CAFE RIO CHICKEN √

CAFE RIO CHICKEN

2 lbs chicken breasts
1 packet zesty Italian dressing mix
1/2 Tbsp. minced garlic
1 packet ranch dressing mix
1 Tbsp. chili powder
1 Tbsp. ground cumin
1/2 Tbsp. paprika
1/2 Tbsp. onion powder

Place all ingredients in a crock pot. Cook on High 3-4 hours OR on Low 5-6 hours. Shred with fork and serve in salads, burritos, tacos...etc. You can also double or triple this to make extras for freezing. Then simply thaw and reheat for a fast and delicious meal.

Enjoy!

Modified from recipe found here

Charlene's Beans √

Use a LARGE pot!

1 1/2 lb ground meat - cooked and drained
6 cans pinto beans
1 can peeled tomatoes, cut
1 lg green pepper, chopped
1 onion, chopped
2 Tbl ground chili powder
1/2 Tbl salt
1/2 Tbl pepper
dashes Tobasco Sauce

Bring to boil and simmer 20-30 minutes.

Brown Bag Burritos

Brown Bag Burritos

• 2 lb. ground beef
• 2 cans refried beans (I make my own)
• 1 1/3 c. enchilada sauce
• 1/2 c. water
• 1/3 c. minced onion (I use dried)
• 1 Tbsp. chili powder
• 1 Tbsp. garlic powder
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. dried oregano
• 3 c. shredded cheese (cheddar, Mexican blend, whatever)
• 20 flour tortillas (burrito-size)

Brown ground beef; drain. Add remaining ingredients (except tortillas). Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 20 minutes.

Heat 3-4 tortillas at a time. Spoon 1/4 c. beef mixture down the side of each tortilla. (I like to use my cookie scoop for this. Helps me keep everything uniform without any mess.)

Roll up. Wrap each burrito in a paper towel, then wrap in foil.

Refrigerate or freeze. I like to pack them in the tortilla ziplock bag. I can usually fit 10 per bag. Oh, by the way, sure wish I would have looked at the corner of this bag before I bought them. See where it says “Thins?” Not such a good thing for burritos. These tortillas tore too easily. I know I should practice making my own…

When ready to eat, remove foil and microwave for about a minute. The paper towel keeps the burritos moist. If you don’t use a microwave, skip the paper towel and just wrap in foil. Then heat burritos in the oven with foil. For a sit down meal they are nice topped with lettuce, cheese, salsa, and sour cream. If you’re eating on the run, though, just grab and go!

Coconut Chicken

Coconut Chicken

4 chicken breasts
Salt & Pepper
Canola Oil
1/3 cup fine dry plain breadcrumbs
1/3 cup flaked coconut
1/4 cup butter, melted

Sprinkle the chicken with salt & pepper. Rub oil on the chicken.

Mix the breadcrumbs and coconut together. Roll the chicken in the coconut mixture.

Place your chicken in a lightly sprayed baking plan and drizzle it with the butter.

Bake at 350 for 40 - 50 minutes...until your chicken is done.

I often place a sheet of foil over my pan for the first half of the baking so the coconut doesn't get too brown. Just watch it and do what you want. You might like brown coconut.

Crockpot Chicken Thighs

1 package (about 6-8 Pieces) Chicken Thighs, Bone In
1-½ cup Apple Juice Or Apple Cider
1 cup Barbecue Sauce
1 Tablespoon Dried Mustard
1 pinch Spices To Taste


Lay the chicken on the bottom of the crockpot, skin side up. Pour enough apple juice to come just below covering the chicken. Add the bbq sauce, dried mustard, and whatever spices you want depending on your taste preference. Rosemary, thyme and oregano all work well. Some of the blended spices are nice also. Experiment.

Cook on low for 6-8 hours. Remove the chicken with a slotted spoon and be certain to pull out the bones and skin. The meat will fall apart as it’s removed. Serve over rice or on rolls for ‘pulled chicken’ sandwiches.

