Three dips using Trader Joe's condiments Last year I saw several recipes for whipped cottage cheese and was fascinated. Unlike many folks, I happen to like cottage cheese but I know it has a certain aversion for many people. Although this recipe is super easy, it took...
Many years ago I was at a potluck dinner and someone made a green salad with an Asian dressing and kamaboko. Unfortunately I didn't get the recipe and now I can't remember who made it. Usually I can find what I'm looking for, or a reasonable facsimile, by doing a...
Our Chinese New Year Tradition I am the first to admit that while I claim my Chinese ethnicity, I am far removed from the language and culture of my ancestors. My main connection to cultural celebrations is food. As we approach Chinese New Year (February...
National Soup Month - Week #4 Mushroom Velouté sounds fancy but it is a straight-forward and delicious cream of mushroom soup. Please don't begin to compare it with the canned stuff (which absolutely has its uses but can't compare as a standalone). "Velouté" means...
National Soup Month - Week 3 For this week's soup recipe I turned to the Barefoot Contessa herself, Ina Garten. Her recipe, Parker's Split Pea Soup is featured in both the cookbook, The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook, and the accompanying television series on Food...
National Soup Month - Week 2 Busy work days do not have to end up with takeout in front of the television - although it often happens in our home. After a quick stop at the supermarket, you can pull together this delicious soup in about 20 minutes. A quick stop at the...
National Soup Month - Week 1 It's a new year and a new food month to celebrate. Even in Hawaii, we enjoy soups just as much as our neighbors in colder northern states. To kick things off, I'm sharing a soup that I enjoyed when I was in Boston this past fall. Some of...
Salmon rillettes are an elegant, make-ahead spread, perfect for a New Year's Eve celebration or a New Year's Day brunch. This is another recipe revived from the Moveable Feast vault from a meal celebrating master chef Jacques Pépin. Among the dishes served that...
This recipe is inspired by an old episode of Trisha's Southern Kitchen. In that episode, Trisha Yearwood made little cucumber "boat" bites that held a sweet and savory filling of blue cheese, cranberries, and pecans. I loved the idea of those fresh, crunchy appetizers...
Potato salad, macaroni salad, and potato-macaroni salad are all popular in Hawaii. As I've said before, we love our carbs. And while I can't speak for all of Hawaii, I don't remember ever seeing a German-style, vinegar-based potato salad served here. Macaroni salad is...
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,...
I rarely find myself leading the way in new trends in food, much less anything else. And so I now find myself late to the chili crisp party. Two things happened that brought me to this point - someone gifted me a jar of Trader Joe's Chili Onion Crunch and I discovered...
These little cheesy-garlic bread balls are easy to make and perfect for game day snacking or as a side to soup or salad. In short, they are delicious. The inspiration This recipe is inspired by the Choke Garlic Balls from 'ili 'ili Cash & Carry, a neighborhood...
For months now, we have been harvesting a healthy amount of cherry and grape tomatoes from our garden. While a lot of them go into salads, another way we enjoy them is as a confit, slow-roasted in olive oil with herbs, garlic, and chili flakes. The tomatoes are...
We were gifted with a box of delicious soft pretzels from Eastern Standard Provisions. The box contained pretzels of different shapes and sizes, mustard, and toppings. It's an amazing gift and was so unexpected. Around the same time we received the box, I was surfing...
This recipe is inspired by the "bread service" at Zaftigs Delicatessen, one of my favorite restaurants in Brookline, MA. Now that I can no longer drop by to have this treat, I had to come up with a similar version that I can whip up when the craving strikes. Waste...