Hawaiian Haystacks

 My recipe is too simple, I know that. But the kids have loved it, so I keep it the same!

Hawaiian Haystacks

1 lb. chicken, cubed

Garlic salt

Large can cream of chicken soup, milk to consistency

2 t. chicken bouillon powder

Your favorite rice, cooked

Celery, sliced or diced

Green onions, sliced

Pineapple tidbits, drained

Shredded coconut

Shredded cheese

Dry rice noodles

Chopped macadamia nuts

Chop celery, green onions.

Start rice cooking.

Thaw and dice chicken.

Cook chicken in garlic salt.

Add soup and bouillon. When completely warm, add milk until desired consistency. I don't add any.

Serve with any or all of suggested toppings.

Lmk if you have variations your family loves!

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HK Mac & Cheese

I don't think anyone loves mac & cheese more than my youngest three children. Halle & Kierste narrowed their recipe picks down to this one, and they make it together at least once a week. Connor is as obsessed as they are.

HK Mac & Cheese

1/2 pkg. noodles (pasta of choice)
3 T. butter
3 T. flour
2 c. milk or heavy whipping cream (or half of both)
1 c. shredded cheese

Seasoning mixture:
1/2 t. onion powder
1/2 t. salt
1/2 T. Valentina hot sauce


Boil noodles and drain. 
Melt 3 tablespoons of butter. Whisk in flour and half the seasoning.
Once it starts to boil, stir for one minute. (Stir consistently to avoid over-boiling)
Stir in milk or cream until thickened. (Should be consistency of gravy or close.)
Turn the heat to low. Stir in rest of the seasoning.
Slowly add 1 cup of cheese, one handful at a time. (Stir all the way in before adding next handful.) 

Pour noodles into cheese sauce and mix.
Turn off stove and serve!

Optional: pepper, paprika

We always add extra hot sauce and salt to our taste!

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 Mama's Roast

1 chuck roast
2 T. veg oil
4 potatoes, washed & cut into pieces 
Small bag baby carrots, cut if you want
Small onion, diced
1-2 cans cream of chicken soup
1 c. water
1 T. beef bouillon
1 T. Montreal Steak seasoning

Heat oil in frying pan. Sear all six sides of roast at least 30 seconds each to seal in {synonym of moisture}. Put meat in crock pot, and pile all other ingredients on top, making sure sauce gets under the meat. Cook on HIGH for 5-6 hours, LOW 1-2. Meat should be very tender.

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Melanie's Lasagna

I don't love most lasagna, in general. But this recipe, originating from Taste of Home as many of them have, has been a delectable staple - that I can't stop eating - for about 25 years!

Melanie's Lasagna

1 small can tomato sauce

Uncooked lasagna noodles

1 c. cottage cheese (or whole small carton) 

2 eggs
1/2 c. parmesan cheese

1 lb. lean hamburger
1 lb. Italian sausage
1 small onion, diced

Garlic salt

Lots of spinach leaves

Lots of mozzarella

1 can Italian stewed diced tomatoes, drained and smashed
1 jar of favorite spaghetti sauce

Oven 350. 

Cook meats with onion and garlic salt. 

Mix cottage cheese layer. 

Mix spaghetti sauce layer. 

In a DEEP 9x13 pan, pour small can of tomato sauce to coat bottom evenly and generously. Add some of your spaghetti sauce mixture if needed. Nobody needs noodles stuck to the bottom.

Break up lasagna noodles, and spread one layer. 

Spread half of the cottage cheese layer over noodles.

Spread half of the meat layer.

Spread generous spinach leaves.

Spread lots of mozzarella.

Spread half the spaghetti sauce.

Now (slightly different order):

Noodles, broken 

Cottage cheese 

Spaghetti sauce 

Meat 

Spinach 

Cover with mozzarella with some spinach showing.

Top with parmesan if desired.

Bake covered 45 min. Remove foil and bake for another 15-20 min.

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Tikka Masala

This tikka masala is from heaven. Found on an Indian food website, it has made us very, very happy.

Tikka Masala

2 T. butter
1 lb. chicken, diced
1 small onion, diced
1 T. garlic, minced
1 can tomato sauce (14 oz.)
1 1/2 c. heavy cream
3 T. tikka masala seasoning, below
Your favorite rice. I like calrose or jasmine for this one.

Cook chicken, onion & garlic in butter. Add sauce, cream, seasoning and warm thoroughly. Serve over rice.

Tikka Masala Seasoning, one batch

1.5 t. garam masala
        cumin
1 t. turmeric
          coriander
          Kashmiri chili
          red chili powder
          salt
3/4 t. brown sugar
1/4 t. ginger

Make ahead, 24 batches:

12 T. garam masala
          cumin
8 T. turmeric
          coriander
          Kashmiri chili
          red chili powder
          salt
7 T. + 1t. brown sugar
2 T. ginger

Sift together thoroughly, especially brown sugar, for storage. Make sure sugar is fully incorporated in separate granules, instead of clumping together. Sifting it with other powders while agitating the sugar, should break it up into granules. It's a process. TIP: turmeric stains and clings to everything. Beware of it! 

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Salsa

There are so many recipes for salsa. But I'm trying out some because fresh is the BEST!! Here's a good one. Let me know if you have delicious variations!

Salsa

3 c. tomatoes
small onion or shallots
1/2 sweet bell pepper
1/2 bunch cilantro
1/2 jalapeño, including seeds if wanted
juice of one small lime
1 t. salt
1/2 t. cumin
1/2 t. sugar

Process everything together to puree, OR puree jalapeño, juice and seasonings with one cup tomatoes, then add rest of vegetables to coarsely chop in. 

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Oatmeal Butterscotch Cookies

 This is one of the OG recipes I've always had. I've made it for decades.

Oatmeal Butterscotch Cookies

1 c. butter
1 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. sugar
2 eggs
2 t. vanilla
2 t. cinnamon
1 t. baking soda
1/2 t. salt
1 1/2 c. flour, sifted
3 1/2 c. oats
1/2 pkg. chocolate chips
1/2 pkg. butterscotch chips

Oven 350. Mix butter & sugars well. Add all ingredients before flour and mix well. Add rest of ingredients and put onto cookie sheet in 1 1/2 inch chunks. Bake 10 min. More or less minutes if your cookies are larger or smaller. If the cookies are very brown around the bottom, you have overbaked!

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