Cafe Rio Sweet Pork

Pork Roast
1 jar salsa (about soup can size)
Brown Sugar (1-1&1/2 C.)
1 can rootbeer

Cook about 4 hours or longer on low in crock pot. Shred roast, put back in juices. Cook longer after shredded in juices for better flavor (if you have time).

To make burrito:
Take a tortilla and put some meat, either black or pinto beans, mexican rice, enchilada sauce, mozarella cheese. Roll up. Top with more enchilada sauce and mroe cheese. Bake on individual plates until cheese is melted. Optional: top with salsa, cheese, sour cream, guacamole.

To make salad:
Start with tortilla on the bottom. Then lettuce. Put some meat on top. Add black or pinto beans. Mexican Rice. Mozarella cheese. Crumbled Tortilla chips. Use salad dressing purchased at Cafe Rio.

Homemade Macaroni and Cheese

2 C. uncooked macaroni
1/2 C. butter or margarine
1/2 C. flour
1 3/4 C. milk (I used skim)
1 C. sour cream
1/4 C. parmesan (I did not use fresh)
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper (use white if you have it)
1/2 tsp. dry mustard
2 C. sharp cheddar cheese, divided (I used medium cheddar)

Boil noodles and drain. Melt Butter. Add flour while stirring with whisk. Add milk a little at a time while stirring with a whisk. Add sour cream. Add remaining ingredients except cheddar cheese. Add 1 C. cheddar. Set sauce aside. Spray 9 X 9 pan. Put noodles in. Add remaining 1 C. cheese to noodles and stir in. Add sauce and stir in. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 1 hour. Hubby and kids really liked. I think next time I will use velveeta instead of cheddar.

Syrup

This syrup is runny, not thick. But that's the way we like it.

Twice as much white granulated sugar as water. Bring to a boil until it turns clear (the sugar has dissolved). Add about 1 T. maple flavoring.

Can store in the fridge.

Cinnamon Sour Cream Pancakes

Makes (8) 4-inch pancakes

2 large eggs, separated
1 C. sour cream (light works fine)
1 T. granulated white sugar
1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 C. flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp kosher salt (I used regular salt)

Beat egg whites with mixer until soft peaks form. Set aside. Whisk the egg yolks and sour cream together. Add the sugar and cinnamon and whisk until blended. Add flour, baking powder and salt. Mix into batter. Gently fold in the egg whites. Pour onto hot griddle. Cook until small bubbles form and bottom is light brown. Flip and cook other side until golden.

Note: This was not enough for my family of 2 adults and 2 kids. I would double or triple it next time. It does not have a very strong cinnamon taste. They were really good, but if you want cinnamon flavor you would need more.

Balsamic Vinegar Pork Chops

4 pork chops
S and P
2 T. EVOO
2/3 C. Balsamic Vinegar
2 tsp sugar

Season chops wtih S and P. Heat oil in pan over Med-high heat for 1 min. Cook chops for 5 minutes, turning half-way through. Remove chops, place on a clean plate. Turn down heat to Med. Cook Vinegar and sugar in same pan. Cook until slightly thickened (about 2 minutes). Return chops and any juices from chops into vinegar mixture. Cook 4 minutes, turning to coat with sauce.

5 Minute Chocolate Cake

Serves 1 or 2 (in 1 mug)

4 T. cake flour (I use regular flour then add a pinch of baking soda)
4 T. sugar
2 T. cocoa
1 egg
3 T. milk
2 T. oil (3 T. will make a moister cake)

Mix dry ingr. in a microwave safe mug. Add wet ingr. Mix well. Microwave on high for 3 minutes. Wait until it stops rising and sets in the mug. Tip out contents onto a plate and enjoy. I have also tried adding chocolate chips and mashed banana. It is not my favorite chocolate cake, but hey, it's fast, there are no leftovers and you won't eat an entire batch of cupcakes by yourself.

Nutrition facts figured with cake flour, no baking soda and 3 T. oil
1 serving (the whole recipe)
Cal 804, Fat 49.2, Fiber 4.2

Recipe taken from www.recipezaar.com
(recipe # 312817)

Nellie's Quick and Easy Brownies

1 stick butter or margarine
½ C. Oil
1 C. water
4 T. Cocoa

2 C. Sugar
2 ½ C. Flour

½ C. Buttermilk (or regular milk soured with 1 T. lemon juice or vinegar)
1 T. Vanilla
1 tsp. Soda (mixed with 1 T. water)

2 eggs

Melt butter in saucepan. Add oil, water and cocoa. Remove from heat. Mix in sugar and flour. Add buttermilk, vanilla and soda. Add eggs. If necessary add more flour. Make about the consistency of cake batter. Pour into a large greased jelly roll pan. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes. When the brownies are almost done cooking, make the frosting.

Frosting for Brownies
1 stick butter
4 T. Cocoa
1/3 C. Milk
1 T. vanilla
1 lb. (4 C.) powdered sugar
1 C. chopped walnuts (opt.)

Melt butter in a saucepan. Remove from heat. Add cocoa, milk, vanilla. Add powdered sugar. Add nuts last. Pour over warm, but not hot brownies.