat til incorporated. Add salt, soda and flour to make a fairly firm dough. (This takes some practice, but you may have to adjust the flour to your liking). Stir in chocolate chips. Drop by tablespoons onto (UNGREASED) cookie sheets. Bake at 350 for 8-10 minutes. As with most recipes, better when slightly undercooked.

Salsa Verde

I was at Nikaela's house one day while she was making this and boy was I happy! It's a fun change from the other delicious salsa. Yumm



One can tomatillos (I don't know the size but I've only seen them in one size can, its larger than a 14oz but smaller than a 28oz I think)
4oz can Diced Green Chilies
Cilantro - Half a bunch (or your preference)
3 Green Onions (more or less depending on how big they are)
1/3 tsp minced garlic
Juice of half a lime
1 heaped tsp salt (more or less depending on your preference)
1 heaped Tbs Sugar

If you want it to be spicy use jalapenos. (about 3 slices)

Combine in food processor until desired consistency.

Cinnamon Rolls

These aren't just any Cinnamon rolls! These are the famous Nikaela rolls! DELICIOUS is an understatement!!
 

Ingredients

Dough:
3 C whole milk
1/3 C butter
¼ C sugar
2 Tbs instant yeast
2 tsp salt
3 beaten eggs
8-9 c. flour (separated)
Filling:
2/3 C softened butter
2 Tbs cinnamon
2/3 C brown sugar
Frosting:
4 oz cream cheese
4 oz butter
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
4-5 C powdered sugar


Directions

1. Place milk, butter and sugar in saucepan. Warm on stove over medium heat until butter is melted, stirring frequently. Do not scald the milk.
2. Pour mixture in stand mixer and add 4 cups of flour, using dough hook. Combine yeast until well incorporated.
3. Turn off the mixer and add salt, beaten eggs and remaining 4 cups of flour. Turn mixer back on and add last cup of flour until the dough leaves the sides of the bowl.
Knead with dough hook for 7 minutes.
4. Clean the surface where you will roll out the dough and spray liberally with cooking spray. Place dough on surface and roll out to be approximately 28x15. Dough will be sticky. Spray your rolling pin with cooking spray to keep from sticking. Don't use additional flour to prevent dough from getting tough.
5. Mash 1/2 cup softened butter with brown sugar and cinnamon until smooth. Spread evenly on flattened dough.
6. Roll the spread into a long tube and cut into 1 1/2" rolls. Place rolls in greased 9x13 pans.
7. Cover and let rise until double in size.
8. Bake at 350 degrees for 12-18 minutes depending on your oven and desired doneness.
9. While rolls are cooking, make frosting. Combine butter, cream cheese, vanilla and powdered sugar in mixer with wisk attachment. Mix on high until fluffy.
10. Frost while rolls are hot.
11. Enjoy!
(For variation you can use cinnamon chips instead of cinnamon. Just spread the butter and sugar and then sprinkle the chips on top.)

Meatloaf

I'm always on the hunt for more crockpot recipes and this one was delicious! Use turkey to make it a little more healthy

Ingredients 

2eggs

3/4 C Milk

2/3 C seasoned bread crumbs

2t seasoned bread crumbs

Original recipe makes 6 servings



s

• 2 eggs
• 3/4 cup milk
• 2/3 cup seasoned bread crumbs
• 2 teaspoons dried minced onion
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon rubbed sage

• 1/2 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
• 1 1/2 pounds ground beef
• 1/4 cup ketchup
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground mustard
• 
  

Banana Pancakes

So healthy! So GOOD! I love that I can just throw everything into a blender and then pour batter onto the griddle! Doesn't get easier than that!! I love these with applesauce! And sometimes add vanilla protein powder to up my protein. ENJOY!

INGREDIENTS

• 2 cups gluten free oats
• 1 1/4 cups vanilla almond milk
• 1 large ripe, organic banana
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 heaping tablespoon local honey
• 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 large organic egg
• coconut oil or butter for cooking

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Place all ingredients, except egg and coconut oil in the base of a blender and blend until smooth. Add egg and pulse a few times until egg is fully incorporated.
2. Heat a griddle or large saute pan over medium heat and melt a teaspoon or two of coconut oil. When hot, pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using approximately 1/4 cup for each pancake. Brown on both sides (about 2-3 minutes per side) and serve hot with maple syrup.
3. *If batter becomes too thick to pour easily, add a tablespoon or two of almond milk to thin.