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I've made this a few times now and every time it gets rave reviews. I think it's supposed to be true to Cafe Rio, but only having been there a few times I can not tell you truthfully... regardless it's mighty tasty (I got this recipe & pictures from  Heidikins ) - I've made this two different ways... a) super-spicy-so-you-need-a-sour-cream-chaser-to-wash-it-down-with AND b) yummy-with-a-pleasant-kick-to-it-so-your-kids-and-overly-picky-brother-in-law-will-love-it. I prefer it the second way. Barbacoa Pork (Cafe Rio style) 4 to 8 pound pork loin or roast 21 oz. Dr. Pepper 1 cup brown sugar 3/4 cup white sugar 3 cloves of garlic, minced 7 oz. can chipotle chiles in adobe sauce 6 oz. red taco sauce (medium or mild) 1 tsp. dry mustard 1 tsp. cumin Directions for pork : Cut your pork in about 4 or 5 large chunks. Fill the crock pot half way with water. Cook in the crock pot on low for 10 to 12 hours. After your pork is nice and tender, drain the water from it. Add the s...

I really can't justify spending 5$ on my favorite drink more then once or twice a month... but thanks to the wonderful world of the Internet , I can make one at home - let me share my fav . Jamba Juice recipe. Orange Berry Blitz 8oz. orange juice 2 scoops pineapple sherbet (I got at Wal -Mart) 2 scoops frozen strawberries 1 scoop frozen blueberries 2 scoops crushed ice (you can buy it at Sonic by the bag) pour orange juice in your blender, add sherbet , strawberries, blueberries, and crushed ice. Blend until smooth.  I used a ice cream scoop for all my measurements, (only about 2 frozen strawberries can fit in the scoop, and the sherbet I made on the smaller size. my verdict for homemade jjuice : It was yummers . Probably just mess with the scoop size a little and it will hit perfection.

anything with this much butter has got to be good right? Seriously, this gut takes a lot of work. It doesn't look like this for nothing. My glucose intake has to be maintained while my lean fat stays low. I'm looking to see how close to clogging my arties I can get, I refer to my mantra as 'modern day housewife living on the edge...' pretty hard core if you know what I mean. This stuff will kill you, but you will die happy.  Coconut Chex "HC" Party Mix (hard core) Ingredients: 2 cubes of butter 1 cup lite Karo syrup 1 cup sugar 3 tsp. coconut extract 1 cup coconut 1/2 cup slivered almonds 1 reg. box of corn or rice Chex Melt the butter in a sauce pan, stir in syrup, and sugar. Get it to a rolling boil. Boil for 3 minutes stirring constantly. Take off the heat, add coconut extract. Dump over the Chex, almonds, and shredded coconut. Mix really well. Wait till it cools or you'll burn your fingers and mouth while shoveling it in.

I came acr oss this recipe on the good old interbay (how my dad says Internet), and it looks so good and incredibly fattening at the same time. 2 sticks o' butter... why not call for two pounds of lard added to both of my thighs? it's about the same thing right? So I'm making it for FHE treat for tomorrow night... I'll let you know how it tastes when it will no longer burn my fat tongue (just out of the oven) Outrageous Oreo Crunch Brownies I ngredients: 2 sticks (1 cup) butter 1/2 po und semisweet chocolate chips 3 oz. semi-sweet chocolate baking squares (3) 3 eggs 2 Tbs. instant Pero (or coffee granules) 1 Tbs. vanilla 1 cup + 2 Tbs. sugar 1/2 cup + 2 Tbs. flour 1/2 Tbs.  baking powder 1/2 tsp. salt 2 cups coarsely chopped Oreo cookies (25 cookies) Preheat to 350°F. Butter and flour a 9"x13" baking pan. In a glass medium bowl add butter, chocolate chips, and unsweetened chocolate. Microwave on high at 30 sec intervals stirring well in between each until m...

It's my favorite time of year - not just because it cools down here in Arizona, but I love leaves changing, the spices in the air, Disneyland at Halloween or Christmas, sweaters, warm blankets, and snuggling in with a good book or movie (also Nov 26 th marks my birthday) - anyway for those of you fellow lovers of fall, I thought I'd share my favorite seasonal recipe thanks to my brother-in-law Lloyd who introduced me to this scrumptious delight. Pumpkin Pancakes 1 cup flour 1 Tbs. sugar 2 tsp. baking powder 1/2 tsp. salt 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon 2 eggs, separated 1 cup milk 1/2 cup solid pack pumpkin 2 Tbs. oil Mix dry ingredients together in a bowl, set aside. Whisk egg yolks, milk, pumpkin, and oil in a separate bowl. Stir wet mixture into dry ingredients until moistened. In a mixing bowl beat egg whites until soft peaks form; fold into batter. Pour onto hot grease griddle & enjoy! yield: 8 - 12 pancakes. Serve with Apple Cider Syrup Apple Cider Syrup 1 cup water 1 c...

Happy Birthday Paige!! My little girl just turned 6 years old... and she will be in 1st grade. Should I start feeling old now? Paige is a birthday junkie. She keeps count of days and then is always asking if that's all the presents we got her. She is such a funny girl. She spreads it out as long as she can and you can't skip even one tradition with her. Here she is Birthday morning waking up before daddy left for work to see her brand new bike. it has since lost the training wheels and she's not to thrilled with that, but promises to try to learn how to ride a 2 wheeler (so far that means Jason holding onto the back the entire time when they go for bike rides). Paige insisted on chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast with candles (like Aunt Jen makes) - I swear you miss just one birthday and you make up for it every year by having a new tradition added to their lists. I shaped it like Mickey Mouse & added the whip cream & cherry. It turned out cute & didn't ...

I thought today might be a little slow, which is okay. Today is Sunday & I'm exhausted. We were up at 6:30am to get Megs off to the airport & get ready for Jen & Jeremy Greer's baby blessing, which started at 8am. Jason thought like he was Speed Racer and we made it in good time. Tessa was gorgeous and slept through the entire thing just like a perfect angel. We came home. Avery & Paige painted a "Boys" sign for Chase Gaddie's bday and I made pancakes. We put faces on them and then I was ready for a nice long nap. I wanted to go to my ward at least for Sacrament Meeting, since a bunch of us in YW got released - but Jason got called in & there was no way I was going to church dragging 3 kids along (I know I'm the worlds biggest wimp! My mom is probably rolling her eyes right about now, 'Yes, Maren. You are a wimp.') Around 4pm we headed over to Jason's parents for Chase's 2nd birthday. I think my kids were more excited then h...

So this is really what made me want to start blogging (more than peer pressure). Isn't she so cute? She was completely into sculpting these little pb men This one is hers. Notice the the belly button. Actually I think hers is a girl (not anatomically correct, thank goodness!) She made her with long hair. This one is mine. What? I couldn't let my five year old have all the fun. My little pb man reminds me of "the Wemmicks " from Max Lucado's book, I am Special. (not that I am comparing myself to Eli or anything - if you have no clue what I am referring to... you really should read the book. Try to do more with your life then just reading boring blogs on the i nternet about moms that think their kids are so freakin wonderful) Here are the little pb kids just chilling on some soft parchment paper. Paige was pretty intense when crafting her art. Surprisingly she didn't even pause to pose for a picture. She is even wearing the apron I made her (sniff, sniff...