Tico Taco Soup

Lately we have been craving some of the Taco Soup I used to make in Texas. Almost all of the ingredients were prepackaged and it was simple to pull together. Today, I decided it was time to check out the local supermarket and see just what is available in prepackaged foods for substitutions. I found workable replacements, but I had to come up with my own "Taco Seasoning Mix." I used our house chili powder as the base, since this is the recipe that won the People Choice Award in a Chili Cook-Off just a few days ago.

Ingredients:
½ kilo, or 1 pound of ground beef
1 medium onion diced
1 medium sweet pepper diced
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon ground cumin
¼ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
¼ teaspoon ground smoked Spanish paprika
¼ teaspoon dried oregano
1 tablespoon Chili Powder de la Casa (click on link for recipe)
1 - 15.5 ounce can of white beans
1 - 20 ounce can of black beans
1 - 20 ounce can of red beans
1 - 20 ounce can of chick peas (garbanzo beans)
1 - 15.5 ounce can of corn kernels
1 - 15.5 ounce can of diced tomatoes
Salt and pepper to taste

Yield ~ 8 servings

Directions:
Brown meat with onions and peppers in a fry pan and drain grease. Add all of the spices and mix well. Transfer the seasoned meat to a stock pot. Add all the canned beans, corn and tomatoes. Stir until well blended. Heat over medium/low temperature until thoroughly heated. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Serve with a dollop of sour cream and grated cheddar cheese. This is also great with a little "Pico de Gallo" and chopped cilantro. Try making some Corny Jalapeño Skillet Corn Bread to serve on the side.

Tex Mex

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Orange Glazed Carrots / Zanahorias con Tapa de Dulce

If you like carrots glazed with brown sugar, you'll love Costa Rica's answer to brown sugar with the "Tapa de Dulce".

The "tapa de dulce" is make fron raw sugar cane juice that is cooked down until it starts to caramelize and thickens enough to firmly set up in the traditional wooden molds. This solid sugar cake of "tapa de dulce" can be bought virtually anywhere, from the supermarkets to the pulperias, and the ferias (farmers'market). For those thinking coffee is the national beverage, you'd be wrong. It's actually "Agua Dulce" made with some shavings from the "tapa" and boiling water. You drink it just like a tea. Depending on the part of the country, the recipe for "Agua Dulce" will vary.  Some make it with milk and some add lemon juice. Regardless of how it is served, it is always delicious.

I use "tapa de dulce" to make glazed carrots and once you try them, you'll never want to go back to brown sugar.

Ingredients:
1 pound or ½ kilo of fresh carrots (zanahorias), peeled and sliced into ¾" to 1" pieces
½ cup of orange juice
½ teaspoon cinnamon (canela)
½ cup of shaved and packed "tapa de dulce"
2 tablespoons of butter
Salt to taste

Directions:
Add all the ingredients to a medium size pot. Bring everything to a boil, then simmer on low for about 20-30 minutes. When the carrots are tender and the glaze is thick, they are ready to serve. Garnish with a little cilantro or parsley.

Vegetable

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Chorizo Potato Cheese Balls

These tasty little treats make a wonderful appetizer, served warm, or at room temperature.

Ingredients

• 1 cup grated cheddar cheese
• 1 cup grated jack or other mild low moisture cheese
• ½ kilo, or 1 pound chorizo (or any flavor of ground sausage)
• 1/3 cup fresh natilla, or sour cream
• 1 medium potato, coarsely grated (about 1 to 1½ cup)
• 2½ cups Krusteaz or Bisquick pancake/baking mix
• ½ teaspoon salt

Directions

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• Soak grated potato in cold water for 10 minutes.
• Grate the cheeses.
• Remove the casing from the chorizo, or sausage.
• Drain water from grated potato and blot dry in a towel to remove excess moisture.
• Using your hands, combine all ingredients and mix well.
• Form mixture into balls about the size of a walnut.
• Bake on parchment paper for 45-50 minutes or until golden brown.

