Cafe Rio

I have a weakness, it's called Cafe Rio, I can't quite get enough, I personally believe the homemade version is better, it takes some work, but when you can eat Rio 3 days in a row, it makes it all worth it!

I have found these recipes on so many sites and have no clue who the original poster was, but just know that the sweet port, and chicken are NOT my recipes!

Cafe Rio Chicken Recipe:

2 lbs chicken breasts
8oz zesty italian dressing
1/2 Tbsp. minced garlic
1 pkt ranch dressing mix (mixed with 1/2 cup of water)
1/2 Tbsp. chili powder
1/2 Tbsp. ground cumin

I like to put all the ingredients in the crockpot and mix well, then add in the chicken.  Cook on low for about 6 hours then shred, it's THAT easy!

Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Recipe:

 2 pounds pork roast

2 cans Coke do not use diet!!!!

1/2 c. brown sugar
1/2 tsp garlic salt
1/4 c. water
1 (4 oz) can diced green chilies
1 (10 oz) can red enchilada sauce
1 c. brown sugar

Put the pork in a ziplock bag to marinate, pour in one of the cans of Coke and 1/2 c. brown sugar. Marinade for a few hours or overnight I have only done the over night marinade.  Drain marinade and put pork, 1/2 can of Coke, water, and garlic salt in crock pot on high for about 3-4 hours. Remove pork from crock pot, drain off liquid. Shred pork. Mix together in crockpot other 1/2 can of Coke, can of chiles, enchilada sauce and brown sugar.Put shredded pork back in the crock pot, cover with sauce, heat just until warmed through. (I let it sit for about another hour)  This one is a little more difficult and time consuming then the chicken, but really I prefer this one.

The Dressing, oh the dressing, I'm pretty sure I could drink this stuff, oh wait, I HAVE!!!

1 package dry hidden valley ranch salad dressing
1 cup mayo
1/2 bunch cilantro
1 large clove garlic
2 small/medium tomitillos husked, I cut mine into 4's
1 cup buttermilk
juice of 1 lime
1 small jalapeno (take the seeds out!!)

Easiest thing to make EVER, throw all the ingredients in, blend very well, let chill for a few hours in the fridge!

Rice

*This recipe is on my husbands side, I did not find this from any other blog!

2 Cups Jasmine rice

3 Tablespoons butter

Chopped yellow onion (I do about a 1/4 of the onion)

4-5 chicken buillion cubes

4 cups water

**Melt the butter and add the onions and rice, on med-high heat, once rice is browned add in the water and bullion cubes, cover and turn down, let simmer 20 mins! Serioulsy this rice is sooooooooooooo good!

Beans

Ready for this one, open a can, hahahah, i don't do anything special with my beans!  We open one can of black, and one can of pinto, we don't agree on beans in this house, so why fight? Make both!

PICO DE GALLO

4-5 tomatoes, diced
1/2 yellow onion chopped
1/2 bunch cilantro, chopped
juice from 1 large lime
1 jalepeno, diced, and seeded.

Mix ingredients together and you have pico!

You'll also need, red leaf lettuce, tortilla strips, cheese (we use colby jack) and tortillas, get the uncooked ones, they are generally where your cream cheese is at in the store!

To assemble:

Put the cook tortilla on a plate, sprinkle cheese, rice and beans, and the meat, lettuce, pico, top with cilantro and tortilla strips.  Then add the heavenly dressing!

This is made with the pork