Hawaiian Haystacks

Or Happy Mountains. But I like the Hawaiian Haystack title better. This is a great crowd pleaser - especially when you're not sure what people like to eat. I've made it a few times now and every time I get rave reviews. Adults love it. Kids love it. It's pretty much just a bunch of random vegetables (and some fruit) thrown together. And it's delicious. What's not to love? This is a wonderful summer-time meal -- it's light and fresh and oh so tasty. I usually double it and then enjoy the left overs for lunch and dinner the following days. It's that good.

Hawaiian Haystacks

• 4-6 cups cooked rice
• 3 cups cooked and cubed chicken
• 2 cans cream of chicken coup - you can use the 98% Fat Free kind - doesn't affect the taste in the least!
  
• 1 cup chicken broth/stock
• 1 can pineapple tidbits (the liquid - about 1 cup - reserved for the sauce)
• Celery - sliced
• Carrots - sliced
• Tomatoes - diced
• Green onions - sliced
  
• Water chestnuts - sliced or diced
• Sliced almonds or peanuts
• Coconut (this is a must -- it totally makes the dish)
  
• Chow Mien Noodles
• Shredded Cheddar cheese

-- In a large sauce pan, bring the soup, chicken broth, and pineapple juice to a boil. Let simmer 10 minutes. Add the chunks of cooked chicken and heat through.
-- Meanwhile, put all the "toppings" into bowls.
-- To serve, just pile it on starting with the rice and then the chicken. **Note that once you pile everything on it's pretty big, so go easy on the rice and chicken

All set up for people to run through the line!