Yield:  about 3 dozen

Snacks

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Chorreadas (Costa Rican Corn Pancakes)

(español, ver mas abajo)

Costa Rican Chorreadas are quick and easy to make, especially if you have lots of fresh corn on hand. There are different ways to prepare corn pancakes: sweet, plain, savory or cheesy. These are great for any meal; breakfast, lunch, dinner or as a side dish. It is typical to serve them with fresh sour cream, but they are delicious with lots of different toppings; refried beans, guacamole, and pico de gallo, just to name a few.

Sweet :
4 cups fresh corn
¼ cup milk or water
1 tsp. salt
¼ cup of favorite sweetener
Oil

Savory:
4 cups fresh corn
¼ cup milk or water
1 tsp. salt
2-4 garlic cloves, crushed
2 Tbsp. oregano
Oil

Cheesy:
4 cups fresh corn
1/4 cup milk or water
1 tsp. salt
¼ cup grated cheese
Oil

Plain:
4 cups fresh corn
1/4 cup milk or water
1 tsp. salt
Oil

Mix everything (except the oil) in a blender till smooth. Pour into a bowl and warm oil in a heavy or cast-iron pan on medium-high heat. Scoop out about 2 large spoonfuls into the pan and spread into a circle like pancakes. Reduce the heat to medium and let it brown lightly (about 2 minutes), flip it over and cook the other side until golden brown. Place the Chorreadas on a warm plate covered with a towel and keep making more till the batter is gone.

The great thing about the Chorreada is it can be made totally dairy-free, vegan and wheat-free.

Chorreadas (panqueques de maíz de Costa Rica)
Costa Rica Chorreadas son rápidos y fáciles de hacer, especialmente si usted tiene elote de maíz fresco. Hay diferentes maneras de preparar tortitas de maíz, dulce, sencillo, sabroso o con queso. Estos son ideales para cualquier comida, desayuno, almuerzo, cena o como guarnición. Es típico que los sirven con natilla fresca, pero son deliciosos, con unos otros ingredientes diferentes, frijoles refritos, guacamole y pico de gallo, sólo para nombrar unos pocos.

Dulce:
4 tazas de maíz fresco
¼ taza de leche o agua
1 cdta. sal
¼ de taza de edulcorante favorito
aceite

Savory:
4 tazas de maíz fresco
¼ taza de leche o agua
1 cdta. sal
2-4 dientes de ajo machacados
2 cucharadas. orégano
aceite

Queso:
4 tazas de maíz fresco
¼ taza de leche o agua
1 cdta. sal
¼ taza de queso rallado
aceite

Sencillo:
4 tazas de maíz fresco
¼ taza de leche o agua
1 cdta. sal
aceite

Mezclar todo (excepto el aceite) en una licuadora hasta que es liso. Vierta la mezcla en un tazón. Caliente el aceite caliente en una sartén o hierro fundido a fuego medio-alto. Saque unos 2 cucharadas grandes en la sartén y se extendió en un círculo como panqueques. Reducir el fuego a medio y dejar que se dore ligeramente (unos 2 minutos), darle la vuelta y cocine del otro lado hasta que estén doradas. Coloque el Chorreadas en un plato caliente cubierta con una toalla y seguir haciendo más hasta que la masa se ha ido.

La gran cosa sobre la Chorreada es que puede ser totalmente libre de lácteos, trigo y vegana.

Side Dish

1

Bizcochos *WP*

"Bizcochos" or "Rosquillas de Queso", a traditional Costa Rica snack food, are corn meal cheese rings. Usually, bizcocho is fried in vegetable oil until golden brown. This baked recipe is a lower calorie/lower fat option.

Like Fritos Corn Chips or Doritos Tortilla Chips? You'll love these!

Ingredients:

• 2 cups corn flour - I use Maseca Masa de Maíz or Quaker Masa Harina de Maíz (tortilla mix)
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1 1/3 cups warm water
• 6 ounces of finely grated cheese (Cheedar, Manchego, Monterrey Jack)
  

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350° F
• Mix the corn flour and salt in large bowl. Gradually add the warm water and mix with your hands until all the flour is incorporated into a dense ball of masa.
• Add the cheese to bowl and knead it into the masa until it is well mixed.
  
