Please Pass the Proberts

DJ loves soup. Candra loves Sandwiches. DJ loves Mexican. Candra loves Italian. Can you tell?

TACO SOUP
Cube and cook 2 chicken breasts w/ favorite seasonings. We like fresh lime juice and lemon pepper.

Mix the following in a soup/sauce pan:
1 can Corn (undrained)
1 can Black Beans (undrained)
1 can Diced Stewed Tomatoes (undrained)
1 can Chicken Broth
1 pkg Taco Seasoning
Add chicken when cooked.

Serve with cheese, sour cream, and avacado. We love it with Frito's, too.


SOUP & SANDWICHES
Toasted Turkey Sandwiches: turkey, cream cheese, tomato, cucumbers, red onion, and avacado on toasted bread (we even use bagels sometimes). Or try assembling your sandwich then pressing it in a Foreman Grill.

Serve with favorite soup. We like to keep it simple with Tomato Soup, and canned pears or some other fruit on the side.









BBQ PORK
Place Pork (we usually just get whatever is on sale, but pork chops are my favorite) in crock pot. Cover with your favorite BBQ sauce and a can of stewed, diced tomatoes. The acid from the tomatoes makes the pork really tender and adds great flavor.

Shred it and serve on buns for a pulled-pork sandwich. Try sides like a salad (green, macaroni, pasta, or potato) and fresh fruit.

OR, don't shred it at all! Serve with mashed potatoes and a green salad. MMM!





PITA PIZZAS & GREEN SALAD
On pita bread, spread tomatoe sauce, fresh sliced tomatoes, green peppers, pepperoni, italian sausage, and any other favorite toppings. Try other varities like a white sauce pizza or BBQ chicken pizza (I haven't ventured that far yet). Cover with cheese. Pitas make for a perfect individual-sized pizzas. Bake until cheese melts.

Serve with Salad. We like this salad combination: shredded dark green or red leaf lettuce, diced tomatoes, and diced avacado. Toss with fresh squeezed lemon juice, salt, and olive oil. Add cashew nuts if you need a little crunch. As DJ has put it, "it just tastes so clean".


SPINACH LASAGNA
Filling:
Cottage Cheese (or something more exotic)
Mozzarella cheese (or whatever cheese you have around)
Parmasean cheese
Minced or freshly diced onion
Garlic salt
Oregano
Drained, thawed, frozen spinach

Mix all ingredients together in bowl. Layer between cooked lasagna noodles and pasta sauce in a 9x13 pan. Bake at 350 until bubbling and cheese is melted. Serve with green salad, fruit, and garlic bread. I think I'm in love.


BROCCOLI CHEESE CHOWDER
1-2 bunches fresh broccoli, cooked untl tender. Do not overcook. Cut into small pieces. Set aside.
1 medium onion (or dry, minced onion) Cook in butter until soft and golden (in separate pan). Set aside.
1/2 c. butter
1/2 c. flour
4 c. milk
1 c. chicken broth
1 1/2 tsp. salt
2 c. grated cheese

In large saucepan prepare a white sauce: melt 1/2 c. butter over medium heat, then stir in flour until well blended. Gradually stir in milk, chicken broth, and salt. Stir constantly until mixture reaches a boil. Cook 1-2 minutes, until thickened. Add broccoli and onion. Stir in cheese. Avoid bringin gto boil. Serve immediately or keep warm over low heat. Serve with rolls or in bread bowls.


FRENCH DIP SANDWICHES
Cook roast in crock pot just as if you were making a pot roast...I normally cook it with cr. mushroom soup and a pkg of dry onion soup mix. Shred when cooked. Serve on favorite rolls w/ cheese.

For dip: prepare 2 (1 oz) pkgs of au jus mix according to pkg directions. Add 1 (10.5 oz) can beef consomme soup and 1 cup of water. Stir and heat.

Pour au jus into individual cups for dipping. Serve with a salad, chips, fruit, or whatever tickles ye' fancy.

Grilled Bell peppers

Mom reminded me to post this new favorite produced by the master chef...Heber

Red bell pepper cut in half....
Clean out seeds and fill with feta cheese and cheddar...or whatever cheese you want.
Grill til cheese is melted and serve...
This is a great tasting side and looks pretty "Martha"!

Yummy! Pickles and Cheese!

