Grandma's Potato Salad

My Grandma makes the best potato salad ever. She doesn't measure anything, but it all comes together perfectly. Love that!

INGREDIENTS:

• Potatoes
• Eggs
• Mayo
• Mustard
• Pickle Juice
• Dill Pickles
• Green Onions
  
• Salt & Pepper
• Milk

DIRECTIONS:

1. No need to peel and dice the potatoes just scrub the potatoes and put them in a pot of water. Boil until tender. Takes awhile to cook through, but I've done both ways and I like this way best! When they are done just put them in a sink of cold water and the skin will pretty much fall off. *You can throw the eggs in the pot with the boiled potatoes for the last 15 minutes or just boil them separately.
   
2. Once they have cooled for a bit then chop up the potatoes and put them in a large bowl. Pour in some milk. (I did like a cup or 2 of milk)
   
3. Combine in a separate bowl the Mayo(1-2 c.), Mustard, Pickle juice and Salt & Pepper to taste. Add to the potatoes (depending on the size of the salad add more or less) and stir until combined. Some of the potatoes will mash and that's just fine! The potato chunks and mash together is good. :)
   
4. Chop up the Eggs, Pickles and green onions. Gently fold into the potato mixture.
5. Top with a few sliced eggs. Sprinkle with paprika and it's ready to serve!
   

Frog Eye Salad

Frog eyes. yum.
I can't take credit for this beautiful salad. My sister in law Mindy made it. I just had to swipe some after dinner to take home. :) It's so good! I've made it a couple times before when the WHOLE family gets together and I believe this is the recipe I used....

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 c. sugar
• 2 T. flour
• 1/2 t. salt
• 1 3/4 c. unsweetened pineapple juice
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1 T. lemon juice
• 3 quarts water
• 1 (16 oz) box Acini Di Pepe pasta
• 3 (11oz) cans mandarin oranges, drained
• 2 (20 oz) cans pineapple tidbits, drained
• 1 (20 oz) can crushed pineapple, drained
• 1 (8 oz) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
• 1 c. miniature marshmallows (colored)
• Bananas (optional)
  

DIRECTIONS:

1. In a sauce pan, combine sugar, flour, salt, pineapple juice and eggs. Stir and cook over medium heat until thickened. Remove from heat; add lemon juice and cool to room temperature.
2. Bring water to a boil and cook pasta until al dente. Rinse under cold water and drain.
3. In a large bowl, combine pasta with all other ingredients, except the marshmallows. Mix well and refrigerate to chill. Before serving add marshmallows.
   

Cafe Rio Style Salad

LOVE Cafe Rio. I would eat there every day if I could! Here's my compilation of "cafe rio" recipes. Not the same, but SO good.

THE SHREDDED CHICKEN

Super easy and tasty.

INGREDIENTS:

• 3 Chicken Breasts
• 1 Can Green Chile Enchilada Sauce
• 1 C Chicken Broth
• 1 T Cumin
• 1/2 Onion, big slices
  
• 3 Cloves of Garlic, Minced
• 1/2 of a Lime Juice
• Chopped Fresh Cilantro to taste

DIRECTIONS: Add all to the crock pot. Place big onion slices on top for flavor. Cook on low for 4 hours. REMOVE THE ONION. Shred the chicken and cook for another hour.

AND here is an Easy "Cafe Rio" SWEET PORK RECIPE....

INGREDIENTS:

• 3 lb Pork loin roast
• 2 (8 oz) cans tomato sauce
• 2 (8 oz) cans El Pato Jalapeno Salsa
• 1 c. Brown Sugar

DIRECTIONS:

1. Cook meat in crock pot with 1/4 c. water for 5 hours on high. DRAIN the juice, shred meat and remove fat.
   
2. Place meat back in crock pot. Add the sauce, salsa and brown sugar. Another 1/4 c. water. Sprinkle on salt, pepper and garlic to taste. Cook for 1-2 hours on high.
   

CILANTRO LIME RICE

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 c. Rice, uncooked
• 2 c. chicken broth

*Bring to a boil.

• 2 cloves garlic
• handful cilantro
• 1/2 can green chilies
• 1/4 onion
• 1-2 T. Lime juice

*Puree in a food processor, chopper or blender. Add to the rice that has just come to a boil. Cover pot and simmer for around 15 minutes or until water is absorbed. Take of heat and steam with lid on for additional 2 minutes. Fluff with fork before serving.

BLACK BEANS

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 T. oil
• 2 garlic cloves
• 1 t. cumin

*cook in a small pot over medium heat until you smell it. Just 1-2 minutes.

• 1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1-2 (8 oz) cans tomato sauce
• 1/2 t. salt

*Add into the pot and heat through.

• 2 T. Cilantro *Add in before serving.

CREAMY TOMATILLO DRESSING
(the best part!)

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 (.4 oz) Pkg. Ranch Buttermilk Dressing
• 1/2 c. buttermilk OR Milk with a splash of vinegar or lemon juice will do fine!
• 1 c. mayo
• 2-3 tomatillos
• 1/2 bunch cilantro
• 1 clove garlic
• 1 jalapeno (remove some seeds for less spice)
• Juice of 1 lime

*Blend all in the blender until smooth. Will keep in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.

PICO DE GALLO

• Red onion OR sweet onion
• tomatoes
• Cilantro
• Jalapeno
• Lime Juice
• Salt
• pinch of sugar

There you have it my friends!! Pile it all on top of some tortilla chips. Sprinkle on some avocado chunks and ENJOY! :)

Olive Garden Salad Dressing

Recipe from The Country Cook.
May not be exactly like olive garden, but it's pretty dang close! Great dressing.

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 pkt. Good Seasonings Italian Dressing PLUS--> (Ingredients needed to make dressing; oil, water, vinegar)
• ½ t. dried Italian Seasoning
• ½ t. salt
• ¼ t. pepper
• ½ t. sugar
• ¼ t. garlic powder
• ½ T. mayo (no Miracle Whip, please)
• ¼ c. olive oil
• 2 T. white vinegar
• 1 ½ T. water

DIRECTIONS:

1. Prepare Italian dressing according to the instructions on the back of the packet. I used the less oil instructions.
2. Mix in all other ingredients. Mix well with a whisk or shake it well in a mason jar with lid.
   
3. Serve over salad fixings.
   
4. Keeps well in a sealed container for up to 4 weeks! Shake well before using.

I made the "Olive Garden" garlic bread sticks from The Country Cook blog as well.

The dough is very easy to work with. Tastes like Olive Garden's bread sticks, but not the same texture. A good recipe, but I think I'm gonna stick with my super easy bread sticks recipe. Seriously so easy and can be ready to eat in 20-25 minutes.

Broccoli Salad

My husband isn't much of a salad eater, but he likes this one!

INGREDIENTS:

• 5 c. broccoli
• 5 bacon strips
• 1/3 c. red onion
• 1/3 c. sun flower seeds
• 1/4 c. craisens
• 1/2 c. Shredded cheddar cheese (opt.) *I leave this on the side.
  

DRESSING: 1/2 c. mayo, 3 T. sugar and 1 T. vinegar.

DIRECTIONS:
Combine all ingredients and add in the dressing to taste.