Hawaiian Haystacks - A major family FAVORITE!

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I'm a dump cook, I'll completely admit. Hawaiian Haystacks is a very flexible recipe, very forgiving even. I make it so many different ways that I didn't realize I wasn't following a recipe. But since it's been the birthday request of my oldest son for most of his life, I should have it documented! So here's my attempt.

Hawaiian Haystacks Gravy

1-2 pcs chicken (breast, thigh, whatever, you'll be removing the bones if there are any)

Boil the chicken in (3-4 cups?) salted water (maybe 3/4 tsp salt?) until cooked through.

Remove the chicken and let it cool so you can chop/shred it up. SAVE the broth!!!

Bring the broth to a boil, and add:

• 1/2-3/4 c cornstarch or flour with 1 1/2-2 C water, mixed well

Allow this to thicken. After it's thickened, you may add any or none of the following - 

• The pineapple juice from the can of tidbits you plan on serving with the Hawaiian Haystacks
• A brick of cream cheese OR some sour cream OR neither
• A can of coconut cream...mmmmm, I love it when I add this!
• The diced or shredded chicken you just cooked - okay, I ALWAYS add this

(Instead of adding the thickener-flour & water-you may add a couple of cans of cream of chicken soup. But I like the freshly made stuff instead. If it needs more flavor, I add extra chicken bullion.)

Serve over hot rice (white or brown or mixed) with:

• Grated cheese
• Pineapple tidbits or mandarin oranges or both
• Chinese noodles
• Anything else you want, like:

• diced tomatoes
• diced peppers
• sliced green onion
• chopped celery
• sliced olives
• raisins/craisins
• chopped nuts
• shredded coconut (esp without added sugar)
• anything else you like

Mmmm! My WHOLE family totally loves this because you eat what you like. They're all salivating as I'm finishing this recipe! Coming up in a couple of days...too bad they all live away from home now!

Pinto Bean Dip

2 cups raw pinto beans
1 large onion (chopped)
1 to 2 cups grated cheese
Salt to taste
1/4 teaspoon garlic salt
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon cumin

Cook beans and chopped onion in 4 or 6 cups of water until the beans are tender, (approximately 4 hours). When the water has cooked out of beans add flavors and mash with a potato masher. Add 1 tablespoon butter and 1 cup of the cheese - stirring into the bean mixture. You may add a few drops of hot sauce to taste and sprinkle the other cup of cheese on top. Serve with nacho chips. (Taco seasoning can be used instead of the spices.)

One of my favorite recipes from Jil Abegg's "How to Save Big Money Grocery and Household Shopping Savers' Seminar", and Marie Rick's homemaking class.

Fresh Pea Salad

~15 oz pkg frozen peas, thawed but not cooked *
1/2 tsp salt
2 Tbsp mayonnaise
2 Tbsp sliced, slivered or chopped almonds

(*To thaw pour hot water over frozen peas to thaw, then drain well.) Mix all together, serve soon or refrigerate.

My sister makes this salad frequently, and it's my favorite way to eat peas!

Grandma Howlett's Peanut Brittle

2 C sugar
1/2 C water
1 C white corn syrup
2 C raw peanuts

Measure & set aside:
1 Tbsp butter
1 tsp salt
2 tsp vanilla
2 level tsp baking soda

Mix together sugar, water and syrup. Bring to boil in heavy aluminum pan (pressure cooker great!) Boil until it threads when dropped from spoon (abt 265 degrees F). Add uncooked or raw peanuts. Let cook until syrup begins to turn light brown (300 degrees F). Remove from stove, and quickly add butter, soda, salt & vanilla. Stir and pour on a large buttered cookie sheet or marble slab. Spread thin and cool. When cooled well, crack with back of knife handle.

My mother made this recipe at Christmastime for most of my Christmases at home. Mmmm! It means Christmas to me!

 

Sticky Popcorn

Put ½ cup butter and ½ cup brown sugar in a glass dish and microwave for two minutes. Stir in 1 cup mini marshmallows. Microwave for one minute. Stir again. Pour mixture over 2 quarts (or 2 bags) popcorn in a large bowl and mix in 2 more cups mini marshmallows if desired.

YUMMY Traditional Stovetop Popper Popcorn

Heat in the stovetop popper popcorn cooker:

          1 tbsp oil

          1 tbsp butter

When the oil is hot and nearly starting to smoke, add:

¾ cup uncooked popcorn kernels

¼ heaping tsp popcorn salt

Several shakes of black pepper

(Previously add the salt & pepper to the container of corn for speed)

Stir while it cooks on high, until the kernels slow popping considerably.

Dump popcorn into a serving bowl and enjoy!

Leave out the salt and pepper and make Sticky Popcorn!

Hot Honey

My sister's recipe, this is used for sore throats, strep throat, etc. When you can't stand it ANY LONGER, or to stave it off before it gets that bad...

1/2 tsp cayenne powder
1/2 tsp ground cloves
4 Tbsp honey (raw, local best)

Mix together and store at room temperature. We make a batch and keep it in a honey bottle and use as needed. The shelf life* is quite extended, but when honey crystallizes, melt gradually in a pan of heating water/double boiler style.

Instructions for use: Take 1/2 tsp hot honey - Let it sit at the back of your throat for as long as you can stand it, then swallow it.

(The original recipe called for garlic, and you could include powdered or granulated garlic if desired for additional potency, but still maintain shelf life*. Alternatively you could make a tea with hot honey and add fresh pressed garlic for added effectiveness.)

Banana Goop

My sister and her family lived with us for a time, and this was one of their kids' very favorites!

Frozen bananas*
Vanilla
Milk**
Optional - cocoa**

Blend together to the consistency of Wendy's Frosties and serve - LOVE IT!!

*When bananas start turning brown, just peel and throw in a zipper bag and freeze
**Or use chocolate milk, even left overs of the hot cocoa recipe, mmm! Delish!