el Pollo Loco Marinade

Ingredients

1/4 cup corn oil
1/4 cup melted butter
1/4 cup onion, minced 
2 tablespoons garlic, finely minced
2-3 drops yellow food coloring (I OMMITTED)
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon dried oregano
4 tablespoons fresh lemon juice 
4 tablespoons fresh orange juice 
1 chicken, 2-1/2 to 3 pounds, halved
How to make it

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Combine oil, butter, onion, garlic, food coloring, cumin, lemon and orange juices in a large shallow pan.
Add chicken halves, turning to coat well.
Cover and marinate several hours, or overnight.
Remove chicken from marinade, then cook over medium coals on barbecue grill, or in a broiler 4 inches under source of heat, until browned on both sides and meat is done, turning and basting frequently, about 25 minutes.

Cut chicken halves into pieces.

Serve with beans and rice, corn or flour tortillas, and fresh salsa.

CAKE POPS

You see these everywhere and they are so small and so cute.
I have really been wanted to try them however as we all know sugar and diabetes don't mix, however if the frosting is sugar free we might be able to try them and do they make sugar free cakes???? I will be looking into it!!!
Difficulty: Easy
Things You'll Need:

1 box cake mix of your choice

1 can fosting of your choice

1 bag candy melts or chocolate bark, sucker sticks and a styrofoam block

Step One

Bake and cool one 13x9 cake, according to package directions.

After cake has cooled smash cake and mix in 1 can of frosting.

Then refridgerate mixture for 15 minutes.

Step Two

Remove mixture from fridge and form into balls.

After forming all balls insert a sucker stick into each ball.

Then refridgerate again for another 15 minutes.

Step Three

While cake pops are in the fridge melt your candy melts or chocolate bark.

I usually use candy melts since they come in several colors.

Step Four

Remove cake pops from fridge. Dip the cake part into the melted chocolate.

Step FIve

After the cake ball is covered insert the stick into a styrofoam block to allow the chocolate coating to harden.

Step Six

After the chocolate has set ENJOY!

El Pollo Loco Mexican Beans

Servings - 6
Ingredients:
1/4 cup corn oil (WAY TO MUCH 1 narrowed down to 1 tbs)
5 whole serrano chilis
2 tsp ground serrano chilis (substituted cayenne pepper)
1 can pinto beans, (28 ounces) drain (i didn't drain) (used low sodium beans)
3/4 cup water

Directions:
Prep Time: 5 mins
Total Time: 25 mins
1. Heat oil in large saucepan.
2.Add whole chilis. Cook until tender.
3.Add ground chilis, beans and water. Stir well.
4. Bring to boil, reduce heat. Simmer 17 minutes, stirring often.

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 6 oz (168.0 g)
Amount Per Serving
Calories 138
Sodium 330mg14%
Total Carbohydrates 24.0g8%
Dietary Fiber 7.0g28%
Protein 8.0g
Vitamin A 0%
Vitamin C 3%
Calcium 7%
Iron 10%

Tortilla Stack

Makes 8
Prep 15 min
Cook 7 min
Bake 350 for 15 min

1 tbs vegetable oil
1 lb ground beef
1 medium size onion - chopped
1 large green pepper seeded and chopped
1 tsp ground cumin
1 jar (16 ounces) black bean and corn salsa (such as newman's own)
5 8 inch flour tortillas
2 cups shredded mexican cheese blend

Heat oven to 350
Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add beef, onion and green pepper to skillet and cook stirring occassionally, for 6 minutes. Drain accumulated fat and stir in cumin, cook 1 minute. Stir in salsa and heat through remove from heat, set aside.

Coat a 9 inch springform pan with nonstick cooking spray. Place 1 tortilla in the bottom of pan, then top with 1 heaping cut meat mixture spreading it evenly and leaving a 1-inch border around edges. Sprinkle meat with 1/2 cup cheese and top with 1 tortilla, pressing down gently. Repeat layers 3 more times

Place springform pan in oven and bake at 350 for 15 minutes before slicing and serving.

"Counter" Intelliegence

If you are like most people me included you store all your vegetables in the crisper. This however is not the case with all vegetables.
Tomatoes - why not fridge? Chilly air dulls the flavor and makes them more acidic. Keep fresh tip place in a spot away from windows so they dont' get direct sunlight Use within 1 week

Potatoes why not fridge? The starch in them will quickly turn into sugar, resulting in too-sweet spuds when cooked. Keep it fresh tip son't wash until ready to eat. Use within 2 to 4 weeks

Cucumbers why not fridge? they become yellow and watery. Keep fresh tip stash in a plastic grocery bag. Use within 1 week

Bananas why not fridge? Low temperatures speed up spoiling. Keep fresh tip store separately on a plate in a cool dry place. Use within 3 to 4 days

Spring Foam Pan

I came across a reciepe that i would like to try however it called for a springfoam pan, which i do not have in my kitchen, a quick search of google helped me discover substitutions :)

If it calls for a 9 inch springform pan which holds about 10 cups one may use:


1 (10-inch) round cake pan
1 (10-inch) springform pan
2 (8-inch) round cake pans
2 (9-inch) round cake pans

If it call dor a 10 inch springform pan which holds about 12 cups one may use:
2 (8 x 4-inch) loaf pans
1 (9-inch) tube pan
2 (9-inch) round cake pans
1 (10-inch) Bundt pan
2 (11 x 7-inch) baking dishes
2 (8-inch) round cake pans

Little Habits to break so you can lose weight

1. Listening to music. Soft, appealing sounds encourage you to dine longer and order more food. Loud, fast music speeds eating, meaning you scarf what's on your plate before you realize that you're full. INSTEADTurn off the music at home and focus on the pleasure you get from each bite, or fill up on good conversation instead of dessert during restaurant meals.

2. Standing. Those who eat out of plastic containers at a kitchen counter consume up to 50% more the next time they eat than those who sit at a table and eat off a plate. Standing makes the meal feel more like a snack, which people consider less satisfying, say researchers. INSTEADEat at a proper place setting, even if you're only munching on hummus and carrot sticks, to help make it feel like a meal.

3. Eating a little of everything. People given 24 flavors of jelly beans ate twice as many as those given only 6 flavors, according to the Journal of Consumer Research. A larger assortment appears more interesting and encourages you to sample extra. INSTEAD Survey the food at a party or buffet and decide what you want before filling a plate.