Kickin' It Cafe' Rio Style-Fiesta O'le

For Owen's Birthday we cut loose and took the kid to Chuck's. We did it just right. Got there right when it opened and left right when it started to get crowded at lunch time. The boys had a blast.

The next day we celebrated by having a fiesta.

On the menu: Cafe' Rio Pork style salads

Could you just die. This salad is my absolute favorite. Bar None.
I've scoured the internet looking for the recipe. But wouldn't cha know it, my buddy Sarah had the recipe the whole time. It is so worth making that I am posting the recipe(s) for all to please their taste buds.

Cafe' Rio Sweet Pork
6 pounds pork (roast)
1 16 oz. jar salsa-blended
1 can Coke
2 cups brown sugar

-Place pork in crock pot and fill 1/2 way up the pork with water.
-Cook on high for 5 hours.
-Drain off water, cut pork in thirds.
-Mix together salsa, Coke, and brown sugar; pour over pork.
-Cook additional 3 hours on high.
-Shred pork with fork, leave on low until ready to serve.

Note: I used a 4 lb. pork roast, and it feeds about 15-20 people.

Black Beans
2 Tbsp. olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp. ground cumin
1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 1/3 cup tomato juice
1 1/2 tsp. salt
2 Tbsp. fresh chopped cilantro

In a nonstick skillet, cook garlic and cumin in olive oil over medium heat until you can smell it. Add beans tomato juice, and salt. Continually stir until heated through. Just before serving stir in the cilantro.

Note: I doubled the recipe and it made enough to feed 15 people.

Cilantro-Lime Rice
1 cup uncooked rice (long-grain, white rice)
1 tsp. butter or margarine
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp. freshly squeezed lime juice
1 can (15 oz) chicken broth
1 cup water
1 Tbsp. freshly squeezed lime juice
2 tsp. sugar
3 Tbsp. fresh chopped cilantro

In a saucepan combine rice, butter, garlic, 1 tsp. lime, chicken broth and water. Bring to a boil. Cover and cook on low for 15-20 minutes, until rice is tender. Remove from heat. In a small bowl combine lime juice, sugar and cilantro. Pour over hot cooked rice and mix in as you fluff the rice.

Note: I doubled the recipe and it made enough to feed 15 people.

Dressing
3 tomotillos-remove skin
1 cup mayo
1 cup buttermilk
1 cup cilantro
3 cloves garlic
juice of 1 lime

Throw everything in the blender and mix it up. This makes a lot of dressing. If you want it spicy add 2 tsp. green tabasco sauce.

I also made Pico de Gallo, and my own tortilla chip strips. Alot of the stuff can be prepped ahead of time like the garnishes and the dressing.

To assemble your salad:
First: lay down tortilla
Next add: Pork, rice, beans
Garnish with: lettuce, cheese, sour cream, guacamole, pico de gallo, and tortilla chip strips
Then: savor the sweet taste of yumminess in your mouth.

Make this for your next get together, and you will definitely get rave reviews.