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...
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...
As days start to cool down, I start looking for warming and satisfying dishes, like this soup. Pork tofu and watercress is a fairly common stir-fry dish found in Hawaii. A simple and tasty dish, sometimes it includes other vegetables like onions and bean sprouts to...
Cold tofu makes a refreshing meal in the summer. In its most simple form, a dish of tofu only needs a drizzle of soy sauce and sesame oil. This recipe takes cold tofu to the next level, adding veggies and tuna for a satisfying summer salad. An unusual but popular...
I am known as a collector of cookbooks. While I try to resist and even glean my collection from time to time, I find myself constantly adding new volumes. On a visit, many years ago, my friends wanted to cook a meal as a thank you for hosting them in my home. They...
Wonton soup is Chinese comfort in a bowl featuring delicious wonton dumplings in a flavorful broth. It's not difficult to make and if you have a little foresight you can make enough for a future meal or two. Homemade is the best When I first moved to Boston I had a...