Hawaiian Haystacks with Homemade Cream of Chicken Soup


This is one of our families favorite meals!  And so impressive to serve to guests.  I will typically double this, so we have leftovers, especially since the soup part is time consuming.  I have to tell you that my kids freak out every time I make this.  Not in a good way.  I always hear, "EEwww!  I don't like that!"  And then I remind them that they loved it last time they ate it.  After their first bite, which sometimes I have to persuade them to do, they say, "OH Yeah!  I do like this!"  And then I smile, because I knew they did! And they eat the whole bowl!


To prepare this meal I start with the rice, so that I don't forget!  
I like to use brown rice, but sometimes I use white to make the kiddos happy. 


While your soup is cooking you can prepare the "additions".  I will give a list of what we love, but you can add whatever you love...

Cream of Chicken Soup

Prep Time: 20 min
Cook Time: 40 min
Serves: 4-6 main course servings

1/2 c.  butter
1 medium sweet onion, chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped
3 medium carrots, chopped
1/2 c. plus 1 T. flour
7 c. chicken broth
1 1/2 t. dried parsley
1 1/2 t. dried thyme
2 bay leaves
3 c. cooked chicken, diced
1/2 c. heavy cream
2 1/2 t. dry sherry (optional)
1 T. sea salt
Freshly ground pepper, to taste


Prepare vegetables.  ( I do mine in the blender, saves a lot of time and I like it in smaller chunks too, so the kids won't complain!) Melt the butter in a large soup pot over medium heat.  Add the onion, celery and carrots. Cover and stir occasionally, until soft, about 12 minutes.  Add the flour and cook, stirring with a wooden spoon for about 2 more minutes.  Pour in broth and bring to a boil while whisking constantly.  Add parsley, thyme and bay leaves.  Lower heat and simmer for 15 minutes.
Stir in chicken and bring to a boil.  Remove from heat.
Whisk in the heavy cream, sherry and salt.  Remove bay leaves.
Serve over rice.  Add "additions".  Enjoy!

Additions
We like:
Pineapple
Chopped Tomatoes
Cheddar Cheese
Dry Roasted Peanuts
Flaked Coconut (Sweetened)

Chow Mein Noodles (dry) are good too, but since we removed trans fat from our diets (as best as we can) we don't eat this anymore, and it still taste great without it!  The peanuts give you the crunch when you don't add the chow mein noodles.