Cafe Rio {My Style}

Living in a city where there is not a Cafe Rio is very disheartening when you are literally hooked on their chicken salad.

So what do you do at times when you're craving that little bit of yumminess?

You fake it!

Here are some tweaked recipes for their:

shredded chicken

ranch-y dressing

cilantro rice

Enjoy :)

Cafe Rio Shredded Chicken

6 large chicken breasts

1 8 oz. bottle Zesty Italian dressing

3-4 heaping teaspoons of chopped garlic (I use the already prepared stuff)

1 T. cumin

1 T. dark chili powder

Put in a slow cooker and cook on high for 4-5 hours.  Shred, then cook for another hour.

Ranch Dressing

1 ranch dressing packet

1 c. mayo

1/2 c. milk

2 T. lime juice

2 t. chopped garlic

1/2 bunch cilantro

2 T. green salsa

1/8 t. tabasco sauce

Put all ingredients in a blender and whip it up.

Cilantro Rice

2 c. rice (not instant)

4 c. water

4 cubes chicken bouillion

1/2 bunch cilantro

1 can diced green chilies

3/4-1 t. salt

1 T. butter

1/2 onion

Put onion, cilantro and chilies in a food processor and pulse until finely chopped.  Bring water to a boil, then add the rest of the ingredients.  Simmer for about 30 mins.  Turns out perfect every time!