In Hawaii we love mochi in all forms. From traditional forms like ozoni (mochi soup served on New Year's Day to bring luck) and daifuku (filled mochi, usually sweetened red bean paste). To more modern versions like butter mochi, mochi ice cream, and chocolate filled...
In Hawaii, rice is a staple. We eat it at breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Growing up it was a given that my mom would get a pot of rice going, regardless of what she was making for dinner. Given the importance of rice, rice pudding is a dish rarely seen on menus. While...
Okinawan Doughnuts The Okinawan Festival is held in Honolulu as a celebration of the culture and foods of Okinawa. Held annually over the Labor Day weekend, the festival is sponsored by the Hawaii United Okinawa Association. In celebration of this annual tradition,...
I always need a little something sweet to end a meal, especially dinner. These individual gâteaux are Jacques Pépin's version of an icebox cake and make the perfect post-meal treat. There is no cooking involved which makes it ideal for the summer when you're avoiding...
Happy Girls' Day! March 3rd is the annual Japanese festival of hinamatsuri or Girls' Day. It is a day to pray for the health and happiness of young girls in Japan and is one of the many celebrations brought to Hawaii by Japanese immigrants. Chi chi dango is just one...
These party chips take the chocolate covered potato chip to the next level. Just like the original, they are a mix of sweet and salty but this version adds a fun surprise for your tastebuds, hidden in plain sight. And since they are inspired by Molly Yeh's Fizzy Rock...
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,...
Jell-O Cream Cheese Squares are a popular dessert in Hawaii. You will find them at potlucks and at local restaurants. My favorite is from Napoleon's Bakery, a sister bakery to Zippy's restaurants. This recipe is an homage to that version. I don't know where this...
It's October so let's embrace everything pumpkin! Pumpkin Crunch is kind of like Hawaii's version of a dump cake, but no one is quite sure where the recipe originated. I say it's "kind of" like a dump cake because unlike a dump cake, some mixing is required. Pumpkin...
Butter mochi is an easy and yummy dessert that originated in Hawaii. But did you know you can make a chocolate version? Who doesn't love chocolate? (Actually I know someone who absolutely abhors it but he is definitely in the minority.). Resembling a...
We are celebrating Mother's Day this year with these lovely Ube Banana Puddings. This recipe takes Magnolia Bakery's famous banana pudding and gives it a tropical twist by incorporating ube, adding a gorgeous color and subtle flavor to this iconic dessert....
Banana lumpia is a sweet dessert spring roll that was brought to Hawaii by Filipino immigrants. It is another thread in the culinary fabric of local Hawaii cuisine - a blending of so many different cultures that developed back in the day on the plantations. It only...
My friend Sharon introduced me to Nigella Lawson, her television shows, and her cookbooks. One of the first recipes she asked me to try out was Nigella's Chocolate Pavlova. I had never heard of this dessert but have since discovered that it's perfect for summer -...
It is no secret that Nigella Lawson is a favorite of mine. I enjoy her approach to entertaining, to make things elegant but easy. This bread pudding couldn't be easier and it fills the house with the most wonderful smell. While this is one of my go-to recipes, one of...
Summer is a wonderful time with so many fruits and vegetables available at the market. I get excited about what I find and have a slight tendency to overbuy, just a little. Unfortunately this week I was under the weather and found myself with a lot of overripe fruit...
Unlike most of my family I'm indifferent to mochi. If it's there I'll eat it, if not, I don't miss it. When I come home to Hawaii I don't feel the need to seek out treats from different family-owned mochi shops to take back to the mainland with me. However, one type...