Cafe Rio Style Creamy Tomatillo Dressing

A few people have asked for this recipe. Now that I live in Arizona I don't have the luxury of going to Cafe Rio. So I have to make my own version of Cafe Rio style food. Its not the same, but delicious nonetheless!

CREAMY TOMATILLO DRESSING

1 package Hidden Valley Buttermilk Ranch salad dressing mix 1 lime, juice only
1 or 2 large jalapeño peppers 2 cups buttermilk (check directions)
1 cloves garlic 2 cups mayonnaise (check directions)
2 tomatillos
1 handful cilantro leaves
1 lime, juice only
2 cups buttermilk (check directions)
2 cups mayonnaise (check directions)

• Mix Hidden Valley Buttermilk Ranch dressing according to package directions
• Place all ingredients together in a blender, except mayonnaise; mix until smooth
• Whisk in the mayonnaise; chill until ready to serve

Note: The seeds in the jalapeño peppers make it spicy hot. Remove seeds, if you don’t want it to be too spicy. Do not use the stems from the cilantro.

Landon decided that he didn't want to walk around us anymore.

Landon was really tired and when we put him in his crib he just kind of crumbled and fell asleep. This is how he landed.

Life! It has been so busy this past week. Jesse has been working like a madman doing homework, going to school and working. I get stressed out just thinking about how hard Jesse has been working lately. I try not to think about it too often, it makes me want to take a nap. We are going to Utah this weekend for no other reason than just to get a way from the craziness. Yes, we are running away from our responsibilities, and I love it! Between Landon and Penny I feel like a full-time servant. Landon's newest trick is taking his pants and diaper off and throwing them onto the floor. We've had a few accidents...I really want a washer and dryer. I taught Landon the sign for NO! Now when I get frustrated or to the point of insanity I can keep my mouth shut and just sign 'NO!' I am still trying to figure out a healthy way to deal with Penny.

Caramel Brownies

Having a bad day? Have a peace of heaven. No lie! That is my sales pitch for this recipe, so give it a try. You won't regret it. Chocolate is God's way of giving you a small glimpse of heaven. These brownies take a little more work than I normally like but it hasn't stopped me yet from making them.

CARAMEL BROWNIES

1 pkg. chocolate cake mix (Devil’s Food Cake)
1 cup evaporated milk divided
½ cup (1stick) of butter melted
35 caramels (unwrapped)
3 large Hershey bars (or 6 small ones)

Directions:

PREHEAT oven to 350 F.

COMBINE cake mix and 2/3 cup evaporated milk and butter
(batter will be thick). Spread half off batter into ungreased 13 x 9
-inch baking pan.

BAKE for 15 minutes.

HEAT caramels and remaining evaporated milk in small saucepan
over low heat, stirring constantly, until caramels are melted. Break
chocolate bars into sections and place them over brownie; drizzle with caramel mixture.

DOT remaining batter over caramel mixture until completely covered.

BAKE for 25-30 minutes or until center is set. Cool in pan on wire rack. Cut into 24 squares

Ham and Scalloped Potatoes

I'm lazy, what can I say? I believe a great meal should only take 20 minutes of my time. So here is another great crock pot recipe. I've never had a meal I didn't like from a crock pot. Everything comes out moist and perfectly cooked. Jesse was telling me how much he likes scalloped potatoes and ham so I was extremely excited to make this for him. Needless to say he loves this recipe. The best part is it may take 8 hours to cook, but I only spent 20 minutes on it!

