When I was looking for a cake to make for my sister's birthday, I wanted something fun and festive. It also had to be something my nephew would enjoy making with me but not overly complicated as his attention span only goes so far. And finally, given the price of...
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...
This recipe comes from one of my favorite contestants of The Great British Bake Off, Nadiya Hussain. Her take on this British treat is influenced by the American peanut butter & jelly sandwich. The mixture of chocolate and festive candies makes it a...
Black Bottom Cupcakes are a heavenly combination of chocolate cake and cheesecake. These humble little treats are proof that a cupcake doesn't need to be hidden under piles of buttercream to be delicious. For me, these cupcakes evoke memories of my mom in the kitchen...
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 1st this year), I started thinking...
At this time of the year there are so many beautifully decorated holiday cookies - from traditional gingerbread men to festively iced sugar cookies to snowflake linzer cookies. It's easy to forget about the humble slice-and-bake cookie but during the busy holiday...
#BakeADifference for @Cookies4kids with @OXO Like its cousin the gingerbread man, ginger cookies have all the flavors and scents of the holidays without the added work of rolling and cutting out cookies. In fact, the original recipe doesn't require refrigeration prior...
It's the beginning of November and it is still hot in Hawaii. For visitors seeking to escape the oncoming winter, it is near perfect weather - clear, almost cloudless skies with lots of sunshine. For those of us going about our daily lives, we're looking for a little...
In bakeries in Hawaii you will often find Dobash cake in the display case. This Hawaii-born cake layers chocolate chiffon with a pudding-like frosting. It is a favorite in the islands, but many, including my co-worker, will be quick to tell you that despite its...
My sister is introducing my teenage nephew to the joys of baking. More often than not my nephew gravitates to simple chocolate sweets - chocolate ice cream, red velvet cake, Kit Kats. He is decidedly against nuts of any kind. With that in mind, my sister started him...
It's October and I'm officially embracing pumpkin, not PSL (which I've never understood), but actual pumpkin. And once again, Nigella Lawson delivers a simple recipe for a beautiful, no-churn ice cream that celebrates this autumn fruit. 'Tis the Season for Pumpkin and...
I have two things to share with you in this post - a fantastic cookie recipe and a great cause to support. Let's start with one of my very favorite cookies; a simple shortbread-like cookie with cornflakes. I don't think it's a uniquely Hawaii creation but it's...
This week I reimagined another family cookbook favorite, transforming a bundt cake into festive Easter cupcakes. This is one of those old-fashioned recipes that many families, including ours, shared through the years. And with some small differences, the recipe has...
This year I am cooking my way through some of my favorite recipes in the family cookbook and enjoying the happy memories they evoke. The memories aren’t always specific – like a party or a family gathering. The memories are of my mother in the kitchen and...
I’m always looking for delicious treats to share with friends and family. And especially around the holidays, simple and easy is key. Not much could be simpler than Rice Krispies treats, but this version adds a chocolaty twist to the original. The recipe starts with...
What do 11 cups of all-purpose flour, 5¼ cups brown sugar, 10 eggs, 2¼ pounds of butter, and 8½ cups of chocolate chips add up to? A lot of chocolate chip cookies. We were late to the baking while on lockdown party. Somehow, we missed the memo that...