Haystack Salad Recipe – A Great Crowd Pleaser!

This recipe is a family favorite in our house and great for company. You can vary the ingredients to personal taste, making it a good choice for company and kids!

I apologize that I don't have the actual picture of my own salad made up. In my quest for other haystack recipes I ran across a really great one, so I am using a picture and adding the link to another haystack salad right here. This one pictured below is actually the Hard Rock Chicken Haystack Salad. You can see how wonderful this stacked salad can look!

Here is the recipe for my Haystack Salad version. It is very different then the one above. It just goes to show how fun and varying this recipe can be. Have fun experimenting and trying different versions!

Ingredients:
Frito Chips
Cooked rice (brown or white)
Chili beans heated
( not to be mistaken for chili, but canned beans in a chili sauce. Easily found in the bean section of the grocery store)
Grated cheddar cheese
Green Salad
(this can simply be shredded lettuce, or you can add other ingredients that would be in a salad Such as: tomato, carrot and green onion, olives, peppers, etc.)
Ranch or Blue Cheese Salad dressing

*Notice I didn’t put any exact amounts. You will have to gauge this according to how many people you are feeding.

Instructions:
Put out all above ingredients in order, buffet style, and let people layer the ingredients on their plate. It will make a tall haystack! The beauty of this recipe is that your family or dinner guests can make them the way they want.

If you want to do a Mexican version of this recipe. Add taco meat to the list and substitute the salad dressing for sour cream and salsa.

Or…put it all out and let people choose!
Enjoy!

Best Yummy Peanut Butter Pie!

I have been making this wonderful peanut butter pie for years. I found this recipe from a Taste Of Home magazine years ago. It is a family favorite and I make it often for special occasions. Its an easy no-bake, no-fail recipe. Since I have made this torte a lot, I have learned some tips along the way. You can read my notes at the end of the recipe.

Peanut Butter Cheese Torte

Ingredients

CRUST:
1 cup graham cracker crumbs
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup butter, melted
1/2 cup finely chopped peanuts

FILLING:
2 cups creamy peanut butter
2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
2 cups sugar
2 tablespoons butter, softened
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1-1/2 cups heavy whipping cream, stiffly beaten

CHOCOLATE TOPPING:
4 ounces semisweet chocolate chips
3 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons hot coffee
Coarsely chopped peanuts, optional

Directions

Combine all crust ingredients. Press into the bottom and halfway up the sides of a 10-in. springform pan. Chill. For filling, beat peanut butter, cream cheese, sugar, butter and vanilla in a large bowl on high until smooth, about 2 minutes. Fold in whipped cream. Gently spoon into crust; refrigerate 6 hours or overnight. For topping, melt chocolate with coffee until smooth. Spread over chilled torte. Refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes. Garnish with chopped peanuts if desired. Yield: 14-16 servings.

Enjoy!

My Tips:
*I double the crust ingredients and split the filling. It makes a very big tall torte and is very rich. By splitting the filling you get 2 pies out of the recipe! Feel free to make it in pie pans if you don't have a spring form pan, it turns out either way.

*I freeze the pies when finished and thaw out only enough to slice and then put back. This torte can get soft quickly, and I found that freezing this recipe worked wonderfully and it kept better in the freezer.

*I don't make the chocolate topping suggested. I buy my favorite chocolate ice cream syrup and drizzle it over each individual piece as I serve it.


Picture and recipe courtesy of Taste of Home.