A Southern Grace: i prefer bales.

January 14, 2010

i prefer bales.

Yum

I grew up knowing a thing or two about farming--my uncles and grandfather own a good portion of land on which they've grown corn and hay and raised sheep, chickens, beef cows, and dairy cows. That said, although I've never seen a legitimate haystack, I don't think they look like this:

I miss your acting prowess, Arnold.  I thought you said you'd be back.

Looks more like a spider to me. A spider with a couple of tumors.
It's not a toomah!

Nope, my family prefers the bale--round or square. I hefted my fair share of the those square suckers onto the wagon as the baler spit them out. Ah, fond memories. Fond memories of scratched forearms and dust-filled nasal cavities. Fond memories of accidentally stepping in cow patties (that's mounds o' manure, for the uninitiated) and wagons full of hay bales tipping over. Fond, fond memories.

Bottoms up!
But I digress! Although failing to resemble any harvest of hay that I've ever seen, this treat is delicious. Butterscotch morsels (to which I'm completely addicted even though they taste nothing like true butterscotch), peanut butter, marshmallows, and chow mein noodles. Easy, straightforward, quick, and scrumptious--almost too good to be true.

Butterscotch Stacks o' Hay (for the baleless among us)
1 2/3 cups (11 oz) butterscotch morsels
3/4 cup creamy peanut butter
8 oz chow mein noodles
3 1/2 cups miniature marshmallows

Line several trays with wax paper.
Microwave the butterscotch morsels and peanut butter in a large bowl for one minute and stir. If necessary, microwave at additional 10- to 15-second intervals, stirring just until morsels are melted. Add the chow mein noodles and marshmallows and toss until all the ingredients are evenly coated. Drop by haystack-shaped tablespoons onto the prepared trays. Store in a cool place or refrigerate until ready to serve.

73 comments:

TKW said...

This is easy enough for even me to pull off. And you had me at butterscotch. Mmmmm.

Half Baked said...

they may not look like hay bales but they DO look delish!!!

Unknown said...

Wow,Gorgeous Looking Butterscotch.....Narrated in a simple n a delicious way...

Happy Pongal...

Barbara said...

When I first looked, I thought you may have been giving us a Rorschach test! I could swear I saw a hand in the first photo. A really fun treat for all ages. (I used to eat those chow mein noodles by the handful.)

Foodie with Little Thyme! said...

Love it! So simple and quick! My kids will be so pleased with this treat!

The Teacher Cooks said...

I love these. I have not had them in years. I do love your titles. They are so cute!

Sinful Southern Sweets said...

These are so addictive!

Josie said...

How do you think chocolate would sub for the butterscotch? I could probably eat a lot of these if they weren't butterscotchy :)

Lucie said...

These look like the perfect addictive snack :) Thanks for sharing, Grace!

George Gaston said...

Grace, your story of baling hay brings back many memories of my high school days ~ baling hay along the Savannah River during the summer. It was a great way to stay in shape and earn money at the same time.

This is a great recipe for that afternoon "need-a-treat" calling.... Thanks

♥peachkins♥ said...

these look fantastic!

Lisa | Authentic Suburban Gourmet said...

I love these! Typcially I just make them with the butterscotch chips and noodles. I will have to try it with the peanut butter and marshmellows.

kat said...

Yeah that would be a pretty messy farmer who stacked their hay like that!

Ingrid_3Bs said...

I've hear do haystacks but didn't really know what they are. They look delicious and couldn't be any easier!
~ingrid

vanillasugarblog said...

I am NOT making these! No friggin way!

Lyndas recipe box said...

I feel cheated; the butterscotch stacks that I've had did NOT contain marshmallows! From now on, I'm adding marshmallows. These are really yummy treats and so easy to make, and to eat! :)

I have similar "fond" memories of dusty hay.

LillSis said...

We used to make a similiar recipe but I don't think we included the marshmallows. They look yummy!

Gloria Baker said...

Grace, I think they look delicious, Im hungry!!

Honey Pickles said...

These look yummy! I think my kids would love them.

Albany Jane said...

I'm addicted to butterscotch morsels too! They taste just vaguely enough like it to pass. And so easy to eat.

Mimi said...

I haven't had these in years. In fact I have never even made them for my kids, I could be a bad mother!
Mimi

Rosa's Yummy Yums said...

Me too ;-p! That looks extremely naughty!

Cheers,

Rosa

tamilyn said...

I haven't had these in forever! Thanks for reminding me. We also had family members that farmed-never did like pitching that hay. Then my allergies kicked in and I couldn't help anymore. Hee hee hee

lisa is cooking said...

My Mom always makes these for Christmas, and they're my favorite! I'm seriously trying to pick one off the screen right now.

noble pig said...

These are adorable, I love the name and I need to serve them at my farm once it's up and runnin'.

Robin said...

These are a huge favorite in our house. We throw chocolate chips in too. Only we call our ting-a-lings. Funny name.

Laura said...

My parents' horse just died (yesterday) and I doubt they'll get another one. Why? Because as a 2 person, 1 horse "farm" there is no one to help with the hay and my dad is getting too old. :( Ah, hay bales, why are you so heavy?

And yes I've really only seen bales too. Looks delicious.

Melanie said...

Oh wow, my kids would gobble these up. They'll eat anything with chow mein noodles...and I mean anything. This concoction you've made would at least taste delightful (as compared to when they load chow mein noodles onto their peas).

pigpigscorner said...

wow this is such a great idea! YUMMMM

oneordinaryday said...

