My Cafe Rio Meal Recipe

As requested, here is my Café Rio meal recipe.

Rarely do I make exact measurements when I cook, so I’ll do my best to present a coherent follow-able (is that a word?) recipe for you all.

Sweet Pork Recipe

Ingredients:

Prepare the meat at least 4 hours in advance

A few pounds worth of Pork Roast

Dr. Pepper -One liter is more than enough

Brown sugar-at least a cup, maybe more like 2 cups, depending on how much meat you have or how sweet you want the recipe to be.

Enchilada sauce-whatever brand you want, no more than a cup will be sufficient

Spices-I put in minced garlic, seasoned salt, pepper, and onion powder. Really whatever you feel like (you probably don’t want Italian seasoning or the like though). Put as much spice as you feel is reasonable.

Preparation:

If you have time, put pork and some Dr. Pepper (not so much that the entire roast is covered; just enough to allow it to simmer in the soda) in a crock pot and turn it on low. Let simmer for a few hours. This allows the meat to get tender. Then throw the rest of the ingredients in a cook for 4 or more hours.

If you don’t have that much time, throw all ingredients into crock pot and cook for at least 4 hours. So hard, I know.

While the meat is on it’s last hour of cooking, prepare the rice:

Café Rio Cilantro-Lime Rice Recipe:

Ingredients:

1 Cup uncooked rice

1 tsp butter

1-2 tsp minced garlic

1 tsp lime juice

2 cups water

1 chicken bouillon cube

1 Tbsp lime juice

2 tsp sugar

Abt 3 tbsp fresh chopped cilantro—FRESH-not the dried stuff. Trust me, the dried stuff doesn’t work!

In a rice cooker (or saucepan if you don’t have a rice cooker) combine the rice, butter, garlic, 1 tsp, lime juice, water, and the bouillon cube. Turn rice cooker on; make sure the bouillon cube gets mixed in well, or it gets icky. I just stir the rice around while it’s cooking. While rice is cooking, chop cilantro. My rice cooker switches to warm after about 15-20 min, but always check to make sure the rice is cooked (after abt 15-20 min). In a small bowl, mix lime juice (the Tbsp) sugar, and cilantro. Mix this in with the rice, and fluff!

If you want the salad (or just use it as a yummy sauce like I do), here’s the recipe for the Cilantro-lime dressing.

Creamy Cilantro dressing:

1 package of dry Buttermilk dressing

½ Cup Sour Cream

½ Cup Mayonaise

1/2 to 1 Cup chopped Cilantro

1 tsp minced Garlic

2 tomatillos, chopped (they look like green tomatoes)

Some Salt

2 Tbsp Lime Juice

1/4-1/2 C Sugar

Put all ingredients in a blender and blend!

Videos of Gabe

Here's some more cute videos of Gabe (May 29th 2010)


He loves his slide!






What a smart boy!

My Newest Creation

Here it is! My newest creation. I reused the big beads from an old icky necklace that I never wore. I bought the flowers from Joannes (in the fabric section) and rigged them up so that they function as beads. I threaded some old black ribbon through the chain for the bottom chain and strung black and silver seed beads for the top. I'm pretty proud of it (obviously or I wouldn't post it!). I can't wait to wear it!

Videos of Gabe

Here' s some more adorable videos of Gabie:



Early May. I bought this toy for Gabe at a garage sale. Obviously, he doesn't care too much for it!





Early May. Sideways again, dang it! Cute video of Gabie dancing.






Sunday, May 16th. This kids cracks me up!

Apricots!

Our apricot tree is currently bearing it's delicious, sweet, and mild fruit. I LOVE the apricots and Gabe especially does, as you can see from the pics and video:

Gabie loves to pick up apricots that have fallen on the ground. Sometimes there are ants on them. I have to watch him close so he doesn't eat a bunch of ants! Icky!

I've been trying to keep up with how fast the apricots are ripening, and so far canning them has been the best way to do so. There's only so many I can eat! This has been my first time EVER making jam and so far it has been really easy and has turned out super yummy.
I found the recipe off the internet. Here it is:
6 cups apricots
3 TBSP lemon juice
3 1/2 cups sugar
2 tsp almond extract (my idea-it augments the apricot flavor)
1/2 tsp nutmeg (optional)

Wash, core, and cut up apricots. Put all ingredients into a large pot and mix until they're distributed evenly. Let sit for at least a half hour (the sugar will draw the water away from the apricots-it will start to look like mush). Turn heat to medium and boil for at least a half hour. Scrap off the foamy stuff that comes to the surface. You'll know when the jam is ready because it will turn darker and thicker.
While the jam is boiling, sterilize the jars. I don't have a big pot to boil them in, so I just wash the jars and put them in the oven at 25o degrees for about 20 min.
When the jam is ready, carefully spoon it into a sterilized jar making sure to leave about 1/4" of space at the top. With a clean rag, wipe off any excess jam on the jar that may have spilled over (this is a messy process!). I use a fork to place the lid on the jar. Screw the ring on and let cool. You'll hear a popping sound when the jar has sealed itself.

