Texas Governor's Mansion Cowboy Cookies

This is George W. Bush's recipe out of my "Presidential Cookies" cookbook I got in Washington D.C.

3 c flour
1 Tbs baking powder
1 Tbs baking soda
1 Tbs cinnamon
1 tsp salt
1 1/2 c butter (3 sticks), at room temperature
1 1/2 c granulated sugar
1 1/2 c light brown sugar, packed
3 eggs
1 Tbs vanilla
3 c chocolate chips
3 c old-fashioned rolled oats
2 c coconut
2 c chopped pecans (8 oz)

1. Preheat oven to 350
2. Mix flour, baking powder, soda, cinnamon, and salt in bowl.
3. In 8-quart bowl, beat butter on medium speed for 1 minute until smooth and creamy.
4. Gradually beat in sugars to combine for 2 minutes.
5. Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each.
6. Beat in vanilla.
7. Stir in flour mixture until just combined.
8. Add chocolate chips, oats, coconut, and pecans.
9. For each cookie, drop 1/4 c. dough onto ungreased baking sheets, spacing 3 inches apart.
10. Bake 17-29 minutes, until edges are lightly browned; rate sheets halfway through baking (after 10 min.)
11. Remove cookies to a rack to cool.
Makes 3 doz. giant cookies

*For 6 dozen smaller cookies, use 2 Tbs. scoop, bake for 10 min.
*Convection- bake 8 min, trade half way through.
(They will soften after sitting for a few hours if they seem overcooked)

Grandma Edith's Pork Chops

4-6 pork chops 
1 egg, stirred in bowl 
whole wheat flour 
salt and pepper 
1-2 sliced onions 
2-3 sliced apples
1/2-1 c. water 
Potatoes -opt

Rinse pork chops and pat dry with paper towel. Dip each chop in stirred egg and then in flour. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place on sprayed cookie sheet and broil about 10 min. on each side.  (Original recipe: brown in olive oil in hot fry pan until golden brown on both sides.)  

Slice onions and apples. Place a layer of onions and apples on bottom of 9x13 dish. 
 Place breaded pork chops on onions and apples, sprinkle desired amount of salt and pepper. 
Cover chops with a second layer of onions and apples. Add a 1/2 cup of water-1 cup to bottom of dish. 

Bake at 350 degrees for 90 minutes, covered. 

*Place halved potatoes on top of chops/onions and apples. Make gravy with drippings but use milk instead of water to thicken it. If not enough gravy, chicken broth.

Cafe Rio Salad

Cafe Rio Salad

Okay, this is really yummy! I halved the whole thing because it makes a ton! Honestly, it's the dressing that makes it the best. You can probably do different recipes for the pork. The rice is super delicious!  But as long as you have that dressing. Oooh YUM!


Cafe Rio Pork

4-5 lbs pork roast (I used a shoulder)
2 cans (16 oz each) tomato sauce
3 tsp minced garlic
2 c. brown sugar
4-5 tsp cumin
3 Tbs molasses
4 c. Dr. Pepper, can be caffeine free

Mix all ingredients in crock pot, then add the meat and cook on low for 10-12 hours or high 4-6 hours. Shred meat and keep warm until served.

OR use Bajio Chicken Recipe!

Cafe Rio Rice
                                                                                Half Recipe
4 Tbs butter                                                  (2Tbs) butter
2 1/2 c. long grain rice                                   (1 1/4 c. rice)
4 1/2 c chicken broth                                     (2 1/4 c.) chicken broth
1/2 tsp salt                                                     (1/4 tsp salt)
4 limes:  1/2 c juice                                        (2 limes: 1/4 c juice)
4 Tbs fresh chopped cilantro                         (2 Tbs cilantro)
3/4 tsp cumin                                                (1/4 + 1/8 tsp cumin)

Mix all ingredients in rice cooker or cook on the stove.


Cafe Rio Dressing
16 oz Green Salsa Verde
1 package Ranch Buttermilk Dressing (dry)
1/2 c sour cream or buttermilk
1/2 c mayo
1 c. chopped cilantro
1 tsp minced garlic
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (red pepper)
1/2 tsp salt
2 Tbs lime juice (about 1 lime)
1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 c. sugar

Place ingredients in blender and blend until smooth. Refrigerate until cold.

Serve all the above on a warm tortilla with: (or just on a plate with chips crunched on top)
black beans, heated (just leave the liquid in)
fresh salsa
cheese
avocado
sour cream
lettuce