Spicy Crab Guacamole Recipe

3 Large Avocados
1 Cup Lumb Crab Meat
3 Limes, juiced
1/2 Cup Red Onion, chopped
1/2 Cup Tomatoes, chopped
1/3 Cup Cilantro
1/2 Cup Jicama, chopped
1/2 a Jalapeno, seeded
3 cloves Garlic
2 tsp Olive Oil
1/4 TB Cayenne
1 tsp Cumin
1/2 tsp Salt

1. In a large bowl, combine diced avocados, crab meat & the juice of 1 lime & mix gently.
2. In a food processor, combine the rest of the ingredients & pulse until mixed thoroughly but not completely blended.
3. Pour mixture into the large bowl & stir to combine mixture. Chill in the fridge for 1 hour before serving.
4. Enjoy!!

This recipe came from a friend. Thanks for sharing Kandace! Can't wait to try it.

Cheesy Crouton Chicken Bake

from Tonya Leavitt

4-6 skinless chicken breasts or 6-8 skinless thighs
4-6 slices of cheese; Swiss, Provalone, or Jack
1/3 cup chicken broth
1 pkg. onion soup mix
2 cups croutons
1/4 cup melted butter

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place chicken pieces in 9x13 pan. Cover each piece of chicken with a slice of cheese. In a small bowl mix broth and soup packet, pour over cheese. coarsely crush croutons and sprinkle over chicken. Drizzle with melted butter. Bake for 1 hour or until chicken is cooked throughout.

Two Summer Favorites

Here are two of our favorite recipes during summer. We like to eat them together too! :)

ORANGE GRILLED CHICKEN
1 c. Italian salad dressing (we use Kraft Zesty Italian or prepared Good Seasons Italian)
1 (6 oz.) can orange juice concentrate
1/2 tsp. salt
boneless, skinless chicken breasts

Mix salad dressing, orange juice concentrate and salt together. Pour over chicken and allow to marinate until ready to grill. (I pour it over frozen chicken breasts and let it marinate while they thaw in the refrigerator.)

*Hint: if I can't find the small can of OJ concentrate at the store, I mix up a double batch, pour the second half over desired number of chicken breasts and freeze it for another day.

STRAWBERRY SPINACH SALAD
2 lb. packages ready to eat spinach
12 wonton skins cut into 4 triangles, fried
1/2 c. fresh bacon bits
1 cup strawberries, sliced
1/2 c. red pepper, finely chopped (optional)
1 bermuda onion, thinly sliced (optional)
1/4 c. grated fresh parmesan cheese
1 cup toasted sliced almonds

Toast sliced almonds in 1 tbsp. butter and 3 tbsp. sugar. Fry wonton skins. Combine all ingredients in a large bowl. Just before serving, add desired amount of dressing.

Dressing
1/2 c. red wine vinegar
3/4 c. salad oil
1/2-1 tsp. dry mustard
1/3 c. sugar
pinch of salt
1/2 c. jam (raspberry or strawberry)

My variations:
*Instead frying my own wontons, I buy the pre-packaged wonton strips (at our local grocery store they are in the produce department with the salad toppers)
*I don't like to cook bacon, so I use a jar of Hormel real bacon pieces (found by the salad dressings at our local grocery store).
*If you don't want to toast your own almonds, the butter toffee sliced almonds found with the salad toppers are really good in this salad.
*My family doesn't like straight spinach, so I use less spinach and toss in a little red leaf and green leaf lettuce.

Beef Up Your Beef

Hamburger patties
Cilantro, chopped
Garlic, minced
Jalapenos, diced
Lime juice
Season salt

Okay, we take no credit for this whatsoever. We had some friends over for a bbq on the 4th, the husband is a chef and he suggested to add the above ingredients to our patties to give it a little extra. I didn't have the jalapenos in my meat but the burger was delish. It gave any restaurant burger a run for it's money.

Orange Julius

This is a great recipe for a very tasty and refreshing summer treat!

6 oz. of orange juice concentrate
1 C water
1 C milk (I use rice milk because of dairy allergies and it tastes great!)
1/2 C sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
Ice cubes (use as many or as little as you want depending on your texture preference)

Blend all ingredients in the blender, serve, and enjoy!

