Cafe Rio Chicken

realmomkitchen.com

Café Rio mmmmmmmmmm just hearing the name makes me hungry!! I love Café Rio and I am sure I am not alone in this love! This is one of those recipes you can use when your having lots of company over. I love to use this for salad and yes I make tortillas and warm them and place them in the bottom of the bowl I try hard to squint my eyes and feel like I am standing in line at café rio and placing my order ;) I top it with a jalapeno ranch dressing and then top it with the tortilla strips you can buy in the store. Garnish it with some cotija cheese and some guacamole YUUUM guess what I am going to make this weekend AGAIN lol.



2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts (I have also used canned chicken and cooked it in a pan)
1/2 cup zesty italian dressing
1/2 Tbsp. minced garlic
1 pkt ranch dressing mix
1/4 cup of water
1/2 Tbsp. chili powder
1/2 Tbsp. ground cumin


Place chicken in a crock pot. In a bowl, whisk together the remaining ingredients and pour over the chicken.

Cook on High 5-6 hours OR on Low 8 hours. Remove chicken from crock pot and shred.

Remove half the liquid from the crock pot and place in a bowl. Add the chicken to the crock pot and combine with the liquid left in the crock pot. You want the chicken nice and moist. Add more of the reserved liquid if needed.

Serve in tacos, salad, etc. You can also freeze the meat.

Chicken Salad Sandwich

I have had many friends that have asked me for a chicken salad sandwich recipe. This has always been my go to recipe for reunions, camping, showers, etc. It goes great on any kind of bread. I usually serve it on croissants but I had this loaf of everything french bread from walmart so I thought why not right?!?

1/4-1/2 tsp garlic salt
1(approx. 27 oz) can chicken
2 c. sliced grapes (I used green this time but any work)
1 1/2 -2 c. mayo
1/4 tsp Italian seasoning
you can also put celery in it if you prefer


Mix all together and serve on bread or eat plain. Goes great with chips & salsa. Good eats :)

Creamy Fruit Salad (my aunt Darlene)

This is the time of year for Reunions & Pot Luck. This is also the time of year for fast & easy recipes that don't heat up your house.

This is the perfect recipe for this time of year.

Ingredients:

1 medium cool whip
1 large pkg instant vanilla pudding (dry)
1 large can pineapple chunks WITH JUICE
 fresh fruit:
I like to use grapes, strawberries, blueberries, mandarin oranges, etc

Mix cool whip, pudding, and pineapple juice together. Pour over fresh fruit. Chill.

Its that easy!!!

I hope you have lots of fun with family & friends this summer & try to stay cool :)

Winter Salad & Dressing

This is a recipe I tried at a party and it was sooo good!!!! This is a very simple salad but it looks very impressive!!!

1 pkg. craisins
1 head curly lettuce
1 pkg romaine salad
4 oz. blue cheese crumbled
1/2 c. chopped pecans
3 green onions, diced
cooked and crumbled bacon

Mix craisins, lettuce, salad, pecans, onions. Top with cheese and bacon and serve with dressing below.

Dressing
3/4 c. EVOO extra virgin olive oil
1 Tbsp. water
3 Tbsp. red wine vinegar
3 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
3 Tbsp. sugar
1/8 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper
1 Tbsp. Dijon mustard
 Put all ingredients in a jar and shake until mixed well. DON'T REFRIGERATE BEFORE SERVING!!!!