• Pinch off a piece of masa about the size of a cherry and form rings by rolling the dough between the palms of your hands until it's a little more than a 1/4 inch in diameter and about 3" long (the width of your palm is a good measure).
• Place the rings on a cookie sheet and bake until a light golden brown, about 35 or 45 minutes.
• Allow to cool completely and the bizcocho should be very crunchy.

Yield: About 96 rings, 8 rings per serving

For a fun and mildly spicy alternative, add 1/4 teaspoon of Cayenne pepper to the corn flour and salt. Then mix 1/2 teaspoon of Tabasco sauce into the warm water before you add it to the flour.

WP

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Olla de Carne - Costa Rican Beef Soup

This is an absolutely delicious Costa Rican staple that used to be served at every evening meal. Now it is served anytime. You will find it on the menu at many "sodas" (small diners) and "restaurantes". It is a stew-like soup with large chunks of beef and vegetables. The broth isn't as thick as the broth found in a typical American stew.

Ingredients:

½ pound of yucca

½ pound sweet potatoes (camote)

½ pound of tiquisque* (optional)

½ pound carrots (zanahoria)

½ pound of potatoes (pappas)

½ pound of calabaza squash (ayote)

1 chayote

1 green plantain (platano verde)

2 ears of tender corn sliced in 1½” rings (elote)

1 bunch of fresh cilantro (culantro)

1 cup diced celery (apio)

1 cup coarsely chopped onion (cebolla)

3 cloves minced garlic (ajo)

1 tablespoon fresh chopped oregano

2 cups of chicken or beef stock (or 2 bouillon cubes dissolved in water)

1 teaspoon of achiote paste (annatto)

Salt and pepper to taste

2 pounds bone-in beef, cubed beef or rib pieces cut into about 2 inch pieces

Directions:

Place the meat in a large pot with the onion, garlic, cilantro, oregano, celery and salt and pepper. Add enough water to cover everything and bring it to a boil. Lower the heat to a simmer until the meat is almost tender, about 30 to 45 minutes. Cut all of the vegetables into large chunks, about 1” to 1½” thick. Put the vegetables and chicken or beef stock in another large stock pot in the order they take to cook. Reserve the potatoes, sweet potatoes and squash until later because they need less cooking time. Bring the vegetable to a boil over moderate heat for 5 minutes. Then add the remaining vegetables and lower the heat to a simmer, transfer the meat to the vegetable pot and continue to simmer until everything is tender, about 30 to 40 minutes.

Olla de carne is usually served "family style" with a bowl of plain broth (or caldo) for everyone. The cooked meat and vegetables are placed on a large platter in the center of the table with a large bowl of white rice. Everyone adds a little rice to their broth and then tops it with some meat and their favorite vegetables.

* Tiquisque is commonly called Taro, Cocoyam or Ñampi. I'm not fond of this root vegetable, so I usually don't add it.

Soup

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Pan de Yuca (Yucca Bread)

This recipe is was given to me by my friend Maritza in Costa Rica. It is a wonderful bread to serve with coffee.

Ingredients:
2 pounds of shredded yucca
1 pound of shredded semi-soft white cheese (queso fresco, Monterrey jack, or provolone works well)
4 large eggs
1.5 cups of sugar (I substitute Splenda sweetener)
1/2 teaspoon salt (or more to taste)
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 stick softened butter or margarine (4 ounces)
1 cup chopped raisins
1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions:
Preheat oven the 350°. Grease a 9"x12" cake pan and dust it with flour. Peel and shred the yucca into a large bowl. Blend the yucca with the butter, Splenda and eggs. Add the baking powder, salt, vanilla and raisins and mix well. Bake 45 minutes to an hour, until a toothpick comes out clean.

