Cafe Rio Copycat Creamy Tomatillo Dressing

This is the best. You need to make this dressing. I made this dressing to serve as a condiment to my Beef Taquitos.  It was better than salsa, sour cream, or guacamole.  This dressing enhanced the flavor of the Taquitos with its  tanginess and slightly spicy flavor.

This dressing also tastes great on salads.




Cafe Rio Copycat Creamy Tomatillo Dressing
From Our Best Bites

Ingredients
1-ounce package ranch dressing mix (ignore directions on package
1 cup mayonnaise (light is fine)
1/2 cup buttermilk (plus more if necessary to thin out the dressing)
1–2 limes (enough for 2 tablespoons of fresh lime juice)
2 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
1/4 cup green salsa
1/2 cup chopped cilantro
Hot sauce, to taste

Instructions
Place buttermilk, mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons of lime juice, and ranch mix in a blender. Add the garlic and green salsa and blend until smooth. Add the cilantro and pulse until the cilantro is well combined. Add hot sauce to taste. Chill for several hours before serving (if possible.)

Cold Brew

Iced Coffee is a nice refreshing beverage.  I have wanted to make Cold Brew concentrate for a while now, so finally I did.  It is very easy to make and the result is delicious.  Start by grinding one cup of your favorite coffee beans.  Be sure it is a course grind - the beans should look like coarse cornmeal.  Put the ground coffee into a 2 quart container - you can use a French Press, Mason Jar - whatever you have available.  Pour 4 cups of water over the coffee and stir.  You let the mixture sit covered for about 12 or more hours.
Strain the mixture using a strainer lined with cheesecloth into a beverage container.  Place the concentrate covered in the refrigerator.  When ready to use, put ice in a glass and pour the concentrate over the ice.  Add some half and half or whatever you like in your coffee.

Note:  If you like sugar in your coffee, use a simple syrup to sweeten your Cold Brew.

Your Cold Brew is ready to enjoy.

Cold Brew

Ingredients:

1 cup coffee beans
4 cups water
Directions:

1. Grind the coffee beans coarsely.  The grounds should look like coarse cornmeal.
2. Place the grounds in a 2 quart container.  Pour water over the grounds and stir.
3. Over and let the brew sit for 12 hours.
4. Strain the brew using a fine mesh strainer lined with cheese cloth.  Place the strained brew in the fridge.
5. When ready to use, fill a glass with ice.  Pour the brew over the ice and dilute with some water or half and half to your taste.

Makes about 1-1/2 quarts

Balsamic Vinaigrette

Summer time meals at my house consists of lots of salads.  They are easy to prepare and are refreshing.  You can put your favorite veggies and meats in and create a different salad every time.  What is the icing for the salad is the dressing.  I am partial to vinaigrettes.  I love the lightness and the slight tanginess.

Today's recipe is for a tasty Balsamic Vinaigrette from Cooks Illustrated magazine.  It is easy to make and keeps in the fridge for up to 7 days.   This recipe makes about 1 cup of dressing.



Balsamic Vinaigrette
 Cooks Illustrated 

Ingredients:
3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
2 teaspoons minced shallot or red onion
2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1-1/2 teaspoons minced fresh oregano leaves or 1/2 teaspoon dried
1/2 clove garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

Directions:
Shake all of the ingredients together in a jar with a tight-fitting lid.  The dressing can be refrigerated for up to 7 days; bring to room temperature, then shake vigorously to recombine before using.

Makes about 1 cup of dressing

Easy Pretzel Rolls

The family loves these rolls.  They are better than any you could buy.  And they are easy to make.  You just make a simple dough, let it rise, and then you shape the dough into balls.  The balls are then given a baking soda bath and  placed in a baking pan.  The tops of the rolls are brushed with butter and sprinkled with salt.  Bake until a deep golden brown, move from the oven and serve them warm.
Delicious.  The family loved them so much they requested another batch.

Easy Pretzel Rolls
From Sally's Baking Addiction

Ingredients
1 and 1/2 cups (360ml) warm water (lukewarm– no need to take temperature)
1 packet active dry or instant yeast (2 and 1/4 teaspoons)
1/4 cup (4 Tablespoons; 60g) unsalted butter, divided
1 teaspoon salt
1 Tablespoon brown sugar
3 and 3/4  – 4 cups (460-500g) all-purpose flour (spoon & leveled), plus more for work surface
coarse sea salt for sprinkling