My sister makes these every Christmas, but there aren't any little marshmallows in hers. I feel like we're getting ripped off now! haha

Valerie Harrison (bellini) said...

I really couldn't figure out what these were by the first photo, but all is explained and they were delcious I am sure.

Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella said...

LOL at It's not a toomah! If only bales of hay looked like this then perhapos I'd pursue that farming career!

Lindsey@pickyeatings said...

I have a recipe for white chocolate haystacks - white chocolate, pretzels, and peanuts, but this looks like an interesting (and delicious) take.

Donna-FFW said...

I love the sound of these, and the ease of prep!! I am betting the salty sweet butterscotch pairing would go over big in my home!!

Jessica@Foodmayhem said...

Looks like a bundle of fun to make - ha!

LyB said...

Wow, I would never have thought to make something like that with chow main noodles, I have so been missing out! They look like such a fun treat! Happy 2010, Grace! :)

Anonymous said...

I have not had this dessert, how neat with chow main noodles, I can't wait to try!

kimberleyblue said...

Never heard of those! They sound sweet and delicious and crunchy and perfect...not to mention, easy to make. I'd love to try making these with a variety of chocolates...

Cookie baker Lynn said...

My son love, love, loves haystacks. I love how easy they are to make. Mere minutes to sweet treat heaven!

Faith said...

These look like the perfect treat! I'm a big fan of butterscotch morsels myself! Happy Friday, Grace!

Amy from She Wears Many Hats said...

I think I just gained another pound just thinking about these. They do look yum. We used to make them without the marshmallows.

Mrs. L said...

I prefer Christian Bales too. Oh wait, you were talking something different, never mind :)

Lisa said...

You are the queen of sweet and salty! I gotta admire you willingness to heft hay bales. Somehow I managed to avoid that job growing up though I've seen plenty of stacks and bales up close and personal. I agree the cookies don't look much like hay stacks but you gotta call them something. In any case they look delicious.

Marjie said...

They do look a lot like spiders! And I love that you can just nuke the candy to melt, and it's good to go!

Julie said...

Looks pretty darned good to me!

Anonymous said...

damn yummy haybales that is!
mmmm. love butterscotch.

Kathy Walker said...

This would be fun! I do love butterscotch.

Lori said...

Oh I do hate bailing hay. Did it on my brothers farm in TN- many moons ago.

But I love these kind of haystacks.

Incidentally that first picture kind of reminds me of a chicken foot.

Y said...

Butterscotch? Yum. I tried that "It's not a toomah" joke on someone once, and can you believe, he'd never seen that movie before? I was aghast.

Chef Jeena said...

Wow so you had experience working on farms with your family, that is so interesting sounds great!

Now these little treats sound really fabulous, I would love to devour the whole batch!

Sarah said...

Hey! These are one of my favorite cookies! I've never seen them online though!
Way to go, they look great

Nutmeg Nanny said...

Bailing hay was the worse thing ever! Same with picking cucumbers. Oh the joys of growing up in summer in Ohio.

These haystacks look great too. My mom used to make them all the time around Christmas. Yum!

Chef Aimee said...

I love love love butterscotch! Thanks for sharing such a wonderful tradition! :)

Kerstin said...

I've never seen a treat made with chow mein noodles before - how cool! The PB and butterscotch combo sounds SOO good too!

Kate at Serendipity said...

Sweet, salty, crunchy. That's all you need.

YUM.

shaz said...

Uh Grace? I think my dentist might want to have a word with you. That looks sensationally good though, I'll just make sure to brush well after :)

Penny said...

Seriously good eats.

Amanda said...

Oh dear. This is ridiculously delicous looking. I totally have to make these today!! You go girl. Or should I say, Yo Go Cowgirl!

Anonymous said...

Not the hay bales I used to swing either, but much better looking and not so scratchy:)

Maria said...

Great sweet treat!

"Guppy" Honaker said...

I agree - looks more like a spider.

Keep up the good work on you blog. - David

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Cocina Savant said...

I have not made these in forever. You have given me the desire to make them again. Thanks, and nice blog by the way.

Catherine said...

What a beautiful picture, this looks so good!

Deborah said...

Yeah, I'm not sure why they are called haystacks, but they sure are delicious!

Sharon said...

How have I never had these? its a travesty that must be fixed!

Lynn said...

Looks yummy! I make a butterscotch/peanut butter candy with Rice Krispies. But now I really want to try these with the chow mein noodles. AND marshmallows! How can ya go wrong there?

Carolyn Jung said...

Chow mein noodles! How crazy fun is that? I love this new use for them.

Chef Fresco said...

4 ingredients - that is awesome! And I'd take these any day over the real thing!

Alicia Foodycat said...

Amazing - these contain no actual foodstuffs and enough artificial crap to slay an ox, and yet I really, really want to try one! Mmmm butterscotch and marshmallow!

Unknown said...

how funny!! I heard about these for the first time ever, last week from a co-worker....and here you are making 'em! Are they as good as they look? I must find out for myself!

foodhoe said...

sounds like a fun treat, I love things that are crisp and squishy and sweet!

CC11 said...

Hahahahahahahah
my husband and I were JUST watching a remix of 'it's not a toomah'. Thanks for the extra laughs.
Weird but interesting recipe too.

Jannett said...

I made these and they are yummy..... :) Great recipe....