Costa Rica

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Pineapple Cilantro Slaw *WP*

This is a refreshing alternative to the traditional coleslaw

Ingredients:
1/2 of a large head of cabbage, shredded
3 cups of carrots cut into thin matchstick strips (2 to 3 inches long)
3 cups fresh pineapple cut into tidbits
1/2 cup fresh chopped cilantro
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice (about the yield from one lemon)
1 tsp salt
2 tbsp Splenda for baking
1 cup of Hellman's Light Mayonnaise

Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and chill for 30 minutes before serving. This will make about 12 1-cup servings.


Nutritional Info:
Fat: 5.1g
Carbohydrates: 12.9g
Calories: 92.8
Protein: 1.2g

WP

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Jalapeño Potatoes

My friend Maritza served this potato dish to us in Costa Rica and we were absolutely amazed at how the Jalapeños enhance the flavor the potatoes. They are so tasty.... Yum Yum!

Ingredients:
2 pounds of potatoes
1 large onion
1 5.5 ounce can of pickled "Malher* Chilies Jalapeño" halves in brine
2 teaspoons seasoning salt
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup grated Romano or Parmesan cheese

Directions:
Wash potatoes and cut up into 1 to 2 inch chunks. Slice onion into 1/2 inch slices and then quarter each slice. Toss potatoes and onions with seasoning salt in olive oil and place in a baking dish. Pour the brine from the Jalapeño over the potatoes and onions. Remove any stems on the Jalapeño halves and slice each half in thin strips lengthwise and toss them with the potatoes & onions. Cover and bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Remove cover, top with cheese and return it to the oven for another 15 minutes or until the potatoes are done and cheese is toasted. Serve

* The Malher brand of Jalapeño chili peppers are found everywhere in Costa Rica, but they are hard to find in the States. These peppers are milder Jalapeños than what you'll find in most of the grocery stores Stateside. This particular brand will enhance the flavor of any food and not over power it. If you can't find the Malher brand, you will need to adjust the amount of brine and Jalapeños to suit your taste.

Vegetable

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Brewing Coffee ~ Chorreador de Café

When I first lived in Costa Rica almost 40 years ago every home and restaurant used a "Chorreador de Café" to make the best tasting cup of coffee I have ever had. Today, most folks are using electric coffee makers to brew coffee. But I still make coffee with the Chorreador because it just tastes better.

Chorreadors are usually made with a wooden base and either a wood or wire frame is used to hold a cloth bag for the filter about 12 inches above the base. We prefer strong coffee so we grind a dark roast very fine and place about 3 tablespoons of coffee grounds for every 2 cups of coffee. I bring the water to boil in a tea kettle and slowly pour it over the coffee grounds where it filters into the coffee pot sitting on the base below.

You can buy the flannel coffee filters in most grocery stores in Costa Rica, or you can make your own out of cotton flannel cloth. For best results, you should always start with dry filter and rinse it after use with just clean water. Never wash your filter with with soap or detergent because it will leave an aftertaste in the coffee. The filter will stain a coffee color, but this won't affect the taste in the least. After time, the oils from the coffee beans will build up on your filter. You can dissolve the oil by scrubbing the filter with salt. I prefer to use a course ground kosher or sea salt. Rinse the filter well to remove all of the salt before you use it again to make coffee.

John and I have three Chorreadors, one stays in our kitchen, one is used at John's office, and the third stays with our camping gear. Nothing beats the taste of fresh "Café Chorreado" with a tent side breakfast "en el Campo".


For instructions on how to make your own Chorredor de Café go to this link Duck Runner Resources

Miscellaneous

3

Tres Leches #2

There are many variations of this favorite cake recipe!

Ingredients:
3/4 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups white sugar
9 egg yolks
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 cup milk
9 egg whites
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
2 cups heavy whipping cream
1 (5 ounce) can evaporated milk
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
2 cups heavy whipping cream
1 cup white sugar

DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9x13 inch pan.
In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the egg yolks one at a time, beating well with each addition, then stir in the vanilla. Sift together the flour and baking powder. Add the flour mixture alternately with the milk; beat well after each addition. In a large glass or metal mixing bowl, beat egg whites and cream of tartar until whites form stiff peaks. Gently fold the egg whites into the cake batter using a rubber spatula. Spread the mixture evenly into the prepared pan.

