Sunday, May 31, 2009

Empanadas de Picadillo (Dinner Pie)

Picadillo Empanadas
INGREDIENTS
2 tablespoons vegetable oil ½ cup finely chopped onion 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped 2/3 cup 1/8-inch cubes carrots 1 cup peeled 1/8-inch cubes red potatoes ½ lb ground beef ½ cup tomato sauce ½ teaspoon chicken bouillon granules 2 tablespoons slivered almonds 2 tablespoons pitted chopped green olives, drained Raisins, if desired 1 box (15 oz) Pillsbury® refrigerated pie crusts, softened as directed on box - I just use homemade but I got the recipe on the back of a box of KIX
DIRECTIONS 1. Heat oven to 350°F. In 10-inch skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Cook onion and garlic in oil 2 minutes. Stir in carrots and potatoes. Cook 4 minutes. Stir in beef. Cook until beef is brown; drain. Stir in sauce and bouillon granules. Cook until potatoes are tender and mixture thickens. Stir in almonds, green olives and raisins. Remove from heat; cool slightly.
2. On lightly floured surface, roll pie crusts into two 14-inch circles. Using 4 1/2-inch round cutter, cut 10 circles. Spoon 1 rounded tablespoonful filling onto half of each circle. Moisten edge of each with water. Fold in half; press edge with fork to seal. On ungreased cookie sheet, place 2 inches apart. Poke top of each once with fork to vent steam.
3. Bake about 20 minutes or until light golden brown. Store leftovers loosely covered in refrigerator.

Saturday, May 16, 2009

Cafe R- Creamy Tomatillo 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 jalapeƱo (Use the seeds too if you like it spicy. You could substitute a few drops of green Tabasco for the jalapeno.)

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

Cafe Rio Style Shredded Chicken


  • 2 lbs chicken breasts
  • 1/2 cup zesty italian dressing
  • 1/2 T minced garlic
  • 1 package of ranch dressing mix
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1/2 T chili powder
  • 1/2 T cumin
Mix ingredients and pour over chicken.  Cook in crockpot until chicken is fall-apart tender (or use pressure cooker - about 30 minutes on poultry setting after adding 1/2 cup chicken broth to the bottom of the pan). Use juice from crockpot to keep chicken moist.  Serve with beans and cheese inside a tortilla. Top with more cheese and warm in oven until cheese is melted.