Cafe Rio Salads

here is the recipe for the rice, chicken, and cilantro ranch.

Cilantro Lime Rice

1 cup uncooked rice
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 to 2 teaspoon lime zest ( I do at least 2 and sometimes a little more… I love zest)
1 cube chicken bullion
1 cup water
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
3 teaspoons granulated sugar
4 tablespoons fresh chopped cilantro

Add rice, water, garlic, lime zest, and bullion to rice cooker.
Cook until it’s done… In a small bowl combine lime juice, sugar and cilantro.
Fluff your rice with a fork.  Pour lime juice mixture over hot cooked rice.

You can make this on the stove top too, but I love the convenience of the rice cooker.  :)

Cafe Rio copy cat Cilantro Ranch Dressing

1 packet TRADITIONAL Hidden Valley Ranch mix (not BUTTERMILK)

• 1 c. mayonnaise
• 1 c. buttermilk (I use regular 1% milk and it tastes just fine!)
• 2 tomatillos, remove husk, diced
• 1/2 bunch of fresh cilantro
• 1 clove garlic
• juice of 1 lime
• 1 jalapeno 
• 
  
• Instructions

• Mix all ingredients together in the blender.
•  That's it!  It is best if it is made the night or morning before you are serving it so all the flavors mix together.  

Cafe Rio Chicken

2 lbs chicken breasts

1/2 a small bottle of zesty Italian dressing 
(about a cup.  you can use lite or low fat and it tastes just as good)
1/2 Tbsp. minced garlic
1 pkt ranch dressing mix (mixed with 1/2 cup of water)
1/2 Tbsp. chili powder
1/2 Tbsp. ground cumin

Place all ingredients in a crock pot. Cook on High 5-6 hours OR on Low 8 hours.
Shred with fork and serve in salads, burritos, tacos…etc.   
I did NOT put the ranch mix in with the chicken, and I doubled the chili powder and cumin. 
 you can never have too much cumin in my opinion.  :)

You can also double or triple this to make extras for freezing.
Then simply thaw and reheat for a fast and delicious meal.

To make the salads, layer a tortilla, shredded lettuce, black beans, 
cilantro rice, chicken, tomatoes and any other toppings you wish. 
 Top with cilantro ranch dressing and a squirt of lime and you
 have a fantasticly delicious imitation of a Cafe Rio/Costa Vida salad. 
 I could eat these every day if I were aloud to.  :)