Baking Soda Bath
1/2 cup (120g) baking soda
9 cups (2,160ml) water

Instructions

Whisk yeast and warm water together. Allow to sit for 1 minute. Meanwhile, melt 1 Tablespoon of butter (reserve the rest for step 6). Whisk in salt, brown sugar, and melted butter. Slowly add 3 cups of flour, 1 cup at a time. Mix with a wooden spoon or dough hook attached to stand mixer until dough is thick. Add 3/4 cup more flour until the dough is no longer sticky. If it is still sticky, add 1/4 – 1/2 cup more, as needed. Poke the dough with your finger – if it bounces back, it is ready to knead.
Turn the dough out onto a floured surface. Knead the dough for 3 minutes and shape into a ball. (At this point, it dough can be frozen. See freezing instructions below.) Place in a large greased bowl, cover tightly with plastic wrap, and allow to rise in a warm environment for 1 hour or until nearly doubled in size. (Tip: I preheat my oven to 200°F (93°C), turn it off, place the dough inside and shut the oven. This is the warm environment.)
Once risen, punch dough down to release any air bubbles. Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and, with a sharp knife or pizza cutter, cut dough into 1/3 cup sections. You should have about 12. Shape into balls.
Preheat oven to 400°F (204°C). Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats OR line a 9×13 baking pan (I use a baking pan.) Set aside.
Bring baking soda and 9 cups of water to a boil in a large pot. Drop 1-2 pretzel rolls into the boiling water for 20-30 seconds. Any more than that and your pretzels will have a metallic taste. Using a slotted spatula, lift the pretzel roll out of the water and allow as much of the excess water to drip off. Place pretzel rolls onto prepared baking sheet or close together in the baking pan. Using a sharp knife, score a couple slits into the top of each.
Melt the remaining butter. Lightly brush each roll with melted butter and sprinkle with coarse sea salt.
Bake for 22-26 minutes or until a deep golden brown on all sides.

Remove from the oven and serve warm. Pretzel rolls may be stored in an airtight container or zipped top bag for up to 3 days (they lose a little softness).

Cheddar Cheese Soup

A  nice bowl of Cheddar Cheese is perfect for lunch or a light dinner with a salad.  This soup has a nice smooth flavor with a hint of spice.  You can top the soup with croutons, ham, if you would like.  I usually serve  a nice Pretzel Roll with the soup.
 Soup does make the meal.
Cheddar Cheese Soup
From NYT Adapted by From My Southwest Kitchen

Ingredients:
6 tablespoons butter
1 cup diced onions
1 cup diced celery
3/4 cup diced carrots
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
4 cups chicken stock
1 cup heavy cream
8 ounces white cheddar cheese, grated
1 teaspoon dry mustard
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2-1 teaspoon hot sauce
Salt
Pepper

Directions:
1. Melt butter in a pot over medium heat.  Saute the onions, celery and carrots until tender.
2. Sprinkle the flour over the vegetables and stir.  Cook for about 4 minutes.
3. Slowly whisk in the chicken stock.  Bring to a boil and continue to whisk.
4. Reduce heat, cover and cook for 45 minutes.  Stir occasionally.
5. Puree the mixture until smooth.  Return to the pot and bring to a simmer.  Stir in the cream, cheese, dry mustard, Worcestershire sauce and hot sauce.  Taste and season with salt and pepper.
6. Ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with croutons, ham, if desired.

Serves 6

Smashed Potatoes

A great tasting side for chicken or beef.  Potatoes are baked or cooked in the microwave.  They are then smashed with a potato masher and mixed together with butter, sour cream, bacon, salt, pepper and cheese.  The original recipe called for French Fried Onions, but I preferred cheese.

These potatoes are easy to make and do not take very much time.  The potatoes have a wonderful flavor with all the butter, cheese, and sour cream added to them.  And let us not forget the bacon.  In my book, bacon makes everything good.

A great side to try when you want a change from the traditional mashed, baked, or fried potatoes.


Smashed Potatoes
From The Pioneer Woman Adapted Slightly by From My Southwest Kitchen

Ingredients:

5 whole large red potatoes
1 stick of butter softened and cut into pieces
5 slices of bacon cooked and crumbled
3/4 cup of sour cream
Salt and Pepper
2/3 cup shredded Mexican Cheese

Directions:
1. Microwave or bake the potatoes until they are fork-tender.  Put then in a large bowl and smash with a potato masher.
2. Add the remaining ingredients and mix well.  Taste and season if  necessary.
3. Serve hot.

Makes 4 servings

Earl Grey Sweet Raspberry Basil Iced Tea

Iced Tea is one of my favorite drinks for the summer.  It is so refreshing and it cools you off almost instantly. I love to experiment with different teas and different flavors.  This recipe is totally delicious.  The fresh taste of raspberries with basil and lemon is a wonderful combination.  Instead of using generic black tea, I used Earl Grey.  It made the tea taste extra special and added a great flavor to the raspberries.

I will be enjoying this tea throughout the summer.



Earl Grey Sweet Raspberry Basil Iced Tea

Ingredients:
2 Earl Grey Tea Bags
4 cups water - divided
3/4 cup sugar
Raspberry Infusion
1-1/2 cups frozen raspberries thawed
3 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
2 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon lemon juice

Directions:
1. Boil 2 cups of water.  In two medium bowls place the sugar in one bowl and the tea bags in another bowl.  Divide the water equally between the two bowls - 1 cup pour over the sugar and 1 cup poured over the tea bags.
2. Stir the sugar until it is dissolved.  Let the tea brew for 5 minutes.
3. Mash the raspberries with a fork or a potato masher until no whole berries remain.  Stir in the basil, sugar and lemon juice.
4. Pour the tea, sugar, and berry mixture into a pitcher.  Add the remaining 2 cups of water (cold).  Stir and refrigerate at least 1 hour.
5. Stir and serve over ice.

Makes 4 servings