Amish Haystack Dinner Recipes

I'm going to start off by defining what hay is. I'm sure your probably thinking, of course I know what hay is. But, actually many people get it confused with straw.  One website even had a picture that said they were haystacks when in reality it was a picture of dried corn stalks bundled up. Now, I am not trying to be condescending if you didn't know. We all didn't grow up on or around farms. I didn't live on a farm, just near them. And believe me when I say there is plenty I don't know about farm life. I always say you can learn something new every day. So here is the definitions and then will get on with the recipes.

Hay is cut grasses and legumes. Hay is usually greener then straw unless it has been sitting around and is bleached out. Animals eat hay for nutrition.Straw is cut grains.  It is much more coarse and is used for bedding for animals. So, the top picture is hay and the bottom picture is straw.

What exactly is a Amish Haystack dinner? The dinner is for large gatherings of people and are many times used to help raise money for families in need. The first recipe is the traditional haystack dinner from the Old Order Amish, which the guests serve themselves. This way there are able to put it together how they like. One layer on top of another. The second is a casserole. Enjoy the recipes!



Haystack Supper
Soda crackers, crushed
Hamburger, browned, drained and taco seasoning added
Lettuce, chopped
Tomatoes, chopped
Green peppers, chopped
Onions, chopped
Spaghetti or rice or both (cooked until soft)
Put some of each on your plate, one layer at a time. Top with shredded cheese or a homemade cheese sauce. Also good to add is salsa or ranch dressing

Amish Potato Haystacks

10 med. Potatoes
2 pkg. Ranch dressing mix
1 c. sour cream
1 c milk
4 lb. Hamburger
1/4 c. chopped onion
2 pkg. taco seasoning
salt and pepper to taste
Cheese Sauce:
1/2 c. butter
1/4 c. flour
4 c. milk
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 box Velveeta cheese
Melt butter in pan. Add flour. When boiling, add milk, salt, pepper and cheese.
Cook, peel and shred potatoes. Add sour cream and milk to dressing mix. Fry hamburger with onion and add taco seasoning. Layer all ingredients in casserole in order given, then put cheese sauce on top. Bake until hot. Before serving, top with crushed nacho chips.

So, now that you have been inducted to the world of Amish cooking you may want to try more. Below is the Amish Heritage cookbook from bestselling Amish fiction author Beverly Lewis.

The Beverly Lewis Amish Heritage Cookbook 
A homespun, authentic collection of Amish recipes collected over the years by Beverly Lewis. Many are from her grandmother and other family members as well as dear friends from the Amish world she writes about with such power and authenticity. Now she lovingly shares these with her millions of readers who have come to treasure her insights into Amish life. The additional Amish sayings and line drawings make for an appealing gift.