Hawaiian Haystacks

My mom made us these to change things up on Christmas Eve a couple of years ago. This is one of my all time favorite comfort foods!

Ingredients:

cooked rice

Chow Mein noodles

gravy

meat

chopped celery

chopped tomatoes

grated cheese

pineapple chunks

olives

Chow Mein noodles

Direcetions:

Make enough rice for everyone eating. Add ingredients on top of each other like an ice cream sundae. 

Black Beans with Rice

This picture sure doesn't do the dish justice, but it is good. Just give it a try! 

Ingredients:

1 cans black beans

1/16 tsp garlic powder

1/4 tsp salt

1 tsp chili powder

1/8 tsp cumin

1 tsp brown sugar

1/4 tsp vinegar

1/16 tsp  chopped onion

4oz. sausage

2 cups cooked rice

grated cheese

Direcetions:

1. Drain and rinse beans. Place in LG pot.

2. Cook until warm.

3. Saute onion and sausage. Add to pot.

4. Add spices. 

5. Let simmer for 10-15 minutes.

6. Serve over rice with cheese on top.

Tiny Spicy Chicken

I love me some Chinese food! This recipe is a bit sweet, but it is delicious. What do you serve with your home-made Chinese food?

Ingredients:

2 lbs. chicken, cubed

garlic salt

2 beaten eggs

1/2 cup flour

1/4 cup corn starch

SAUCE:

1 tsp chili paste

1.5 cups sugar

3/4 cup ketchup

3 tsp soy sauce

dash of salt

3/4 cup chicken broth

6 TBSP brown sugar

3/4 cup vinegar

Direcetions:

1. Place chicken in LG, sealable bag.

2. Sprinkle chicken with garlic salt and let stand for 1 hour in fridge.

3. Add eggs, flour, and corn starch to bag. Shake until chicken is well coated.

4. Brown chicken in oil.

5. Place in 9x13 glass dish.

6. Pour sauce over chicken in baking dish.

7. Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour, turning chicken every 15 minutes.

Sever over rice and top with Chow Mein noodles. 

**Save left over sauce, freeze, and use again!

Pork Picata

Ingredients:

8 pork cutlets

oil

flour

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

1 cup chicken broth

2 TBSP lemon juice

1 TBSP butter

Direcetions:

1. Season both sides of thawed cutlets with salt & pepper.

2. Dredge in flour and shake off excess. Discard flour.

3. Heat oil in LG skillet MED heat.

4. Add pork and suate 2 minutes per side.

5. Remove to plate and keep warm.

6. Add broth and simmer 2 minutes.

7. Stir in lemon juice and butter. Stir until butter melts.

8. Return pork to skillet and simmer for 2 minutes or until pork is heated through.

Sloppy Joes

Ingredients:

1.5 lbs. ground beef

1/4 cup chopped onion

1/2 tsp minced garlic

3/4 cup ketchup

1/8 cup chopped green pepper

1/4 cup water

2 TBSP brown sugar

1 TBSP yellow mustard

1 tsp chili powder

Direcetions:

1. Brown beef, onion, and green pepper in LG skillet.

2. Add garlic part way through browning.

3. Drain off fat. 

4. Combine remaining ingredients. 

5. Simmer for 15-20 minutes.

6. Serve on buns. Freezes well.

We like these with corn on the cob and other summer foods like chips and watermelon. What other summer foods do you like?

Cheesy Chicken & Rice Bake

Ingredients:

1 lb. chicken

4 cups rice, cooked

3/4 cup corn, frozen

15oz. can black beans (drain, rinse)

1 cup plain yogurt (I've used sour cream and that works fine too.)

4oz. can green chilis

1/2 cup salsa

1+ cup cheddar cheese

Direcetions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. In a LG bowl, combine all ingredients and mix thoroughly to combine.

3. Transfer to oven safe dish and tope with extra cheese.

4. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until heated through. 

5. Serve plain or with tortillas and eat as tacos!

BBQ Chicken

Ingredients:

1 lb. chicken

1 bottle BBQ sauce

1/4 cup vinegar

1/2 tsp red pepper flakes

1/4 cup brown sugar

1 tsp garlic powder

Direcetions:

1. Add chicken to crockpot.

2. Mix BBQ sauce and all ingredients in a separate, small bowl.

3. Pour over chicken

4. Cook on low for 4 hours.

We usually eat this with mashed potatoes and some vegetable. Instead of gravy for the potatoes, we like to pour some of the left over BBQ  marinade over the potatoes. This made enough for me, my husband, and our 2 kids with left overs.