Bake in the preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean. Allow to cool.

In a small bowl, stir together the 2 cups heavy cream, evaporated milk and sweetened condensed milk. Pour the mixture over the cake until it wont absorb any more. You may have 1/3 to 1/4 left over. That's okay.

Combine the whipped cream and sugar, spread over soaked cake. Refrigerate cake until serving, Pour leftover milk mixture onto plates and swirl in jam if desired, before setting cake on the plates.

Dessert

1

Baked Sweet Plantains with Cheese ~ Platano Maduro Horneado con Queso

Ingredients:
2 ripe plantains (platano maduro) Note: The skin will be almost black.
1 tablespoon butter or margarine
1 cup milk
2 tablespoons sugar or Splenda (you can also use brown sugar)
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 cup grated cheese (I use queso duro in Costa Rica and Romano cheese in Houston)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375.
Peel plantains and slice them in half, lengthwise. Then cut each slice in half. Place the 8 sections in a greased baking dish. Cut the butter and layer it on top of the plantains. Cover with the milk, sugar, butter and cinnamon. Sprinkle the cheese on top. Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes, or until they are golden brown.

Platano

0

Plantain Cheese Empanadas ~ Platano Maduro Empanadas con Queso

Ingredients:
1 or 2 ripe plantains (soft usually with black skin)
1 egg
1 tablespoon sugar or Splenda (optional)
1 or 2 tablespoon flour
Grated cheese for filling (I use queso blanco in Costa Rica and Mexican melting cheese in Houston. It's the closest thing I can find to the queso blanco we have in Costa Rica. Provolone or Jarlsburg would also be good sustitutes.)

Directions:
Boil plantains in water with a pinch of salt until very soft. Drain, peek and mash the plantains while still warm. Add egg and sugar. Sprinke flour over waxed paper. Take a heaping tablespoon full of the mashed plantain and shape it into a ball. Place it in the flour and press it down in a circle about ½" thick. Add a spoonful of cheese to the center of the circle, fold it over and pinch edges together. Make sure the flour is evenly coated. When all the empanadas have been formed, fry them in hot vegetable oil until they are golden brown.

Platano

0

Mango Salsa / Relish

This is a wonderful accompaniment that can be served with pork or barbecued meats.

Ingredients:
2 ripe mangoes
1/2 cup diced onion
1/2 cup diced sweet peppers (use a mix of red, yellow and green)
1 tablespoon finely chopped jalapeño (pickled, not fresh)
2 tablespoons minced cilantro
pinch of salt
1 juicy lime

Directions:
Peel mango and dice fruit into small pieces. Mix all ingredients and toss in the lime juice. Chill until served. This will keep in the refrigerator up to a week, but in our house we're lucky if it lasts two days.

Sauce

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Mango Salad

Ingredients:
4 whole mangos, peeled and cubed
1 large sweet onion, diced
2 whole jalapeno peppers, seeded and chopped
1/8 cup olive oil
1/4 cup cider vinegar
1/2 teaspoon sugar
salt and pepper, to taste

Directions:
Combine the oil,vinegar, sugar ,salt and pepper in a jar and shake well. Pour mixture over mango salad and toss. Let sit in refrig for an hour or 2. Increase the amount of oil or vinegar as required by your taste. I'm estimating how much I use. (I really use the grandma measuring system). eat what you can now, as there will be nothing left for you when you serve it!!!!

Salad

0

Gallo Pinto

"Gallo Pinto" is a typical Costa Rican breakfast dish. It is generally accompanied by fried eggs, meat and sometimes with a side of fried ripe plantain (Platano Maduro).

Ingredients:
2 cups Rice (pre-cooked/leftovers)
1 cup Black Beans (pre-cooked/leftovers)
2 cloves Garlic minced
½ cup Onion diced
¼ cup Sweet Peppers diced
¼ cup Celery diced
Cilantro
Salsa Lizano
Tabasco

Saute garlic, onion, sweet peppers and celery in a large skillet. Add cooked rice and stir until throughly heated. Add beans (with or without broth) and stir until throughly heated. Add Salsa Lizano and Tabasco to taste and garnish with fresh chopped cilantro just before serving.

