Copy Cat Chuy's Creamy Jalapeno Ranch Dip

Copy Cat Chuy’s Creamy Jalapeno Ranch Dip

If you have ever been to Chuy's tex mex restaurant then you know the deliciousness that is the Creamy  Jalapeño Ranch dip. 

After searching around I found a basic recipe that I changed to make it taste as close to Chuy's version as possible. It's very similar and 2 people have said that my version actually has more flavor and they prefer  it but they are close  in taste. 

I hope you enjoy.  

• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1/2 cup milk (whole milk)
• 1 packet hidden valley ranch dressing mix (the dry stuff)
• 1/2 sliced fresh jalapeno (no seeds if you don't want really spicy; i add the seeds)
• 1/2 cup pickled jalapeno pepper slices
• 4 finger pinch of cilantro
• generous pinch of salt
• 2 tsp garlic powder to taste
• 1 tsp of lime juice (Optional)

Directions:

Throw EVERYTHING in the blender.

Blend on low for 45-60 seconds. (The longer you blend the runnier it gets.)
Refrigerate
 

Serve with tortilla chips.  Perfect opener for delicious Chicken Enchiladas.

Let me know what you think! :)

appetizer, copy cat, dressing, easy, quick, sides, spicy,

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Walking Tacos

 Walking Tacos 

Get some Fritos - Original or [i like] Chili Cheese Fritos.

Brown your meat with taco seasoning.

 

 

Make your Pico De Gallo.

 

Shred your cheese.

 

 

Lettuce if you wish ( i don't actually like lettuce so you wont see it pictured here, hehe)

Assemble all the yummyness in a bowl.  Easy and Quick.  

I use chili cheese fritos...my husband likes regular.

beef, dinner, easy, mexican, quick,

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Starbucks Chai Tea Latte Copycat (Low Carb option available)

Oh that delicious Chai Tea!  First off I'm gonna tell you something.  You may already know, some people don't and are surprised to find out that Starbucks add water to their chai lattes.  I was told this insider tip by one of my Starbucks friends years ago in Seattle (home of the orig Starbucks).   You get around this by ordering a "no water chai" when you are at Starbucks..  Unless you like water in yours then don't even mention it. lol.  I don't like water in mine.  


Ok, to make a chai latte like at Starbucks, you: 

1. Go to your grocery store and purchase TAZO Chai Latte Concentrate (liquid).  TAZO is the only brand Starbucks uses (*they may have switched brands by now but this is what they used for a LONG time).  
2. After you buy this gem, mix 3/4 Chai with 1/4 Milk. 
3. You can heat it on the stove, or in the microwave, or steam it if you have an espresso machine.  
4. Add a bit of water if you want it EXACT to Starbucks lol.  

I add cinnamon to mine, as you can see.  :)

Now for the REALLY GOOD NEWS!  A Sugar Free LOW CARB option!!  

Yes, this means low carbers can finally enjoy a chai tea.  mmmm.   

Same instructions as above but you have to buy Oregon brand Sugar Free Chai Latte Concentrate (liquid).  Tazo does NOT offer a sugar free version. Boo.  The second modification is that you have to use Heavy Whipping Cream (0 carbs) OR Heavy Cream (1 carb per 2 tbsp), OR Half & Half (idk the carbs on that) INSTEAD of milk.  Milk has mucho carbs/sugar.  Then top with cinnamon.  I do add a bit of water when doing the low carb version because the whipping cream is so creamy the water doesn't bother me


This hot tasty drink go perfectly with Caramel Apple Pie Cookies or warm Caramel Dumplings.

copy cat, drinks, easy, quick, sweet,

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Hot Pumpkin Cereal (Low Carb, Gluten Free)

I've been on a low carb kick and in my search for low carb recipes I stumbled on some information about Flax Seed.  I had not idea how super healthy and how many benefits to adding flax seed to your diet.  I then researched recipes that use flax seed.  I then edited the recipes to make them even more low carb, cuz thats how I roll.  :)  The original recipes I've seen for this use Ricotta..which has significantly more carbs.  Kroger brand of heavy cream has 0.  yay  :)

This was really good.  Especially because I was really starting to miss cereal on my low carb diet. 

