Chocolate Mint Cheesecake Bars

PREP: 15 min
COOK: 30 min
YIELD: 1 1/2 dozen bars

2 cups finely crushed oreo cookies (the mint ones are yummy too)
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted
1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, softened
1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk
2 eggs
1 Tbs. peppermint extract
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 teaspoons shortening
14 creme de menthe thin candies, chopped

1. Preheat oven to 325. In medium bowl, combine cookie crumbs and butter; mix well. Press crumb mixture firmly on bottom of 9-inch baking pan. Bake 6 minutes. Cool.
2. In separate bowl, beat cream cheese until fluffy. Gradually beat in sweetened condensed milk, eggs and peppermint extract until smooth. Pour over cooled cookie base and bake for 25-30 minutes. Cool 20 minutes; chill.
3. Just before serving, in heavy saucepan, melt chocolate chips and shortening. Drizzle over top of chilled cheesecake bars. Sprinkle chopped chocolate mint candies over the top. Cut into bars. Refrigerate leftovers.

Potato and Boursin Frittata

8 large eggs

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

1/4 cup fresh, chopped basil

1/4 cup olive oil

8 baby yukon potatoes

1 cup chopped onions

Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 375°F.

Whisk together eggs, salt, and pepper, and basil until just combined.

Heat oil in an ovenproof 9- to 10-inch heavy nonstick skillet over high heat until very hot but not smoking. Add potatoes and onions to oil, stirring once, then cover and cook until beginning to brown, about 4 minutes. Stir potato mixture once, then cover and cook 3 minutes more.

Pour beaten eggs evenly over potato mixture and crumble cheese over eggs. Transfer skillet to oven and bake frittata, uncovered, until set and just cooked through, about 15 minutes. Invert a plate over skillet and, holding them together with oven mitts, invert frittata onto plate and serve immediately.

Mini Veggie Frittatas

Vegetable-oil spray
4 eggs
3 Tbs. low fat milk
1/4 tsp salt
1/3 cup part-skim mozzarella, shredded
1/3 cup green pepper, chopped
1/3 cup mushrooms, chopped

1. Preheat oven to 375 F . Spritz 12 mini muffin tins with vegetable oil.
2. In a bowl, whisk eggs, milk and salt. Add cheese, peppers, and mushrooms. Spoon a tablespoon into each muffin cup. Bake for 12-14 minutes. Makes 12.

Cheesy Broccoli and Potato Soup

2 tsp. olive oil
1/2 onion, chopped
1 medium potato, peeled and diced into 1/2-inch pieces
3 cups broccoli, chopped
3 cups low-salt vegetable stock
1 cup reduced-fat Monterey Jack cheese, shredded

1. In a large stockpot, heat oil adn saute the onion for 5-7 minutes over low to medium heat. Add potatoes, broccoli, and stock; bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook, covered, for 12-15 minutes or until broccoli and potatoes are tender when pierced with a fork.

2. Either use a hand held blender to puree mixture and cheese in stockpot or remove from heat and allow to cool a bit. Pour the mixture and cheese into a blender; puree.
I'm definitely doubling or tripling this next time we make it. It disappeared extremely fast!! The recipe says it serves 4, but I'd say it is closer to 2 or 3.

Café Rio Recipes... YUM!

Cafe Rio Pork

3 lbs pork roast (butt or shoulder)
1 c dark brown sugar
1c worcestershire sauce
1t dried oregano
1t powdered ginger
1t salt
1t chili powder
1t garlic powder
2T dried minced onions

Cook all ingredients in a crock pot on low for 8 hours. One hour before serving, remove roast and shred it, dump out cooking juices. (I reserve about 1/2 a cup of so to put back in because it is SOOO tasty with it)
Combine
1c dark brown sugar
1c red enchilada sauce
Put shredded pork back into crock pot and add brown sugar and enchilada sauce.

Lime Rice

1c white rice
2T chicken broth + broth to cook rice in
1T fresh lime juice
1T garlic powder
1T dried minced onion
Pinch of salt

Cook all ingredients for rice directions, substituting chicken broth for water. When rice is done, add..

1/2 to 1 c chopped cilantro
1T fresh lime juice
1c green enchilada sauce

Creamy Tomatillo Dressing
Place the following in a blender:
3 tomatillos, peeled and cut in 1/4's
Juice of 1/2 lime
1/2 c buttermilk
1/2 c mayo
1/2 c sour cream
1 pkg dry ranch buttermilk dressing
1c fresh chopped cilantro
6 green onions, with ends
2 cloves crushed garlic
3t sugar
1 jalapeno, sliced thin, and added to taste

Mix well, refridgerate 1 hour.

Copycat Café Rio Pork

3 lb. pork roast
16 oz. salsa
1 can of Coca Cola
1 can green chiles
2 cups brown sugar
water

Fill your crock pot with just the roast, and fill it half way with just the water.
Cook on high for 5 hours.
Take the pork out after the 5 hours, and drain the liquid.
Cut the roast into 3 or 4 sections and place back into the crock pot.
Puree the salsa and chiles in the blender and transfer to a bowl.
Add the Coke and brown sugar and mix.
Pour over the roast and cook on high for 3 more hours.
Shred with a fork.


I definitely don't think this is an exact copycat, but it was good nonetheless!

I've also come across a recipe for Café Rio Rice, but I haven't tried it yet.
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.

Sweet Rice

Ingredients:
1/2-1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1/2 of a white onion, chopped (add more or less to your taste)
1/2 bunch fresh cilantro
1 1/3 cups white rice
3 cups chicken broth
1/4-1/2 cup white sugar

Directions:
Put a little oil in bottom of pan (maybe about 1/2-1 tablespoon).
Saute chopped onion until transluecent. Add the chopped cinlantro (no big stems) and saute a minute more.
Add the rice, cooking until it is light brown (being careful not to burn).
Combine the chicken broth and sugar, letting sugar disolve. Then stir into rice until combined. Bring to a boil.
Cover and let cook on low, med-low until rice is done, about 25-30 minutes. Fluff with a fork before serving.

I think this is much better if you add lime juice to the finished rice. I want to try putting the lime juice in while it is still cooking, but haven't yet. I think it is somewhat similar to Bajio's but definitely not exact.