Chicken Cheesesteak Sandwiches

1 pound chicken cutlets (I use boneless skinless chicken tenders)
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
salt and pepper
2 mixed bell peppers, thinly sliced
1 large red onion, halved and thinly sliced
4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
6 ounces sliced provolone cheese
4 soft hoagie rolls, split lengthwise
1/4 cup light mayonnaise


Heat broiler, with rack set 4 inches from heat. On a rimmed baking sheet lined with aluminum foil, toss chicken with 1 tablespoon oil; season with salt and pepper. Broil, without turning, until chicken is opaque throughout, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board (reserve baking sheet); let cool, and thinly slice. Set chicken aside.
On baking sheet, toss together peppers, onion, garlic, and remaining tablespoon oil. Broil, tossing occasionally, until crisp-tender and slightly charred, 8 to 10 minutes; season with salt and pepper. Add chicken to broiled vegetables; toss, and spread in a single layer.
Top chicken and vegetables with cheese; broil until cheese is bubbling, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Scoop out most of the doughy center from both halves of rolls; discard. Spread rolls with mayonnaise; fill with chicken and vegetables.

I serve with seasoned fries.

*Recipe from Everyday Foods Oct.2008

Very Yummy Apple Dip

I found this very yummy apple dip recipe here. Soooo good!

Cafe Rio Salad

CAFE RIO SALAD

There are 3 parts to the salad: the rice, the pork, and the dressing.

[ LIME-CILANTRO RICE ]

2 Tbsp. oil

4 c. long grain rice (6 c. water)

1 bunch cilantro, finely chopped

juice of 2 limes

2 tsp. crushed garlic

Heat oil in a large skillet.

Add rice, cilantro, and garlic. Saute 3-5 minutes, stirring frequently. Add water and lime juice and bring to boil. Then reduce heat and simmer until all the liquid is absorbed by the rice (about 20 minutes). You can also use a rice cooker if you have one.

[ CAFE RIO PORK ]

pork roast

1 (16 oz.) bottle of salsa

1 can coke

2 c. brown sugar

Place pork in crock-pot and fill it half way up with water. Cook roast on high for 5 hours. Drain off water. Cut pork in thirds. Mix together ingredients (salsa, coke, brown sugar) and put on top of pork. Cook an additional 3 hours on high. Shred pork with forks. Leave it on low until ready to serve.

[ CREAMY TOMATILLA SALAD DRESSING ]

1 packet hidden valley ranch buttermilk dressing

1 c. buttermilk

1 c. mayo or sour cream

2-3 tomatillas (peel off outer leaf/shell)

1 tsp. crushed garlic

¾ bunch fresh cilantro

1 tsp. cayenne pepper

juice from 1 lime (about 2 tsp.)

salt & pepper

Blend all ingredients in the blender. Refrigerate.

[ SERVING ]

Of course you can assemble everything burrito-style. I prefer salad-style. For one serving, I first put a tortilla on a plate (or a large serving bowl, like the pasta bowl shown in the photo). Then put rice, pork, some chopped lettuce, and the dressing. Finally, garnish your salad with shredded cheese, tomatoes, sliced avocados, or whatever you want.

Note: I strongly prefer and recommend the uncooked tortillas over regular ol' packaged tortillas. Check the refrigerated section of your local grocery store. Our Costco carries them too. Just throw the tortilla in a pan over the stove top, give it a few flips, and it's cooked.

Tuna Salad

So this is definitely not very exciting! It's just one of those use-what-you-have, make-it-so-your-family-likes-it kind of things. Also....I don't really measure things, so sorry if that frustrates you. Just add stuff 'til it looks yummy!

2 cans tuna, drained, etc.
1-2 small apples, diced
shredded (cheddar) cheese
salt & pepper
enough Ranch dressing to make it all as moist as you want

Eat it with tortilla strips or crackers

This last time I made it, I had some left over bacon in the fridge that I cut up & put it. I also wondered if Craisins &/or almonds would be good, but I was starving & didn't take the time to get those out. I also wondered if it would be good as a lettuce wrap.
Enjoy!!