Please note that in my reading about flax seed, while its very healthy, introduce it into your diet in small doses.  A couple tablespoons a day.  If you have too much... lets just say it has a high fiber content and you may have to sprint to the restroom.   I found a low carb flax seed muffin recipe and it calls for 1/4 cup of flax seed meal... As tempted as I was to try it.. today is my first day trying flax seed and I don't think its wise to have that much.   Soon though. I miss muffins too.

  

General Information

Preparation: 10 minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes

2.6 Net Carbs (based on using 3 1g packets of Splenda)

Ingredients

• 4 Tbsp Heavy Cream
• 1 egg
• 1/4 C pumpkin puree'
• Pinch salt, cinnamon & nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
• Low Carb Sweetener, to taste (Stevia, Splenda, etc.)
• Flavorings to taste (see possible additions below)
• 2 T flax seed meal

Preparation

This cooks on the stove. I usually find it goes fastest in a non-stick skillet.

1. Heat butter in a non stick skillet
2. Mix ingredients (except flax seed) in a bowl.
3. Sweeten to taste and add cinnamon and nutmeg if you want. I like to add a touch of Da Vinci's Sugar-Free Caramel Syrup.
4. Add to the skillet, stir while heating on medium heat. When it goes "grainy", that's the egg cooking. Stir in the flax seed meal at this point. Done when grainy and starts to stick, so pull it off a 30 seconds - 1 minute after adding flax seed.  Add more heave cream if you wish, fruits or other additions.

*Note, if you had fruit or other additions the carb count goes up (obviously).

Tips

• Freeze the rest of the pumpkin in an ice cube tray and transfer to zip-type bag. Then pop out as many as you want.

Possible additions & alternatives

• Additions that others have tried
• Butters: Peanut butter, almond butter or general butter
• Nuts: any nut you prefer (please ensure you are not allergic to any nuts)
• Spices: Touch of vanilla, cinnamon, ground ginger, freshly grated nutmeg
• Toppinngs: Some coconut milk - can use coconut milk instead of heavy cream as it keeps better
• Pumpkin replacements: blueberries and raspberries (not as low carb as pumpkin though)

Recipe adapted/changed from https://sites.google.com/site/diybodyhome/kitchen-foods/healthy-cereals/hot-pumpkin-cereal

breakfast, gluten free, healthy, low carb, quick,

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One Minute Flax Muffin (Low Carb, Gluten Free)

Alrighty.. I tried this last night.  First Flax Muffin I've ever had.  The flavor was good.  But the texture!  It felt like I was eating cardboard! Not a desirable texture to say the least. Still, when you cant have bread, this does the trick in a pinch.

1/4 cup flax seed meal
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 or 2 packets splenda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 egg
1 teaspoon oil

1 tbsp Sugar Free Hazelnut or Caramel syrup  or Sugar Fee Maple Syrup

(I sometimes add pumpkin puree)

(2.1 Net Carbs)

Directions:

Mix all ingredients in a coffee mug.

Microwave for 1 minute on high.

If using frozen berries, microwave for 1:30 on high.

Smooth on some butter and enjoy!

It will be moist at first, but as the muffin cools it goes away.

*Note, fruit will add more carbs.

