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...
Easter is just around the corner and with the abundance of hard-boiled eggs that will be on hand, making deviled eggs is a no-brainer. There are many different variations of deviled eggs, so I took this opportunity to put an Asian spin on this classic. What are...
Crispy gau gee is a popular fried dumpling, similar in taste to a fried won ton but different in shape. It wasn't until I began writing this post that I realized that this is one of those Hawaii-only Chinese dishes (like cake noodles) that you rarely find outside of...
Chinese chicken salad was one of my mom's go-to family potluck recipes. She would often prepare it in one of those disposable aluminum trays, carefully layering the ingredients. Then when it was time to serve, she would shake-up the dressing, pour it over the salad,...