Crockpot 40 Clove Garlic Chicken

CROCKPOT 40 CLOVE GARLIC CHICKEN

-1 large broiler/fryer whole chicken (as big as your crock will fit)

-thyme, rosemary, sage, parsley

-salt

-fresh ground pepper

-40 cloves UNPEELED garlic

-2 stalks celery, washed and cut into 3 inch pieces

-baguette or french bread slices, toasted (optional)

Place the celery slices on the bottom of the crock. Season the chicken in and out with salt, pepper, and generously with the herbs. Place on top of the celery. Place the cloves all around and on top of the chicken. Cover and cook on low 8 hours.

Remove chicken and celery to serving platter. Remove garlic to small bowl.

GRAVY

-1/4 cup cream

-2 - 3 tablespoons cornstarch

-salt and fresh ground pepper to taste

Skim the fat off the liquid in the crockpot. Turn to high. Add the cream. Mix cornstarch with a small amount of water until smooth and add to liquid. Stir, cover and heat until thickened. You can pour some on the chicken and put the rest in a gravy boat.

Serve with noodles or garlic mashed potatoes made from some of that wonderful roasted garlic in the pot.

The roasted garlic can also be squished out of it's skins onto the toasted bread.

Hoisin & Honey Pork Tenderloin √

HOISIN & HONEY PORK TENDERLOIN

Hands-on time: 10 minutes
Time-to-table: 40 minutes
Serves 4

• Cooking spray
• 1 pound pork tenderloin
• Salt & pepper

SAUCE
• 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 2 teaspoons minced garlic


• 2 – 3 green onions, chopped

Preheat oven to 375F.
Spray a large, oven-proof skillet with cooking spray and heat on medium high. When the pan is hot, add the meat (it should sizzle) and sear the bottom side. Season the top with salt and pepper, then turn the meat to sear the other side and season the new top side. Move the skillet to the oven for about 30 minutes or until a meat thermometer inserted into the center reads 150F or the color is ‘just barely past pink’.
While the meat cooks, mix the sauce ingredients in a small pan and bring to a boil. Let it cook down just slightly, then keep warm on low heat.
Slice the meat and transfer to plates. Drizzle with hot hoisin-honey sauce and sprinkle with green onion. Serve immediately.

Crockpot Teryiaki Ribs

6 lbs pork spareribs, cut to fit crock pot
3/4 cup ketchup
1/2 cup soy sauce
1 teaspoon ginger powder
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon molasses
2 teaspoons garlic, minced

Directions:

Put ribs in the slow cooker.
Mix in a bowl the rest of the ingredients. And pour over the meat.
Cover, and cook on low for 6 hours.
Take the meat out of the crock.
Pour the juices into a sauce pan. Boil until reduced. pour over ribs. Serve.

Grilled Balsamic-Garlic Crusted Pork Tenderloins

• 4-5 garlic cloves, finely minced or crushed
• 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 2 1/2 teaspoons coarse salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 pork tenderloins (about 1¼ pounds each)
• 2 tablespoons canola oil (if preparing in oven)

Stir together garlic, balsamic vinegar, salt, pepper, and olive oil in a small bowl. Rub the paste all over pork. If you like or have the time, marinate overnight. If not, no worries, it will still be great!

Grill preparation:

Sear the tenderloins on all sides, then grill for about 20-30 minutes, rotating every 10 minutes, until the internal temperature is 160 degrees. Try to let it rest before slicing.

Oven preparation:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Heat canola oil in a large, heavy saute pan over medium-high heat. Working in batches if necessary, add pork, and brown all over, about 4 minutes.

Transfer pan to oven. Roast pork, turning occasionally, until the internal temperature is 160 degrees, about 20 minutes. Transfer pork to a cutting board, and try to let it rest 10 minutes before slicing.

Recipe found here

Chili Pasta Bake

10 oz penne pasta
1 lb ground beef
1 cup chopped onion
2 tbsp chili powder
1 14.5oz can diced tomatoes
1 8oz can tomato sauce
1 cup salsa
1 7oz can diced green chilies, drained
2 cups shredded mexican cheese

Cook pasta according to package directions; drain

Cook meat and onion in large skillet; drain. Add chili powder, undrained tomatoes, tomato sauce, salsa and chilies. Cook 5 minutes.

Toss pasta and sauce. Spoon into 13x9 baking dish. Top with cheese. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes.