HAM AND SCALLOPED POTATOES

Ingredients

8 to 10 medium potatoes, pared and thinly sliced
1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 cup water
6 to 8 slices of ham (the thicker the better)
1 onions, peeled and thinly sliced
3 C Cheddar or American cheese, grated
1 can cream of celery or cream of mushroom
Salt and pepper
1/2 C of Milk
Paprika

Instructions

· Toss sliced potatoes in cream of tartar and water
· Soak potatoes for a few minutes (this removes some of the starch)
· Rinse and drain potatoes
· Put half of ham, potatoes, and onion in crock-pot
· Sprinkle with salt, pepper, and cheese
· Repeat with remaining half
· Spoon undiluted soup over top
· Sprinkle with paprika
· Cover and cook on low for 8 to 10 hours or on high or 4 hours

Best Buds and Hard Days

Penny was spayed yesterday. She came home quite pathetic and extremely lethargic. She refused to move, and if she had to go to the bathroom she would start to cry and make me carry her outside. Landon was very worried about Penny and checked on her about every 30 seconds. He spent his whole day dedicated to keeping Penny company and made sure she had everything he thought she would need. When she wasn't responding to him he went into his room and one toy at a time he found all of the toys that Penny loves and took them to her. When she wouldn't play with them, he sat on her bed and started to put each toy on top of her until there was a nice pile. When she still didn't move he played with the toys for a while, then decided to lie down with her. He laid his head on her thigh and when he thought it was long enough he would go play and then come back and do the same thing again. He took this very seriously. He loves his "Penny girl".

New Pj's

Landon seems to grow out of his pj's faster than we can buy them. Even though he gets new pj's monthly he never ceases to show them off. He marches around the apartment and acts like a proud little man. He's a goofy kid!

CREPES WITH CREAM FILLING AND STRAWBERRY SAUCE

I love cream-filled crepes. Thursday before bed, Jesse came up with the brilliant idea of having crepes for Sunday dinner. I haven't stopped thinking about them ever since. These crepes turned out perfect. For a delicious variation, try making French toast with cinnamon-raisin bread. Use the cream in between two pieces of toast and then top it with the strawberry sauce. Now you have stuffed French toast and you didn't even have to go to IHOP!

CREPES

1 1/2 c. flour
1 T. sugar
1/2 t. baking powder
1/2 t. salt
2 c. milk
2 T. butter, melted
1/2 t. vanilla
2 eggs

Mix flour, sugar, and salt. Stir in remaining ingredients. Spray a crepe pan or small skillet-the one you would fry eggs in. Heat the pan to medium. Use about 1/4 c. of batter for each crepe. Pour batter into pan smoothing it with the back of a spoon to cover holes. It will look like a very thin pancake. When the batter begins to look dry around the edges, use a fork to flip it over. Stack finished crepes between waxed paper. You can freeze them for up to two months. I like to make a double batch and then roll scrambled eggs, cheese, and bacon in them for a yummy breakfast. These are definitely worth the time and effort

CREAM FILLING

1 c. heavy whipping cream
1 8 oz. pkg. cream cheese
2 c. powdered sugar
1 t. vanilla

Mix cream, set aside. Beat cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla. Fold into whipped cream.

STRAWBERRY SAUCE

1/2 c. sugar
2 T. cornstarch (This is to thicken the sauce. In a pinch I've used flour but it turns the sauce cloudy instead of pretty and clear like a gel.)
3/4 c. water
1 T. lemon juice
1 t. strawberry extract
1/4 t. red food coloring
4 c. sliced strawberries (Buy these in bulk during the summer when they are on sale and then freeze in 1 cup portions to use all winter for smoothies and desserts.)

To assemble crepes, put cream in the center. Roll up and then top with strawberry sauce. Yum!

Date Night

No Baby!

Weekend after weekend Jesse and I are faced with the same question: "What do you want to do this weekend...?" We have lived in Flagstaff for just over 6 months now, and each weekend we stay home with Landon doing the same thing we do every weekend. Finally, we met a couple that offered to watch Landon. So for the first time in 7 or 8 months we went on a date without the kid. I'm not gonna lie, it was a little bit weird not having to worry about what Landon was doing or what he was getting into. It was even weird getting out of the car and not having to make sure we had everything we would need in case of a baby catastrophe. For 4 beautiful hours Jesse and I went to the movies and saw Avatar and enjoyed ourselves.

