Slow-Cooker Chicken Haystacks

More About This Recipe

• I may be finally confessing to the world that I’m a closet Tolkien geek, but I am beyond excited for the opening of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey!
  
  My husband and I were fortunate enough to attend an advanced screening of the movie (in costume, of course! See picture below.) and you can bet your sweet Hobbit feet that we’ll be there again this weekend.
  
  To celebrate, why not throw a Middle Earth gathering of your own with a few close friends? I’m sure that’s what any Hobbit would do! To help you out, I’ve created a fun dinner menu that celebrates all things Middle Earth. The best part is that everything is super easy (several can even be made in a slow cooker), which gives you plenty of time to visit with guests, wait in line at the cinemas, or hunt for the perfect Hobbit costume.
  
  Hobbit Homes
  
  The main attraction are these fun Hobbit Homes, a mound of rice with a slow-cooker chicken gravy and a buffet of toppings.
  
  This dish is so great for a crowd because no matter if you have Hobbits, Elves, Dwarves or Wizards in attendance, everyone gets to customize his/her own dish. Veggies and fruit are all included so this can serve as the focus of your entire meal.
  
  One Ring Citrus Glazed Donuts
  
  For desserts, we created not one but two One Ring-inspired goodies. First are these quick Citrus Glazed Donuts that are made with a secret ingredient: Grands Biscuits!
  
  If you have 15 minutes then you can whip out these delicious treats, simply fry up your biscuits (tip: use an empty water bottle to cut out the centers)...
  
  ... and finish with this easy citrus glaze made with Betty Crocker Vanilla Icing.
  
  One Ring Pineapple Upside Down Cake
  
  For the second One Ring Dessert, make Pineapple Upside Down Cake and baked them in individual ramekins.
  
  Miruvor - The Beverage of the Elves
  
  For a drink, we wanted something special that would appeal to our hard-core Middle Earth fans so we created what we thought Miruvor, the renewing beverage of the Elves, would taste like. You can throw all the ingredients in your slow-cooker and you’re good to go.
  
  Napkin One Rings
  
  For that extra touch of movie magic, print these Napkin One Rings on yellow or gold cardstock, cut out and tape around your napkins. If you want less dish cleanup, wrap them around a set of plastic utensils and a paper napkin. Instant wow factor!
  
  I hope you enjoyed joining us virtually for our Hobbit movie release party! Are you excited to see it this weekend?
  
  Mandy Heaston is a busy mom, gourmet cook — and as she says... a Tolkien geek! Look for Mandy’s posts on Tablespoon, and check her member profile often to see what she’s cooking up!