Meatball Subs

I've made these a few times now and everyone loves them.  

Italian Meatballs
Favorite Pasta Sauce
Monterey Jack Cheese/Provolone or Cheddar
Hoagie Buns
Butter
Garlic Salt

Heat meatballs in a shallow dish @ 375 until internal temperature reaches 165.  Add pasta sauce on top of meatballs about half way through.  Butter hoagie buns and sprinkle with garlic salt.  Place hoagies under the broiler until edges are golden brown.  Add meatballs to sub and top with your favorite cheese.  Place back under the broiler until cheese melts and VOILA!  Super easy, quick dinner.

Stacy's Lemon Drink

1 Tbs. citric Acid (fred meyer carries it in bulk spice section)
1 Tbs. lemon flavoring or extract
2 cups sugar
1 gallon of cold water

Mix until everything is dissolved and add freshly sliced lemon and lime if you want.

Cafe Rio Recipes

Cafe Rio Chicken

1 small bottle kraft zesty italian dressing
1 Tbs. chili powder
1 Tbs. cumin
3 cloves garlic (minced)
5 lbs chicken breasts

Cook all together in crock pot for 4 hours, shred meat & cook an additional hour

Cafe Rio Pork

1 pork roast or pork loin
1.5 cans coca cola (classic)
1 cup sugar
1 (7 oz.) can chipotle chilies in adobo sauce
1 tsp. (heaping) dry ground mustard
1 tsp. (heaping) cumin
1 tsp. garlic (minced)

Remove chilis from the can of adobo sauce (if you leave them in it's much hotter).  Add all ingredients (except pork) in a blender.  Rinse can of adobo sauce with coke to get all the sauce out.  Blend until well mixed.  Place pork in a crock pot and pour sauce over it.  Cook on low 7-9 hours or until pork pulls apart with a fork.

Cafe Rio Rice

3 cups water
4 tsp. chicken bouillon
4 tsp. garlic (minced)
1/2 bunch of cilantro
1 can green chilies
3/4 tsp salt
1 Tbs. butter
1/2 onion
3 cups rice

Blend cilantro, green chilies & onion together in food processor.  Bring water to a boil and add all ingredients.  Simmer covered for 30 minutes.  Or just dump in a rice cooker.

Cafe Rio Dressing

1 pckg. buttermilk ranch dressing
2 tomatillos
1/2 bunch of cilantro
1 clove of garlic
Juice of 1 lime
1 Jalapeno (I leave this out)

Make ranch dressing as per packet instructions.   Take the husks of the tomatillos.  Use the seeds of the jalapeno if you like spicy dressing (I don't add any).  Use a food processor to blend all ingredients together well and then refrigerate.

Assemble however you like.  We love the cook at home tortillas from costco.  Add cheese and black beans and chopped lettuce.

Thanks Kathleen!

Tex-Mex Chicken Soup

Tex-Mex Chicken Bean Soup

Take a whole chicken with the skin on. Wash and remove "extras" that may be left inside of bird cavity. Put in large pot and put in just enough water or chicken stock to cover it. Add some salt, pepper, chicken/poultry seasoning, and 1 and a half Tablespoons of Tex-Mex Seasoning. (recipe will follow). Boil on low-med. for 3-4 hrs. covered. Remove chicken from pot and shred it. (You can also use frozen tenderloins, breasts, or whatever you have on hand.) To the flavored stock add:

handful of diced celery

2 chopped carrots

1 whole onion, chopped

1 jalapeno pepper, chopped and de-seeded

1 small can of diced tomatoes


Add back the shredded chicken and add 1/2 c. of rice. Continue on low boil until rice is fully cooked.

At the very end, add 2 cans of black beans that have been drained and 5 bouillon cubes.

You MUST garnish this with sour cream and shredded cheddar cheese or it won't be the same......ok???!!!!???!!!!


Tex-Mex Seasoning Mix

1/4 c. dried chili powder

4 t. paprika

2 t. salt

2 t. ginger

1 t. black pepper

1 t. cumin

1 t. onion powder

1 t. garlic powder

1/4 t. thyme

1/4 t. cayenne pepper


Mix all ingredients and store in airtight container.

**Also great on grilled meats, in chili, bbq sauces, soups, casseroles etc. ***

Cheesy Garlic Bread

Cheesy garlic bread

1 loaf french bread
1 c. shredded asiago cheese
1 c. shredded jack cheese
1/2-3/4 c. mayo (start with 1/2)
chopped green onions, to taste
2 cloves garlic (or equivilent from jar)
3-4 T. melted butter

Split french bread in half horizontally. Mix all ingredients well. Spread over both halves of bread. Bake at 350 degrees for 7 min, then place under broiler until golden and bubbly. Watch carefully!!! Slice and serve. This stuff is really dangerous.... you've now been properly warned!

Philly Cheesesteaks

Who doesn't love a good Philly Cheese steak sandwich?  Seriously, I crave these all the time and haven't been able to find a good recipe, but that all changed a couple weeks ago.  This sandwich was super easy to make and tastes AWESOME! 

Philly Cheese steak

2-3 Tbs. Butter
1 lb. ground beef
1 softball sized onion (chopped)
1 green bell pepper (I left this out)
2 Tbs. steak sauce (I used A1)
1 cup beef stock (I used beef consume' & also beef broth, both were good)
Salt & Pepper to taste
Cheddar or Provolone Cheese (I tried both but preferred the cheddar)
French rolls or French Hoagies
Mayonnaise

I also usually saute some onions & mushrooms in butter and worchestershire sauce to put on top of the sandwiches for John. 

In a large skillet over medium-high heat.  Add oil and then brown the ground beef for about 5-6 min.  Add the onion and green pepper and cook another 3-4 min. until the vegetables start to get tender.  Stir in the steak sauce, beef stock and season with salt and pepper.  Bring to a bubble and cook for an additional 2 min.

Split rolls/hoagies and butter both sides and place under the broiler until they are toasted.  Spoon in meat and top with your choice of cheese, then put back under the broiler until cheese has melted.

Mayonnaise is a MUST!  It is the cherry on top.  John doesn't like mayo so he eats them without it but I am telling you that you are missing out if you don't add lots of mayo to your sandwich.  ENJOY!

Let me know what you think when you try it.

Tender Grilled Pork Chops

The flavor on these pork chops were perfection! I found this recipe on Mel's Kitchen Cafe Blog and decided to try it. This same marinade would be good on a steak too.

4 boneless pork loin chops
1/4 cup olive oil
2.5 Tbs. soy sauce
1 tsp. Montreal Steak Seasoning

Mix olive oil, soy sauce and steak seasoning ingredients in a gallon ziplock bag. Add pork chops and marinate in the fridge for 3-8 hours, flipping bag over halfway through marinating time. Heat grill to medium and grill for 6-8 minutes per side (depending on how thick they are) until they are no longer pink in the center. Remove chops from grill and tent them with foil and allow them to rest for 5-7 minutes. Slice the chops in 1/4 to 3/8 inch slices across the grain and serve. And there you have it, the best pork chops I have ever had!

Sides
Baked Potato - rub with olive oil and garlic sea salt and bake at 400 for 50 minutes
Rolls

Copycat recipe for Montreal Steak Seasoning
2 Tbs. paprika
2 Tbs. freshly ground black pepper
1 Tbs. kosher/coarse salt
1 Tbs. garlic powder
1 Tbs. onion powder
1 Tbs. coriander
1 Tbs. dill
1/2 Tbs. crushed red pepper flakes

combine all the spices in a small bowl.  Store in an airtight container and use as needed.