For the years I lived in Boston, I often spent Thanksgiving with family in Seattle. It was an easier trip than coming home to Hawaii (cutting down the travel time by at least 6 hours). We had many traditions over those long weekends but one that was assigned to me was...
This week we continue on this mini journey of Hawaii-adapted Okinawan recipes. This braised pork belly recipe is a slightly modified version of Okinawan Shoyu Pork found on Onolicious Hawaii. It is a Hawaii version of Okinawan Rafute and Japanese Kakuni and is often...
When I first started playing around with this recipe, I thought I was so clever. If you can dip hot dogs into cornbread batter and deep fry them, why not do the same with andagi batter and make an Okinawan version of a corndog. As it turns out, andadogs (andagi + hot...
Years ago I spent a wonderful week in the countryside outside of Paris at the home of my friend's adopted French family. It was a lovely setting surrounded by wheat fields and sunflower fields. There was lavender growing in abundance around the house. And to this day,...
If you grew up in Hawaii, huli huli chicken evokes memories of big, billowing smoke and an unmistakable, delicious aroma wafting from huge grills. Huli-huli chicken was a favorite fundraising vehicle for schools, churches, and social groups. People sold tickets to...
Kamaboko is a common ingredient in Hawaii. It can be used in a dip or as a garnish in a bowl of saimin. Another way to enjoy this Japanese fishcake is to shred it up along with some veggies and mix it in a batter to fry up into little snack patties. Shred/Chop, Mix,...
As with many things, I am late to the one-pot pasta party. On some level, it seemed wrong to me - of course you cook pasta in one pot in simply salted water, and in another pot you create the sauce. Cooking everything together like a dump cake didn't make sense. I...
Stuffed aburage is a comforting dish of braised tofu skins stuffed with a pork, mushroom, and water chestnut stuffing. It is a dish found in many local-Hawaii homes as well as in okazuya (small Japanese delis found throughout Hawaii). What is Aburage? Aburage (also...
I have been looking for a spicy peanut noodle recipe for awhile. I went through several iterations, adding and removing ingredients to find the right balance. I think I finally succeeded in finding a dish that hits all the right notes - a spicy, silky peanut sauce...
Wishing you great happiness and prosperity This year, Chinese New Year is celebrated on Sunday, January 22nd, and kung hee fat choy is a traditional greeting you will hear amongst family and friends. There are differences in dialects but the meaning is the same,...
As we close out 2022 I am sharing an easy dip to put out on your New Year's buffet table. It's simple and very typical of the casual yet bountiful feasting you will find at local Hawaii homes. What is kamaboko? Kamaboko, or Japanese fishcake, is usually a white fish...
The nice thing about being back home and living with family is the shared cooking duties. My sister is very much like me, always looking at cookbooks and recipes, and she often tries things that I might not have tried myself. The original version of this recipe is a...
During the pandemic, Michael Symon started a new show called Symon's Dinners Cooking Out. Joined by his wife Lizzie and their friend Liv, he prepared meals outside exclusively on the grill. While this recipe for souvlaki is perfectly suited to the grill, he also...
New Mexico-Style Pork With Red Chiles One of the things I dearly miss since moving back to Hawaii is our Moveable Feast group. Never have I laughed so much or eaten so much as the times I spent with my amazing friends. I loved (and hated) the challenge of finding a...
Shoyu Chicken is a popular dish in Hawaii and an easy one-pot dish. In addition to a satisfying home meal, you will find it on the menus of local restaurants, plate lunch spots, and lunch wagons. As with many comfort foods, each family, each cook has their own recipe...
Given the choice, I will almost always choose beef ribs over pork ribs. But my sister introduced me to these pork ribs and there are times when I crave them. These ribs are juicy, tender, and glazed with a delicious Asian barbecue sauce. They are easy to make, messy...