Roast Beef

1 3lb chuck roast
1 onion chopped
1 T of garlic chopped
6 beef bouillon cubes
Salt
Pepper
Water

In your roasting pan, place your roast in the middle and add your chopped onion, garlic, bouillon cubes, lots of salt and pepper, and then fill it up with water so that the water covers the roast by about 1 inch.

Place in a preheated 325* oven and cook for 6-7 hours...depending on how big your roast is. Remove roast from pan and cover with foil! Don't throw away the juices, you need these to make your yorkshire and your gravy!!!

Serve with Mashed Potatoes with a Twist and Yorkshire Pudding

Found here

Quick and Easy Kielbasa

• 1 whole Onion
• 1 whole Green Bell Pepper
• 1 whole Tomato
• 1 package Kielbasa Sausage (or Smoked Sausage)
• 1 bottle Barbecue Sauce
• 3 dashes Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Cut up onion, green bell pepper, tomato and sausage into bite sized pieces and put in a bowl.

Add enough barbecue sauce to completely cover.

Put in refrigerator for at least 2 hours in advance for best taste.

When done marinating, put a few dashes of extra virgin olive oil in a skillet.

Add in sausage and vegetable mixture, set burner on Medium and simmer until meat is cooked through, and vegetables are to your liking.

Crockpot Tortilla Chicken

Crockpot Tortilla Chicken

Ingredients:
1 dozen corn tortillas
3 cans cream of mushroom soup or cream of celery soup
1 (8oz) pkg. Jack cheese, grated
1 (8oz) pkg. Cheddar cheese, grated
2 cans (4oz each) chopped chiles
1 boiled deboned chicken (3 to 4 cups chopped)
1/2 med. onion, diced

Directions:
Layer in a crockpot: Soup, tortillas, cheese, chicken, chiles, onion, soup; repeat, etc. until ingredients are used up. Start on high for 1/2 hour. Reduce temperature to low and cook for 6 hours.

Chicken Crescent Rolls

Chicken Crescent Rolls

2 packages crescent rolls (reg or reduced fat)

2 chicken breasts, roasted, broiled, or boiled

1 can cream of chicken soup (reg or reduced fat)

1 cup shredded cheddar

3/4 cup milk

Cook and shred chicken. Unroll the crescent rolls. Place a little bit of chicken onto the wide end of the crescent roll triangle and then roll them up like a normal crescent roll. 2 packages of crescent rolls rolled up with chicken fit nicely in one layer in a 9x13 Pyrex dish.

Mix up the soup, cheddar and milk in a bowl. If you have leftover shredded chicken, you can mix that in as well. Spoon over the crescent rolls, covering them all completely.

Bake at 325 for 50 minutes. The tops of the crescent rolls will be browned.

Dish up and enjoy!

Ravioli Casserole √

Ravioli Casserole
1 jar spaghetti sauce
1 package (25oz) frozen cheese ravioli-cooked and drained
2 C (16oz) small curd cottage cheese
4 C (16 oz) shredded mozzarella cheese
1/4 C grated Parmesan Cheese
Spread 1/2 C of spaghetti sauce in an ungreased 13inx9in baking dish. Layer with half of the ravioli, 1 1/4C sauce, 1C cottage cheese and 2 Cof mozzarella cheese. Repeat layers. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Bake uncovered at 350 for 30-40 min. let stand 5-10 min. serves 6-8

Chicken Satay √

Chicken Satay

serves 4

For Chicken:

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts sliced into thick strips

1 cup plain yogurt

1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated

2 cloves garlic, minced

1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper

1/4 teaspoon cumin

1/4 teaspoon dry mustard powder

1/8 teaspoon chili powder

wooden skewers

fresh cilantro for garnish

For Sauce:

1 cup smooth peanut butter

1/4 cup soy sauce, preferably low sodium

2 teaspoons red chili paste

2 tablespoons brown sugar

juice of 2 limes

1/4 cup water

To prepare chicken:

In a shallow bowl or baking dish mix together the yogurt through chili powder. Place chicken strips into marinade and stir to coat well. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours.

At the same time place wooden skewers into water to soak to help prevent burning.

Spray grill rack with cooking spray or brush with vegetable oil. Preheat grill. Thread each chicken strip onto skewer. Place onto grill and cover. Cook 2-3 minutes on first side, turn over, and cook 2-3 minutes on second side, or until chicken is cooked through.

