Hawaiian Haystacks- no creamy soup

*Makes about 4 cups chicken sauce (enough to serve 4-6 for Hawaiian Haystacks)

INGREDIENTS:
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size chunks (or leftover cooked chicken, cubed)
3 tablespoons butter
½ onion (about ½ cup), finely chopped
3 cloves garlic; finely minced
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon pepper
¼ cup flour
1-1/2 cups milk
2 cups chicken broth

DIRECTIONS:
In a large skillet melt the butter over medium heat and add the onion and raw chicken (if using leftover cooked chicken, don’t add it to the skillet now, you’ll add it later). Saute the onion and chicken, if using, until the onions are soft and translucent and the chicken is cooked through, about 5 to 6 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for about one minute, stirring, until fragrant.  Remove the chicken from the pan to dice.

Sprinkle the flour into the pan,  stir to combine. Cook over medium heat for one minute – this helps get rid of the starchy, flour taste. Slowly whisk in the milk and chicken broth. Cook, stirring constantly with a whisk, and bring the sauce to a simmer over medium to medium-high heat. Add the salt and pepper.Add the diced chicken. Continue simmering, stirring the sauce frequently, until the sauce has thickened, about 5-8 minutes.

Serve the chicken sauce over rice with your toppings of choice, such as olives, tomatoes, peas, celery, carrots, pineapple, shredded  cheese, green onions, mandarin oranges and chow mein noodles.

Original Recipe found at 

http://www.melskitchencafe.com/2010/02/hawaiian-haystacks-chicken-sauce-reinvented.html

Egg Salad Sandwiches

Boiled Eggs, Mayo, seasonings...easy peasy!

Baked Sandwiches

Oven Baked sandwiches are one of our favorite meals.  Here is our favorite ways to make them.

Breads: We like foccacia bread, bagels or your typical sub sandwich bread.

Toppings before you bake them:
Mayo, turkey, Ham, cheese, Avocados, tomatoes, bacon, grilled onions & mushrooms.

Toppings after they come out of the oven:
lettuce, cucumbers, sprouts, and tomatoes (if you don't like them baked).

Chicken Caesar Pita Sandwiches

Pita bread

chicken, cooked and cubed

Mozzarella cheese

Parmesan cheese

Romaine lettuce

Caesar Dressing

Combine chicken, mozzarella cheese, parmesan cheese, lettuce an caesar dressing, just like you are making a salad.  Put salad on pita bread and fold in half for a sandwich.

Hawaiian Haystacks

2 cans cream of chicken soup

1 cup chicken broth

2 cups chicken or turkey pieces

4 cups cooked rice

Chow mein noodles

Diced tomatoes

Grated cheese

Slivered almonds

Peas

Dried cranberrys

Diced ham

Chopped celery

Green pepper, chopped

Green onions

Pineapple chunks

coconut

Combine cream of chicken soup, chicken broth and chicken pieces in small saucepan.  Heat until warmed through for gravy.

Serve rice topped with gravy and your choice of toppings.

Chicken Salad Croissants

2 C. diced chicken

2 stalks celery, diced

1/2 red onion, diced

1/2 c. slivered almonds

juice of 1 orange

1/2 c. Mayo

1/4 c. sour cream

salt & pepper to taste

red grapes

mandarin oranges

Combine all ingredients & serve on crescent rolls.