Yogurt Parmesan Chicken

This is really simple, really fast, and really good... great for a large dinner group!

2 cups Ritz cracker crumbs
3 Tbsp. Parmesan cheese
2 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. seasoned salt
4 – 6 chicken breasts, patted dry
1 cup plain yogurt
1/4 cup melted butter

Combine and set aside first 4 ingredients.
Coat the chicken breasts with the yogurt then roll in the crumb mixture and arrange in a buttered 9x13-inch baking dish.
Drizzle with melted butter and bake in oven at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until fully cooked.

Mary's Stuffed Shells

1 box jumbo shells
1 20 oz. Ricotta (I usually end up buying a 32 oz and using about 28 oz)
1 lb bag mozzarella cheese
1 large Costco size Prego sauce

Preheat oven to 375. Cook shells 10 minutes (do not overcook). Rinse shells under cold water. Mix ricotta and most mozzarella cheese and spoon into shells. Pour little sauce into bottom of 9x13 pan. Double layer shells if necessary. Cover all stuffed shells with sauce and put mozzarella on top. Bake 45 min-1 hour on 375.

Variation: Add frozen spinach to cheese mixture

Cafe Rio Pork

This pork is to die for- so yummy and really tastes like Cafe Rio...

3 lb. pork loin
16 oz. chunky salsa (put in blender until chunks are gone)
1 can coke
2 cups brown sugar

Put pork loin in crock pot and cover half the pork with water. Cook on high for 5 hours. Drain water, cut pork into 1/3rds, pull fat off and shred with a fork. Mix sauce together (salsa, coke and br. sugar) pour over pork and cook another 3 hrs. on high. Leave on low until ready to serve.

Cafe Rio Dressing

3 tomotillos-peel off paper and chop
1 hidden valley ranch dressing packet
1 cup of mayo
1 cup cilantro chopped
2 cloves garlic chopped (this is a little strong for me, I would probably only do 1 but you know me and garlic)
1/2 -1/3 c. buttermilk

Mix all ingredients in a blender and serve.

I served with, lettuce, shredded cheese, black beans, and tortillas.

Carrot Cake SUPREME!

This is the most delicious carrot cake on the planet! This is actually Kriquett's recipe... she made it for her dessert night months ago and we are still talking about it. I know this is not the best way to start off the year or a dinner group recipe blog, but it must be posted!!

CARROT CAKE
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. ground cinnamon
3 large eggs
2 cups sugar
3/4 cup vegetable oil
3/4 cup buttermilk
2 tsp. vanilla extract
2 cups grated carrot
1 (8 oz) can crushed pineapple, drained
1 (3 1/2-oz) can flaked coconut
1 cup chopped pecans
Buttermilk Glaze (recipe below)
Deluxe Cream Cheese Frosting (recipe below)

-Grease three 9-inch round cakepans; line with wax paper. Lightly grease and flour wax paper. Set aside.
-Stir together first 4 ingredients. Beat eggs and next 4 ingredients at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth. Add flour mixture, beating at low speed until blended. Fold in carrot and next 3 ingredients. Pour batter into prepared pans.
-Bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.
-Drizzle warm Buttermilk Glaze evenly over warm cake layers; cool in pans on wire racks 15 minutes. Remove from pans, inverting layers. Peel off wax paper; invert again, glaze side up. Cool completely on wire racks.
-Spread Deluxe Cream Cheese Frosting between layers and on top and sides of cake. Chill cake several hours before slicing. Store in refrigerator.
-Yield 16 servings

BUTTERMILK GLAZE
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup butter or margarine
1 Tbsp. light corn syrup
1 tsp. vanilla extract

-Bring first 5 ingredients to a boil in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Boil 4 minutes, stirring constantly until glaze is golden. Remove from heat, and stir in vanilla. Cool slightly.

DELUXE CREAM CHEESE FROSTING
1 (8-oz) package cream cheese, softened
1 (3-oz) package cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup butter, softened
1 (16-oz) package powdered sugar, sifted
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

-Beat first 3 ingredients at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar, beathing at low speed until light and fluffy. Stir in vanilla.