marilynpeight
Hay stacks is similar to taco salad but with rice and a smooth cheese sauce we call “shmeah kaes.” This self serve dinner is a favorite among the Amish ladies, because it is easy to make and each person can customize their own dish, making a real crowd pleaser! You may also enjoy Amish potato salad or homemade Amish honey bread with this meal.
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Amish hay stack dinner
Ingredients
- 3 cups cooked rice (1 cup dry rice in 3 cups water)
Beef mixture:
- 1 pound ground beef
- 3/4 tablespoon taco seasoning or to taste
- 1/3 teaspoon season all
- Salt and pepper to taste
Additional toppings (optional):
- Tortilla chips
- shredded lettuce
- diced tomato
- diced onion
- Shredded taco or cheddar cheese
For the cheese sauce:
- 1 pound American cheese slices white or yellow
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon baking soda
Instructions
- Brown the beef along with seasonings.
- To make the cheese sauce, place the American cheese in a small saucepan then add water, baking soda and salt. Melt on medium heat, stirring frequently to keep the bottom from burning. Remove from heat and allow to cool. If a skin forms on top remove it to prevent lumps.
- Assemble remaining ingredients and serve each one in separate dishes. Layer the Haystack onto your plate with whatever you wish! My favorite haystack starts with crushed tortilla chips, then rice, beef, and veggies layered on top. I like to top it all with shredded cheese, then cheese sauce and Mary’s Sweet and Tangy Onion Dressing!Â
Notes
More optional toppings.
- sliced mushrooms
- pickled jalapeno slices
- bell pepper chunks
- pickles
- honey mustard sauce
- Ranch dressing
- Mary’s Sweet and Tangy Onion Dressing (so delicious with haystacks).
Note on cheese sauce* If using skim or great value brand American cheese the sauce gets a lot thinner. Use a cup of water and allow the cheese to melt then test it, the cheese should be thinner than the desired result (it will thicken as it cools) but not so thin that it looks like milk. If you end up with a sauce that is too thick you can add a little more water or reheat it in the microwave if it has cooled already.
The Basic Ingredients for Haystacks include cheese sauce, cooked rice, browned beef, onions, cheese, tomatoes, lettuce and tortilla chips. You can add so many more if you want!
Fun Fact.. The Amish like to call this meal Haystacks because when a hungry Amish man loads up his plate it ends up looking like a stack of hay!