Chicken Divine

I normally clock out each day around 4:30 pm. So I prepare all my meals in the morning and just cook them when we're ready to eat dinner. But sometimes I have my days when I really don't feel like cooking a nice dinner with side dishes and such. So I have to throw my meals together. I like to just mix it all together, and that's that. Well, Chicken Divine is my throw together dish. I love cooking casseroles because there are hardly any rules. If you don't like something or want more of something, just do it. So I've put measurements for this recipe but do what ever you want. Make this the way you would want it.

Chiken Divne

Pre-heat oven to 350

2-3 Chicken breast
2 C. of Minute Rice
2 Cans of Cream of Chicken
1 Tspn of Curry powder
3 C. of frozen broccoli
2 1/2 C. of shredded cheese


Cook and dice chicken. In a 9"13 pan mix Chicken, Rice, Cream of Chicken, Curry powder, broccoli and cheese together. Add Between 2-3 cups of water. Cover with tin foil. Cook for 30 minutes then stir. If it looks dry, add more water. Cook an additonal 15 minutes uncovered. Salt and pepper to your taste.

Family Pictures

Landon was grumpy when we took these pictures. I had to stand behind the camera and basically head bang and make my hair go everywhere. That was the only thing that would make him smile. So, if you're wondering why he isn't looking at the camera, it's because he is looking at me acting ridiculous.

For Christmas my Mom and Dad gave us family pictures. These are the first family pictures we've ever had done by a professional. Thanks Mom and Dad!

Snow snow go AWAY

This is a picture of snow. A tree covered in snow

More snow

I don't know if I want to laugh or cry. It is snowing AGAIN...can you believe it? I was just talking to my landlord, and she said it is supposed to stop sometime tomorrow, but next week it is going to snow five days in a row. I am too scared to check the forecast, maybe I will have the courage to check tomorrow. She could be wrong, I hope. All I know is that next time I go grocery shopping I am going to get enough food to last us a month and just stay inside. Maybe by March the weather won't be so bad.

Our back yard.

This is the forest in the back of our apartment complex. Jesse and Penny take a lot a walks here.

Landon vs. Penny

Landon and Penny try hard to play nice. Sometimes Landon gets the short end of the stick.

Yummy Italian Chicken

The best meals can be made in a crock pot. When I first got married, my mom felt like she had failed me because I really didn't know how to cook much of anything. She set out on a mission to give variety to my recipe collection. The first recipe she taught me was Yummy Italian Chicken served over steamed rice. This quickly became one of the family favorites. The best part is, there is hardly any work involved!

Yummy Italian Chicken

1/4 C. butter
8 oz. of cream cheese
4-6 boneless,skinless chicken breasts
1-2 packets of dry Italian dressing
1 can of Cream of Mushroom
1 can of Cream of Chicken

Melt the butter in a crock pot; place chicken in melted butter and sprinkle with Italian dressing. Simmer on low 4-6 hours. Mix Cream cheese, Cream of Mushroom and Cream of Chicken together and add to chicken; replace lid and allow time to warm. Serve over steamed rice, noodles or mashed potatoes.

Snow, Snow and more SNOW!

Our windows are at ground level. As you can see, we can't see.

Our car is in this picture somewhere. Can you find it?

This is the sidewalk Jesse spent 8 hours shoveling yesterday.

Well, this has been a fun week. It started snowing Monday and is expected to finally stop on Saturday. We have received about 5 ft. of snow. Flagstaff tried to prepare for the storm but unfortunately businesses all over had their roofs cave in. One of my favorite book stores, Bookmans, lost 75% of their roof and so did Joanna's. NAU and most everywhere else closed down yesterday and today. So what do you do when you can't even look out your window. Well, I cook, so these past few days have been full of good cooking and bad weather. Whoever thinks that all of Arizona is hot and sunny has obviously never heard of Flagstaff.