Adapted from: http://www.food.com/recipe/one-minute-flax-muffin-low-carb-295649?oc=linkback

breakfast, gluten free, low carb, quick,

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Easy Fried Rice

Fried Rice

Serves 5-6

4 cups rice, prepared
1/2 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cooked (You can use chicken from the Pineapple Chicken! or any left over chicken)  (Chicken/Meat optional)
1 cup peas & carrots, frozen
1 small white onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 eggs
3 tablespoons cooking oil (sesame, vegetable, canola)
1/4 cup soy sauce

Prepare rice according to package instructions to yield 4 cups cooked rice. Heat sesame oil in a Wok or large skillet on medium heat. Add onion, garlic, peas, and carrots.  Stir fry until tender. Crack eggs into pan and scramble, mixing throughout vegetables. 

Add rice, cooked chicken, and soy sauce to pan.  Stir in soy sauce and cook and stir for about a minute, remove from heat.

 Heat oil in pan, cook onion, garlic, peas & carrots until tender.

 Add egg, scramble.

 Add rice, chicken & soy sauce.

 Stir and cook for 1 minute, remove from heat.

asian, chicken, quick, sides,

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Chorizo and Eggs

Ingredients

Pork Chorizo
Eggs
Tortillas
Butter
Cheese (optional)

Cook your pork chorizo in a skillet on medium high.  Once cooked through add the eggs. Mix into a scramble.  Cook until eggs are done.

Heat your tortillas in the microwave for ten to fifteen seconds. Run a stick of butter along the middle of the tortilla, add a little cheese (if you want) add your chorizo eggs and wrap like a burrito.. 

*Low carb if you nix the tortilla or use a low carb tortilla.

breakfast, gluten free, low carb, mexican, pork, quick,

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Mrs. Scales' Steamed CRAB recipe (Yum)

Ok, you know that flavor that crab is supposed to have when you go to a fancy seafood restaurant?  And how that taste is somehow lacking when you go to an asian buffet or casino buffet for the all you can eat crab?  Of course it is still good because its all you can eat crab! lol.  But really.. it's missing that crab flavor.  It's because they only steam it..  Some people don't know that it is the "Crab Boil" that gives it that crabby flavor.  YUM.

Anywho, to get that flavor you pick up Crab Boil at your local grocery store.  I much prefer the pouches.. not the seasoning because that gets really MESSY.  The pouches are much easier.  Zatarain's is a really good brand but there are others you can try.  I love Old Bay's flavor but in Tennessee I've only been able to find the seasoning and not the pouch version.  And like I said, the seasoning is messy (but tasty)..

Yes, crab cooked with just Crab Boil is good BUT I concocted a recipe my husband and I just love..  maybe you won't but I wanted to share it just in case it blows your mind ;)  It gives such a YUMMY flavor.  My Hubs says its the best crab he has ever tasted.  :) 

In a pot add a couple inches of water (not an exact science as you'll see).  Plop in the pouch of crab boil.  Add about half of a 12 oz beer (can substitute white wine).  If you don't have a quite enough liquid in your pot I use chicken broth not more water.  Add 1 stick of butter (you can use half if you want).  Two big spoonfulls of minced garlic. Salt (a quick swirl from the big container).   Add a teaspoon of white vinegar for easier cracking.

Put the top on.  BOIL for about 8 minutes.  Remove from heat and let sit for 10 minutes.

Mrs. Scales' Decadent Steamed Crab
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1-3 lbs of Snow Crab
1 pouch Zatarain's Crab Boil
2 Inches of water
1 stick of butter (or 1/2 if you prefer)
6 oz of Beer (any kind)  (omit for Low Carb option)
2 heaping tablespoons of minced garlic (i love garlic, you can use more or less)
Dash of salt from the big container
Chicken Broth (as much as needed)
Cap full of white vinegar (to make the meat come out of the shell easier when cracking)

Boil 8 minutes, remove from heat and let sit 10 minutes.  Serve and enjoy.
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You can of course make this a full on boil adding shrimp, mussels, sausage, corn cob, etc. for a delicious meal.  but add those a couple minutes in because they don't need to cook as long as the crab. Except corn cob.. they would need to cook the whole time.

crab, dinner, low carb, quick, seafood, shellfish,

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