Place onto a serving platter. Sprinkle with chopped cilantro.

To prepare sauce:

In a medium sized microwave safe bowl, stir together peanut butter and remaining ingredients. Microwave on high for 30 seconds, then stir. Microwave another 30 seconds and stir. If the sauce still seems too thick you can microwave it one more time. It took mine a total of 60 seconds to combine perfectly.

Serve chicken skewers with dipping sauce.

Recipe found here

The Best Grilled Chicken Breast

CHICKEN:
* 4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves (6 ounces each), trimmed
* 1 tablespoon olive oil
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

BALSAMICO SAUCE:
* 3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh basil
* 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
* 1 tablespoon finely chopped shallots
* 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
* 1 teaspoon honey
* 1/4 teaspoon salt
* 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
* 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

Directions
1. Prepare the grill for medium-hot direct-heat grilling (see note below).

2. To prepare the chicken, lightly pound the chicken to an even thickness using a meat mallet or the heel of your hand. Toss the chicken with the oil and sprinkle with the salt and pepper. Set over the heat on a grill rack that has been coated with oil. Grill for 5 to 6 minutes per side or until the chicken is well marked and a thermometer inserted in the thickest part registers 165°F.

3. To prepare the sauce, combine the basil, vinegar, shallots, mustard, honey, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Whisk in the oil to combine. Spoon over sliced grilled chicken breasts.
Click here to find out more!

Recipe Notes
To coat the grill with a thin layer of oil, which will help prevent sticking, crumple a ball of foil, drizzle with a teaspoon of vegetable oil, and rub onto the surface of the grill with a pair of tongs.

Ham and Cheese Chicken Rolls

Ham and Cheese Chicken Rolls

4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
2 thin slices of Swiss cheese
2 thin slices of prosciutto or ham
1 teaspoon paprika
6 tablespoons bread crumbs
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
3 tablespoons melted butter

Pound each chicken breast to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut cheese and prosciutto slices into halves. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Layer cheese and prosciutto on chicken; roll to enclose filling and secure with toothpicks or kitchen twine. Mix paprika, bread crumbs, Parmesan, garlic salt, oregano and basil in a shallow dish. Dip chicken rolls in butter, roll in crumb mixture to coat. Place rolls seam sides down in a baking dish. Bake for 25 minutes or until chicken is cooked through and golden brown. Serve with mashed potatoes and a green salad.

Chicken Parmigiana - WW Style

Chicken Parmigiana

POINTS® Value | 5
Servings | 4
Preparation Time | 15 min
Cooking Time | 35 min


1 pound uncooked boneless, skinless chicken breast, thinly pounded (four 4-oz pieces)
2 large egg white(s), lightly beaten
1/2 cup dried bread crumbs
1 Tbsp Italian seasoning
1 tsp olive oil
1 1/2 cup canned tomato sauce
1/2 cup part-skim mozzarella cheese, shredded
1 Tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350ºF. Coat an 8-inch square pan with cooking spray.

2. Dip chicken in egg whites, and turn to coat. Then mix bread crumbs with Italian seasoning and dip chicken in bread-crumb mixture; turn to coat thoroughly.

3. Heat oil in a large skillet; add chicken. Cook until lightly browned and no longer pink in center, about 4 minutes per side; place on paper towels to drain.

4. Pour 1/2 cup of sauce into prepared baking dish; place chicken in dish and pour remaining sauce evenly over chicken. Sprinkle with cheeses and bake until bubbly, about 25 minutes.

Oven Barbecued Chicken 'n Cheesy Biscuits

Oven Barbecued Chicken 'n Cheesy Biscuits

3lb frying chicken (or 4 chicken breasts)
1c BBQ Sauce (any flavor)
1 can refrigerator biscuits
Shredded Cheddar cheese

Place cut-up 3 lb frying chicken in 13x9 inch pan. Pour 1c barbecue sauce over chicken. Bake uncovered at 375Ü for 45 min. Turn pieces every 15 min. Add water if necessary to prevent excess browning. Arrange biscuits on top of chicken, bake another 12 to 15 min until browned. Add shredded cheddar cheese last 5 minutes of baking. Serves 4-6

We usually shove all the chicken to one side and place the biscuits down in the BBQ sauce. MMMMmmmm good.