Serves: 4

Rice

3

Tres Leches

Servings: 8
Preparation Time: 1 hours
Ingredients:
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup margarine
4 eggs
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups flour, sifted
1 tbsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
2 cups milk, 2% lowfat
11 ozs condensed milk, sweetened, canned
11 ozs evaporated milk, canned

Directions:
Preheat oven 350. Prepare & bake cake: Sift flour, baking powder, salt & set aside. Mix sugar & butter until fluffy, blend in eggs, 1 cup of milk & vanilla, then add flour mixture. Pour into 9" square pan & bake 40-45 min. When cake is cook, mix remaining 3 milks & pour over cake. Refrigerate 1 hour. Serve with fresh fruit & Cool Whip.

Dessert

0

Chayote Squash & Corn Soup

Servings: 6
Preparation Time: 30 minutes

This soup is a traditional Costa Rican recipe given to me by my sons' Grandmother in 1969 before her Grandsons were born. They both loved this soup as children.

Ingredients:
1 chayote squash, diced small
1 can corn, drained
1 tsp chicken bouillon granules
5 ozs evaporated milk
1 1/2 cups water
1/2 cup sweet green peppers, diced fine
1/8 tsp black pepper, coarsely ground salt, to taste
3 tbsp cilantro, minced fine

Directions:
Bring chayote, water & chicken buillion to a boil and simmer on low for 10 minutes. Add remaining ingredients (except for the cilantro) and bring to a boil. If the soup appears too thick, add more water. Simmer on low for 15 minutes. Add cilantro just before serving.

Options:
You may substitute sweet red peppers, or combine with green peppers for color. Lawry's Seasoning Salt may be substituded for regular salt.

Vegetable

0

Arroz Tita (Costa Rican Rice Casserole)

Servings: 6

Prep Time: 30 Minutes

Ingredients:
1/2 medium Onion, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 cup bell pepper, diced
1/2 cup celery stalk, diced
1/2 cup carrot, diced
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 pound kielbasa sausage* (see NOTE below about chicken or shrimp)
1/2 teaspoon paprika, ground
3 tablespoons cilantro, chopped fine
1 teaspoon Lawry's Seasoning Salt
1/8 teaspoon oregano, crushed
10 ounces RoTel Diced Tomatoes & Green Chiles, canned (If Ro-Tel is not available, use a finely diced large tomato with all it's juice and dice up a couple of mild to medium hot chili peppers.)
2 1/3 cups water
2 cups long-grain white rice

Directions:
Using a heavy 4 quart pot, saute garlic onion, peppers, celery and carrots in olive oil until onions and celery are clear. In a separate container bring the water and RoTel diced tomatoes & green chiles together to boil. ( I use a large, one quart, measuring cup in the microwave, set on high for 5 minutes.)

Add rice to sauteed vegetables and continue to saute on medium heat until the rice is very hot and crackling. About 2-3 minutes. DO NOT LET THE RICE TOAST

Add the meat, seasoning salt, oregano and cilantro and liquid. Quickly bring pot to a full boil and cover tightly for 25 minutes on low simmer. DO NOT REMOVE THE LID AT ANY TIME.

Turn off the heat, leave the pot stand on the burner for 15-20 minutes. DO NOT REMOVE THE COVER.

NOTE: Kielbasa needs to be sliced about a 1/4" thick. The Kielbasa sausage can be subsituted for a pound of cooked chicken or cooked shrimp. Chicken needs to be cubed in bite size chunks and added with the liquid. Shrimp must be headed peeled and precooked. The stock from the shrimp can be substituted for the water. You can keep the shimp tender by not adding it until the rice has completely finished cooking and cooled for 20 minutes.There should be enough liquid to come up about 1/2" to 3/4" over the level rice when it begins to boil. All of the vegetables and meats are optional. If you leave the them out, use a little less water.

"This Recipe evolved from several different rice & meat casseroles I used to make while living in Costa Rica"

Sausage

0