Brownies - Black Bean

My weight watcher leader has mentioned these brownies several times and I finally decided to give it a try - guess what? They were actually pretty good.

I even gave them to others before telling them what they were made of - and they like them too :)




1/16th of a pan of brownies = 2 WW points
(I didn't calculate them myself - I'm just taking the word from my WW leader)

Are they the absolute best brownie I've ever had? No - but they're pretty darn good for being somewhat healthy and really low in points. I will definitely go about making them again!

Ingredients:
- 1 brownie mix (I used Ghiradelli with chips - I'm not sure if another would taste as good - but mine may have been more points - not sure)
- 1 can of black beans (rinsed and drained really well)
- 1 cup of water

Directions:
1. Rinse and drain beans.
2. Blend beans with 1 cup of water.
3. Add the brownie mix.
4. Cook normally.

Enjoy!

Cafe Rio

As close to the real thing as it's gonna get...

our favorite restaurant back in utah was Cafe Rio. i still CRAVE it. alot. this is as close to that as it's ever gonna get for me. i think i need to take a trip back there just to eat the real thing again. one day. a girl can dream, right?


so in the meantime this is what i have to do. make a tortilla. layer it with rice, bean, lettuce, pico, maybe some guac, some crushed up tortilla chips, AND the DRESSING!!!


Phenomenal.

it is quite a bit of work but it is oh so worth it. so just do every single recipe. you'll be glad you did. it makes a good amount. definitely enough for lots of leftovers depending on how many you are serving.

ENJOY!

Cafe Rio Shredded Pork

Ingredients:

2 lbs. pork

3 cans coke (each can is about 1 ½ cups)

¼ cup brown sugar

Garlic salt

¼ cup water

1 can green chilies

¾ can enchilada sauce (Old El Paso - Medium - red)

1 cup brown sugar

Directions:

1. Put pork and 1 ½ can coke and ¼ cup brown sugar in ziplock bag.

2. Marinate overnight.

3. Drain.

4. Put pork, ½ can coke, water, and garlic salt in crock pot on high overnight (or until it falls apart).

5. Drain and shred.

6. Blend ½ can coke, chilies, sauce, and brown sugar.

7. Pour over meat and cook in crock pot 2 more hours on low.

Café Rio Dressing

Ingredients:

1 cup buttermilk

½ cup light mayo

¼ cup sour cream

¼ cup milk

2 packets Hidden Valley Buttermilk Ranch packets

2 tomatillos (quartered)

½ bunch cilantro

½ juice of lime

1 jalapeno (no seeds)

½ tsp. garlic

Some salt

Directions:

1. Blend everything together.

Café Rio Rice

Ingredients:

1 cup uncooked rice

1 tsp butter

2 cloves garlic

1 tsp lime juice

1 can chicken broth (15oz)

1 cup water

1 Tbs. lime juice

2 tsp. sugar

3 Tbs. cilantro

Directions:

1. Combine rice, butter, garlic, 1 tsp. juice, broth, and water.

2. Boil.

3. Cover and cook on low 15-20 minutes.

4. Remove from heat.

5. In a small bowl combine juice, sugar, and cilantro.

6. Pour over rice and mix.

Café Rio Black Beans

Ingredients:

2 Tbs. olive oil

2 cloves garlic

1 tsp. cumin

1 can black beans - rinse and drain

1 1/3 cup tomato juice

1 ½ tsp. salt

2 Tbs. cilantro

Directions:

1. Cook garlic and cumin in oil over medium heat.

2. Add beans, tomato juice, and salt.

3. Stir till heated through.

4. Before serving stir in cilantro.

Pico

Ingredients:

4 tomatoes

1 onion

¼ bunch of cilantro

2 cloves garlic

½ tsp. lime juice

1 tsp. salt

½ tsp. pepper

Directions:

1. Chop and combine all ingredients.