Pizza Factory Chocolate Chip Cookies

I actually got this recipe from Dall a few years back and now someone else gave it to me, I don't know if it is the same or not, but it sure is good!

2 c. butter
1 1/2 c. granulated sugar
2 c. brown sugar
4 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla (real vanilla is best!)
1/2 tsp. almond extract
2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. baking soda
5 1/2 c flour (I keep my flour in the freezer, I don't know why, but it does something magical to cookies, it makes them set up so much better)
1 large box of instant vanilla pudding (french or regular vanilla, they are both good)
3 cups milk chocolate chips

Mix in the order listed, place on a greased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 for 8-10 minutes ( I like my cookies really soft, so I cook them for 8 or 9 min and they are so soft and good, they don't really look all the way done, but after they cool they set up perfectly)

Cafe Rio Rice

2 c. Basmati rice (rinse twice and drain) I used minute rice and just put everything into the pan, didn't rinse or drain
2 T. oil
1c. water
1/2 teas. salt
1/4 c. lime juice
1 small can of diced green chiles
2 c. chicken broth
place in pan, bring to a boil, then let simmer on low for 20 mins.

After I cooked it I added about 1 T of finely chopped cilantro, so good!

Cafe Rio Chicken Recipe

5lbs chicken breast
1 small bottle kraft zesty italian dressing
1 T. chilli powder
1T. cumin
3 cloves minced garlic

cook for six hours in a crock pot on low, shred and cook for one more hour.

Cafe Rio Dressing

1/2 c. Mayo
1/2 c. Sour cream
1/2c. buttermilk
1 c. Cilantro (before it is chopped, more like half of the bunch or 1/3 of the bunch)
1 pk ranch dressing mix
4 cloves of garlic minced
3 tomatillos

Blend in blender and refridgerate overnight for best flavor.

Cafe Rio Black Beans

1 can black beans (rinsed and drained)
1/2 cup tomato juice
2 cloves garlic minced
1 tsp cumin
2 T. olive oil
1/2 tsp salt
2 T. cilantro chopped

In nonstick pan, cook cumin, garlic, and oil over medium heat until you can smell it, then add beans, tomato juice and salt until heated through, before serving add cilantro, and 4 tsp of lime juice.

Cafe Rio Pork

1c. Pace salsa
1c. Brown sugar
1c. Dr. pepper soda
2pound pork roast

Mix salsa, sugar, and soda together and pour two-thirds of the mixture over the pork roast and cook on low in a crockpot for 8-10 hours or until it falls apart. an hour before serving shred the pork and pour remaining mixture into the meat mixture cover and let simmer. Sooooo good and super easy!

yummy berry smoothie

I've been making the best little smoothies lately... and I just cant get enough of them...

Here's what I do...

1 cup berries (blue and rasp)
1/2 cup vanilla yogurt
1/4 cup milk
1 TBS agave nectar (or honey.)

mix this up and you have a great snack... I ate it 3 times yesterday... I say its better than me eating a candy bar...

homemade tortillas

Today i got the craving for tortillas... and there is something so delish about them when they are homemade...

this is the easiest recipe ever!!
I like to just eat em plain but they'd be good with butter, cinnamon, and sugar.... or to have tacos. or fajitas... yum yum!

2 1/4 cup flour
1/4 c butter flavored shortning...
1tsp corse salt...

I mix that up in my food processer until it looks like bread crumbs...
then add 1 cup (really really HOT) water

roll into balls and then roll out as flat as you can get...
cook over medium heat in a non stick pan... flip once it starts to bubble..

Poppyseed Cake

1 yellow cake mix Glaze:
1 small vanilla pudding (instant) 1/2 c. buttermilk
4 eggs 1/2 c. butter
1/2 teas. vanilla 1 c. Sugar
1/2 teas. almond extract 1 teas baking soda
1 c. sour cream 1 teas. corn syrup
1/2 c. butter crisco Boil until mixture is clear, stirring frequently.
1/2 c. water
3 teas. poppyseeds

Glaze:
1/2 c. buttermilk
1/2 c. butter
1 c. sugar
1 teas. corn syrup
1/2 teas. baking soda
let boil until clear.

Pour cake batter into a greased and floured bundt pan. Bake at 350 for 40 to 45 minutes. Let cool. poke with the end of a match stick all over, then top with as much glaze as you would like.

My Favorite Syrup for Waffles

1 c. Sugar
1 Stick butter
1/2 c. Buttermilk
1 teas. Karo syrup
1/2 teas. baking soda

bring to a boil stirring constantly. then let it simmer for 5 minuteson low, keep stirring, remove from heat and add 1 teas vanilla. It is so good, you don't even need any butter (Cuz there's like a butt load in there already!) It is so good with your favorite waffle recipe, I love to top my waffles off with some bananas or raspberries and then drizzle this on the whole thing, sooo tasty!

Chocolate Oatmeal Chocolatechip muffin

1/2 c. quick cooking oats
2/3 c. boiling water
1 c. brown sugar
1/4 c. melted butter or marg
1 egg, lightly beaten
2/3 c + 2Tbsp all purpose flour
1 Tbsp. cocoa powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1 pkg chocolate chips semi or milk ( I like to use half of each)

In large bowl, pour boiling water over oats. Let stand for 10 minutes. Stir in brown sugar and butter, mix in egg. In a seperate bowl sift together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Add flour mixture to batter, mix well. Stir in vanilla and half of the chocolate chips. Grease and flour a cupcake tin, I like the large ones the best. Sprinkle the tops with the remaining chocolate chips. bake at 350 for 18-20 minutes or until a toothpick comes our clean. I like to wrap some in saran wrap and freeze them for later. Great for a grab and go breakfast!

cooking with trader joes

I know we dont have a trader joes here in UT but these girls have the right idea! I love all these yummy recipes!!

click here to see for your self!