If anyone within close proximity wants some jam, I am selling them for $1 each (8 oz jars). I would just give them away but I have to buy the jars and they're not cheap!

The Grass is Greener...

...on my side!

Lately our yard has been in full bloom and Gabe and I have been thoroughly enjoying it. Gabe loves to wander around the yard, squealing in delight. He likes to look at bugs, trees, birds, and well, pretty much everything there is to look at! Its fun to watch him learn and enjoy his surroundings. I like to sit and watch Gabe while eating a frozen strawberry bar (they're delicious!). I love Arizona's landscapes and foliage!

Sometimes Gabe and I eat lunch outside. Here is a cute video taken a few weeks ago:

He thought it was hilarious when I "swatted" at flies.


Here's some pics of the beautiful Arizona foliage in our yard:

I don't know what this tree is called but it sure makes pretty flowers!

Bougainvillea-this beauty is in constant bloom all summer!

Our monster flower shrub that was a wee thing only a year ago!

Prickly Pear Cactus

Petunias in our backyard

Our little baby orange tree is growing some oranges!

Delicious, sweet, juicy tomatoes from the garden

Be jealous! Be jealous! Be jealous! Be jealous! Be jealous! Be jealous! Be jealous! Be jealous! Be jealous! I know you are.
Just kidding! Kind of...

My Creepy Encounter

Here's my story of my creepy encounter I had the other day:
I went to the splash park to meet up with some friends and let Gabe play in the water, and afterward I decided to feed him before we went home so he wouldn't be so hungry. While I was feeding him I saw some single dude drive up in a crappy Corolla. I thought he was out of place, because it was mainly mothers and children at the splash park, but I didn't give him anymore thought until I drove out of the parking lot and he pulls in front of me, all the while ogling the women at the park, almost as if he was looking for someone. This guy stuck out like a sore thumb in the park, so I memorized his license plate number.
I pulled into the right turn lane; he kept going straight into the center lane. I turn, and then he make a right turn from the center lane. I thought, okay weird, but whatever. Then when I made another right, he did so too. Now I was getting weirded out. He then proceeded to drive parallel to me, speeding up when I sped up and slowing down when I slowed down. I looked over at him for a split second just to see who the heck this freak was, and saw that he had a nasty, disgusting porno magazine opened across his steering wheel. I turned my head away as quickly as possible but I could see out of the corner of my eye that he was looking at me, then at the porn, and then at me again, as if he were trying to get my attention.
I made up my mind that it was time to lose the loser. I turned left at the next available turn lane, but it was a gated community. He kept going ahead so I hung back a bit in hopes I had lost him. I kept going straight, but then he made a U-turn in the middle of the road! While we passed, he waved his dirty magazine at me and yelled something inaudible. I kept driving, all the while anxious that I would see him again in my rear view mirror, but I didn't, so after awhile I went home.
Seriously, who waves porn at people in public out of a car?? Did he for a second think I would let him follow me home in broad daylight? If I was going to let him follow me anywhere, it would have been the police station. What a disgusting moron. I was more irritated and annoyed that he had the audacity to do what he did, rather than being terrified. I'll have you know I reported him to the police. I'm sure its nothing, but why did I feel the need to memorize this creep-o's license plate number before he even did anything obscene?
This all makes me realize how vulnerable us mothers are. I had no idea what this ick-ball was doing while I was feeding Gabe. He could have been watching me the whole time for all I know. And I would have had NO idea, because I was so engrossed in making sure Gabe got fed. I realize my story is for sure not the worst thing that happened, but what if he was more persistent? I have no idea what was going on in that cross-wired, psychotic brain on his. If he ever did try anything, I would obviously have to protect my child before myself. And if I had to run away, its not like I would ever leave Gabe; I'd have to take him with and then I'd be easy prey. Scary to think about. Just watch yourself, ladies. Especially if you have kids. Your best bet is to always be on the defense. Always watch, always be cautious. And by all means, DO judge whats on the outside, even if you may be wrong. It's in your best interest and your child's to do so. If he looks creepy, stay away!