Cafe Rio inspired Green Sauce

I love this green sauce on Cafe Rio style sweet pork tacos. It's just the perfect finishing touch. I started with a recipe for Creamy Lime-Cilantro Dressing by Our Best Bites, but I've altered a few of the amounts and ingredients over time. This makes more than you need for a batch of the sweet pork, but I've learned that it actually freezes really well! Yay!! Then the next time you're craving sweet pork tacos, you don't have to make a new batch of sauce. :) 

1 pack (1 oz) Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing Mix (honestly, I just use Aldi brand)
ignore directions on packet 
1 cup mayo
1/2 cup buttermilk or milk (I almost always use milk)
2 Tbsp lime juice
2 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
1/2 cup roughly chopped cilantro (or more!)
1/4 cup green salsa* (I often double this one!)

Place all ingredients in a blender and blend it up really well. That's it. 

*I've used various types of green salsa. I've even made my own. Just look for one that has tomatillos as the main ingredient and isn't too hot (a little kick is fine). 

Perfect Turkey Gravy

This gravy is pretty easy and it tastes great. I found the recipe here. 

½ c. butter, cut into about 8 pieces

1 tsp. coarse black pepper

½ c. flour

4 c. pan drippings OR 4 c. chicken stock

        Pour drippings into a fine mesh strainer then allow the drippings to cool a bit so that the fat rises to the top and starts to solidify. Use a spoon to remove the fat. If you don’t have enough drippings to equal 4 cups, add enough chicken or turkey stock until you have 4 cups of drippings.

        In a large saucepan, melt butter over medium-low heat. Sprinkle in pepper. Slowly add in flour, constantly whisking to combine. After a few minutes, the flour will be well incorporated into the butter. Slowly begin to pour the drippings into the pan, constantly whisking. Allow the gravy to cook for several minutes, so that it can thicken up. Serve immediately or keep on very low heat until you’re ready to serve. 

 

Easy Kids Pizza Sauce

I learned this recipe while watching "The Food Nanny" years ago and we've been making it ever since. It's so easy and inexpensive and it tastes great!

8 oz. tomato sauce
1 tsp. basil
1 tsp. garlic salt
a good dash of pepper
a little bit of sugar
a little bit of salt
        Combine all & spread on pizza dough.

Fresh Cranberry Orange Relish

This delicious recipe is from Ocean Spray. If you like cranberry sauce, then you need to try this! 

1 package (12 oz.) fresh or frozen cranberries

1 medium orange

¾ to 1 c. sugar

Slice unpeeled orange into eighths; remove seeds. Place half the cranberries and half the orange slices in food processor container. Process until mixture is evenly chopped. Transfer to a bowl. Repeat with remaining cranberries and orange slices. Stir in sugar to desired sweetness. Store in refrigerator or freezer. Makes about 2 ½ cups. May also be prepared in a food grinder.