Cafe Rio Chicken

1 small bottle Kraft Zesty Italian Dressing
1 T chili powder
1 T cumin
3 cloves garlic—minced
5 lbs chicken breast
Cook all together in a crock pot for 4 hours, shred meat and cook 1 additional hour.(Kraft Zesty Italian Dressing has 2 grams of sugar per serving. I try to avoid dressings with sugar, but this is a very small amount. You're only using 8 ounces of the dressing per 5 pounds of chicken if you follow this recipe, so it should be fine, even for South Beach Dieters.)

Barbeque Chicken

2-3 lbs chicken, skinned
1/2 teas. salt
1/8 teas. pepper
1/3 c. water
1/2 c. ketchup
lightly measured 1 c. brown sugar
1/4 c. vinegar
1 tbsp. Dijon mustard
1 tbsp. worsh. sauce
3-5 drops liquid smoke

375 degrees for 1 hr., covered.
*great in a crock pot
**for pork I just add 1 extra cup of ketchup

Crepes

6 eggs
6 heaping tbsp. sugar
6 tbsp. butter, melted
Beat until foamy, add:
1/2 teas. vanilla
1/2 teas. orange zest
1/2 teas. salt
3 c. milk
Beat until combined, gradually add 3 c. flour. Batter will be thin. Let sit in the fridge for at least 1 hour so all flavors can cure.
Over medium high heat a crepe pan, lightly brush pan with butter flavored shortening between each crepe. when pan is sizzling pour a small amount of batter in pan and tilt pan around to cover pan. When edge is brown and the batter has firmed, flip. Repeat.

Christmas Morning Pancakes

6 eggs
1c. Flour
1 c. milk
dash salt

Mix all ingredients in blender. Put 1/4 c. margarine on cookie sheet and heat pan in 425 degree oven until marg. in melted. Take pan out of oven and tip pan around until pan is coated. Pour liquid mixture in pan and bake 20-25 min. Top with powdered sugar, syrup or what ever you want! This has become a tradition in our family.

Zucchini Bread

3 eggs
1 c. oil
2 c. grated zucchini, (squeeze the liquid out of the zucchini)
2 teas. vanilla extract
3 c. flour
1 tbsp. ground cinnamon
1 teas. baking soda
1/4 teas. baking powder
1 teas. salt
1/2 c. chopped nuts (optional)
Preheat oven to 325 degr. Grease & flour 2 bread pans. In large bowl, beat eggs until frothy. Mix in oil and sugar. Stir in zucchini and vanilla. *In separate bowl combine dry ingredients. Gently stir into egg mixture. Divide batter into 2 pans.
Strussel Crust:
3/4 c. brown sugar, packed
1/2 c. flour
3 tbsp. butter
2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 teas. nutmeg
Combine and crumble over top of batter. This adds just what the bread needs!
Bake for 60 min. or until done. ***It is very important to shut doors gently as the bread cooks or your bread will fall.***

Broccoli-Cheese Soup

1 12 oz. package frozen chopped broccoli or 1 1/2 lbs. fresh broccoli, chopped
4 tbsp. butter
4 tbsp. flour
1 tbsp. minced onion
2 c. chicken broth
2 c. light cream (may use milk but it will change the taste a bit)
1 teas. salt
1/8-1/4 teas. white pepper
1/4 teas. nutmeg
1 c. grated med. or sharp cheddar
Prepare broccoli, set aside. Melt butter in soup pot, add onion. Stir in flour, simmer for 2 min. (this is a roux). Slowly add broth & cream. Stir and cook until thickened. Add salt, pepper, nutmeg, and cooked broccoli. Just before serving, stir in cheese.

Microwave Lasagna

2 lbs. lean gr. beef, cooked & crumbled
1/2 teas. pepper
1 teas. season salt
1 tbsp. minced onions
1 teas. italian seasoning
2 cans (14.5 oz.) diced tomatoes, Basil, Garlic & Oregano
1 8 oz. can tomato sauce
1 envelope Spag sauce mix
dash tobasco sauce
1 lb. cottage cheese
1 c. grated parm. cheese
2 eggs
1/4 teas. garlic pow.
1 teas. season salt
1 teas. oregano
2 tbsp. parsley flakes
1 lb. grated mozzarella cheese(+ or -)
9 Lasagna Noodles
In large pot, cook pasta according to directions.
In second large pot brown and crumble ground beef, drain fat. Add tomatoes, sauce, salt, pepper, onions, sauce mix & Tabasco. Simmer 5 min.
In bowl, combine cottage cheese, Parmesan. cheese, garlic, salt, parsley, & eggs.
Grate cheese.
Lightly spray lasagna pan with cooking spray. (I often split into 2-4 pans). Spoon enough meat sauce to cover bottom of pan. Top with lasagna strips. Spread 1/2 cheese mixture, 1/2 moz. cheese. Repeat layers, ending in meat sauce. Top with mozz. cheese. Cook in Microwave for 10-12 min, let stand 5 min. Can bake traditionally in oven for 30-45 min. at 350 degr., let stand 5-10 min.
*I prefer to bake in the microwave, I think it taste better and it is tons faster!!!