For the past 2-3 months I must confess I have hardly stepped a foot in the kitchen (the smells would make me sick). I've been living off of Grilled Pickle and Cheese Sandwiches. But, here are 3 new recipes we have tried before and really liked:

"Sweet Citrus Chicken"
1 pkg prepared Stove Top Stuffing Mix

6 boneless chicken breasts

2/3 cup orange juice

1/3 cup packed brown sugar

3 Tbsp. melted butter or marg

EASY! Mix sugar & butter well then pour over chicken. Top with stuffing. Bake at 400 for about 1/2 hour or till chicken is cooked through. We like this with steamed green beans and mashed potatoes.

"Chicken Yakitori KeBabs"

Put on Kabab Sticks:

-Chicken in cubes
-10 scallions or any type onion

-Red bell pepper cubed

-Pineapple cubed (fresh is best!)

Place kababs in deep sheet or cassrole pan.

Mix and drizzle over top of kebabs:

-1/3 soy sauce

-2 tsp. sugar

-3 tsp. rice vinager

-2 teaspoons sesame oil (i love this!)

-2 minced garlic cloves

Broil. Baste till chicken is cooked. Serve with rice!

"Saltine Cracker Cookies"

Lay a pack & 1/2 of Saltine Crackers in a pan.

Boil and Pour over top:

1 cup butter

1 cup brown sugar

Bake at 400 for 5 minutes.

Take out and sprinkle chocolate chips on top. Let cool and eat!

A Peak At Our Dinner Table

I think we eat a little different than you with children. I keep things pretty simple and fast. But here is a look at last weeks table events:
-Dinner at Ashley's with BAKED SALMON, spiced potato chunks, fruit salad...delicious
-ROTISSERIE CHICKEN (purchased), green salad, watermelon,
-BBQ SHREDDED BEEF (cook roast in crock till very tender, add BBQ sauce recipe in family book) on buns with veg tray and baked chips and apples
-CHICKEN SALAD (use canned chicken or grilled chicken pieces, grapes, slivered almonds, celery, miracle whip), cantaloupe rings, bread & jam
-ENCHILADAS (recipe in family book) with lettuce and tomatoes, chips and salsa
-El BAJIOS GREEN CHILI CHICKEN SALAD
-Don't forget a little bite of chocolate after each meal for dessert or if visitors will eat it all so you don't have leftovers, be sure to try the ALMOND JOY CAKE in the family book.
-we also love a little fruit...APPLE SALAD (chopped apples, chopped nuts, raisins opt, yogurt)

CHOCOLATE FONDUE OR DIP (great with strawberries, bananas, pineapple, apples)
1-6oz Hershey Chocolate Almond bar 1/3 c whipping cream
1 Tbsp milk 1 Tbsp margarine/ butter
1 c mini marshmallows
cook in double boiler so won't burn, till melted and blended. Serve warm.

New and improved Easy meals

Appease em all!

Crockpot:
add a few chicken breasts
a can of beans (black or pinto)
a can of salsa

Simmer and shred chicken...SERVE!

I like mine over brown rice (naked burrito style)
Heber likes his in a tortilla (burrito style)
Mckay likes his on a taco shell

CHICKEN FINGERS

We all love chicken fingers...super easy!
Slice chicken
dip in egg, then bread crumbs and fry in olive oil on stove top....

We serve with a green salad and steamed veggie...


SALMON FILLETS
Smother salmon with lemon, salt, brown sugar onion, garlic... and grill on foil on BBQ or bake in oven in a glass baking dish...super easy and super healthy....serve with rice and steamed veggie.

We've grown to love any steamed veggies....we discovered real green beans...not the canned...delicious! Steamed baby carrots, asparagus, zuccini etc....EASY side!

Cafe Rio dressing, chicken and rice look a like!

For all you cafe rio lovers...I found something on the internet that has become our NEW favorite...you can be creative and make whatever salad, burritoes, enchiladas etc that you want and just use dressing on top of anything for a delicious taste.


Café Rio Dressing
1 buttermilk ranch dressing packet (make as per recipe)
2 tomatillos (tomato like vegetable with a husk around them)
½ bunch of cilantro
1 clove garlic
Juice of 1 lime
1 jalapeño (Use the seeds too if you like it spicy. You could substitute a few drops of green tobasco for the jalapeno.)

Use a food processor to blend all the ingredients well. Refrigerate.

Cafe Rio Chicken

1 small bottle Kraft Zesty Italian Dressing
1 T chili powder
1 T cumin
3 cloves garlic—minced
5 lbs chicken breast

Cook all together in a crock pot for 4 hours, shred meat and cook 1 additional hour.


