When I lived in Boston I made the classic icebox cake - layers of Famous Chocolate Wafers and sweetened whipped cream. It was the perfect summer cake requiring no baking, just assembly. When I moved back to Hawaii, I was surprised that Famous Chocolate Wafers were...
Guri guri is a popular frozen treat found on the island of Maui. With its soft and slightly icy fruitiness, guri guri is a cross between sherbet and ice cream. It is a cold treat that is completely satisfying on a hot Hawaii day. Where can I find guri guri? The...
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....
It is officially spring and we are celebrating with these sweet little springtime fairy cakes. What are fairy cakes? Unlike their American cupcake counterparts, fairy cakes in the UK are smaller and lighter - like a delicate little fairy. The cakes themselves are a...
Over the holidays I needed an easy dessert to take to a gathering and came across this Mint Brownies recipe from Taste of Home. It makes a fantastic dessert and can barely be called a recipe. It uses a boxed brownie mix that, once baked, has melted...
A sweet way to celebrate Pi Day In preparation for Pi Day, this coming Monday, 3.14, I made these lovely jam and cream hand pies. These pies are inspired by Miami's Cuban pastelitos de guayaba - flaky, sweet pastries filled with guava paste and cream cheese....
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...