Haystacks!

I know everyone probably knows how to make haystacks and loves them! I have a variation on the gravy that makes it so delicious!

Rice.......cook more than you think because it makes great leftovers!

Gravy...........3 cans cream of chicken soup with milk or water to thin it to preference. Warm and then add chunks of cooked chicken, or canned chicken x2. Seasonings pepper, garlic, onion salt if desired. After sauce and chicken is warm at the last minute add 1 can of sweetened condensed milk and stir constantly until dissolved and warm. Do not overcook because the sweetened milk will burn.

Toppings:
Grated cheese, olives, green onions, green bellpepper, pineapple, coconut, chinese crunchy noodles (these are our favorites)


I thought it would be fun to have you share your favorite toppings in our comments.
(I also like garbanzo beans, water chestnuts cut up, and almonds)

Eclair Cake

4 large eggs
1/2 cup butter
1 cup water
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
4 cups milk
3 (3 ounce) packages instant vanilla pudding mix
1 (16 ounce) container whipped topping

Preheat oven to 400*F (205*C). Grease a 9 x 13 x 2-inch baking pan. Whisk eggs in a small bowl and set aside. In 2-quart saucepan, melt butter in water. Add flour and cook, stirring constantly, until mixture forms a ball. Remove from heat and beat in eggs all at one time, continue beating until smooth.
Spread in prepared pan and bake for 35 to 40 minutes. Allow to cool.
Combine cream cheese and milk, beating until smooth. Add pudding, one package at a time. Spoon over cooled shell. Spread with whipped topping and drizzle with crackle chocolate topping or Butterfinger crumbles or toffee bits etc. Chill at least one hour before serving.


This is my favorite dessert!

Cauliflower Marranca

1 lb. mushrooms, sliced
1 lg. onion, chopped
1 lg. head cauliflower (in flower pieces)
3 c. cooked brown rice or millet
2 1/2 c. grated cheese (optional)
Juice of 1 lemon
garlic and basil per preference
Salt and pepper
Saute mushrooms and onion in butter then add lemon juice. Next add cauliflower with garlic, basil, salt and pepper and saute. Salt and butter the cooked brown rice or millet. Combine everything. Bake covered 1/2 hour at 350 degrees.


Vegetarian meal my Mom used to make. It has alot of flavors going on and can be a real party in your mouth. I use it as a side dish to fish usually. Really healthy unless you go crazy with your cheese!

CRANBERRY CHICKEN

Cranberry Chicken

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

place chicken tenderloins thawed or fresh in a pan

Combine ingredients below in a bowl
1 can of whole cranberry jelly

1/2 bottle of creamy french dressing

1 packet of lipton onion soup mix


cover chicken tenderloins with sauce above
and bake for approximately 60-75 minutes

Serve with Rice and vegetables

Cook Yourself Thin

OK so I'll admit it, I don't like girly TV. So Lifetime isn't my favorite channel. However, they have a new show that I think is fabulous. It's called "Cook Yourself Thin." They take recipes that we all love for the flavor but hate for the thunder thighs, and make them figure friendly. So it's guiltless eating! They have a cookbook by the same name, but all of the recipes they use on the show are on their website. Here's the link so you can go check it out. My favorites are the pizza, lasagna, and, of course, the desserts! http://www.mylifetime.com/on-tv/shows/cook-yourself-thin

Chips

Who doesn't love chips? But, who can handle eating them as frequently as we want them? I certainly can't! So I found some baked chip recipes so I control the salt and the flavor! I'll put both on here; the first is for regular potatoes and the second is for sweet potatoes, which kind of have a nice carroty flavor. I've done these recipes, I've added a bit of Parmesan, pepper, Mrs. Dash's, Cajun seasoning... you get the idea. Try it, and if you like it, put your own flavors on it. And feel good about it, because they're not fried!

Fresh Baked Potato Chips

Ingredients

3 lg. unpeeled potatoes
1/2 c. grated Parmesan cheese
(I sprinkle with salt, though it's not in the recipe)

Instructions

Wash potatoes well. Cut into 1/4 inch slices. Arrange in one layer on a lightly greased baking sheet. Sprinkle generously with grated Parmesan cheese. Bake at 425 degrees for 30 minutes. Yields: 6 servings.

Sweet Potato Oven Chips

Ingredients

1 large sweet potato(es), peeled
2 tsp vegetable oil
1/8 tsp table salt, or to taste

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400ºF. Spray 2 baking sheets with cooking spray. Thinly slice potatoes in a food processor or by hand; they should be no more than 1/8-inch thick.
Arrange slices on baking sheets so they don’t overlap. Brush with oil and sprinkle with salt. Bake chips until they begin to lightly brown, about 15 minutes. Cool on a rack and serve.

(For those of you who do the Weight Watchers thing, this recipe yields 4 servings, each of with only take 1 point. Dang!)

Easter recipes

Of course, today is Easter, and I love to make a nice fancy-dancy meal for my family. However, since my husband and I are trying to lose weight, I decided to go sort of healthy. We will be having ham, baked sweet potatoes, spinach-strawberry salad, low-fat low-carb orange dream cheesecake, and Crystal Lite.

Spinach Strawberry Salad

3 cups fresh baby spinach

1/2 cup sliced fresh strawberries

1/4 cup sliced honey-roasted almonds

1 TBSP vinegar

1 TBSP honey

1 1/2 tsp sugar

In a large bowl, combine the spinach, strawberries, and almonds. In a jar with a tight-fitting lid, combine the vinegar, honey, and sugar; shake well. Drizzle over salad and toss to coat. Serve immediately.