Café Rio Rice

3 c water
4 t chicken bouillon
4 t garlic –minced
½ bunch cilantro
1 can green chiles—or equivalent fresh
¾ t salt
1 T butter
½ onion
3 c rice (see note)

Blend cilantro, green chiles and onion together in food processor. Bring water to a boil and add all ingredients, simmer covered 30 minutes.

A WEEKS WORTH OF DUERDEN FAVORITES:

Not in any special order...

Tostadas, Soft Tacos or Burritos (whatever you want to call them)
Tortillas (we like wheat)
Cheese
Put tortillas on hot pan to make them crusty and melt cheese on top (like Cafe Rio baby!) Take off pan and add any or all of the following: refried beans, black beans, fresh tomatoes, green or red peppers, avacado, sour cream, salsa, turkey burger, etc.

Homeade Hamburger & Fries
Hamburgers
Remember how we used to have homeade hamburgers every Saturday night? Well recently we started making these and they are delish!
Hamburger or Turkeyburger(how ever much you need)
Minced onion, garlic powder and anything else in your spice cupboard you'd like.
Mix burger and spices. I like to make patties on wax paper so that I don't have to touch the meat.
Fries (my weakness, these are better than fast food)
In a big bowl mix oil (about 1/4 cup or less), and any spices you want (we like: minced onion, garlic powder, chili powder, paprika, Season salt, whatever). Add cut potatoes (I like to cut them thin like real fries) and stir them around (or shake them in a tupperware) to coat them. Spread on cookie sheet and bake at 400 for 30-35 minutes.
OR
Sweet Potato Fries (yum!)
Do the same as above except the only spice I add is a little Cayenne pepper to the oil.
This meal is also good with cooked, fresh green beans.

Baked Chimichangas
1lb chicken or turkey burger
1 onion, chopped
1 clove garlic
1/2 tsp chili powder
taco seasoning (to taste)
3/4 cup shredded cheese
1 (4oz) can green chili peppers
1/2 cup snipped cilantro
12 large flour or wheat tortillas

Brown meat, add onion, garlic, chili powder and taco seasoning to taste. Drain any liquid. Add cheese, chili peppers, and cilantro. Assemble like a burrito and place in baking dish. Sprinkle cheese and cilantro on top for garnish. Bake at 400 for about 25 minutes or until golden brown.


BLT's
I don't think you need a recipe for this one. But I would suggest adding avacado.

Pizzas
Make pizzas with your favorite toppings on flour or wheat tortillas. Bake at 400 for about 10-15 minutes or until edges are crisp.

Breakfast for Dinner
Sometimes we'll have German pancakes, or eggs and hashbrowns, or our favorite hearty waffle/pancake recipe from Michelle, who got it from Katie. (Hope you don't mind that we share it Michelle)

Pancake/Waffle Mix
4 cups old fashioned oats
2 cups white flour
2 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup instant milk
3 tbsp bkg powder
2 tbsp cinnamon (or more)
5 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cream of tarter
Mix ingredients and store in container or ziplock.

To made pancakes or waffles:
2 eggs
1/3 cup canola oil or applesauce
2 cups pancake mix
1 cup water
Beat eggs, add oil, mix and water. Makes 10 pancakes or waffles.


Chenae's AYAYAY! Tortilla Soup
Cooked chicken, shredded with a fork. (OR THIS CAN BE A VEGITARIAN DISH IF YOU DON'T WANT CHICKEN)
1/2 of an onion
1 clove of garlic
1 can of diced tomatoes
4 cups of chicken broth (or water with bullion cubes)
lime juice (to taste)
taco seasoning (to taste)
1 can corn
1 can white hominy (opt)
1 can black beans (opt)
1 avacado
cilantro
shredded cheese
corn tortillas (cut with pizza cutter into strips and bake spread out on cookie sheet at 400 for 10 min or until crisp)
Cook & Shred chicken, set aside. Saute onion and garlic, then add chicken again. Add tomatoes, broth, lime juice, taco seasoning, corn, hominy, and beans and a handful of chopped cilantro. Simmer until hot (its not rocket science right?). When you serve it, top it with cheese, crisp tortilla strips, cilantro and (drum roll please) avacado.
This is my all time favorite meal and I'm Mat's favorite chef when I make it.


If you can't tell...we like Mexican food. I think it's my way of coping without Cafe Rio. I'm always looking for good ones, so send any my way!