Sharing our bounty is something we do in Hawaii. At any given time a friend, family, or co-worker will either ask you if you want some of their harvest or simply drop off a bag and leave it on your porch. Mango, lychee, dragon fruit, tangerines, papaya, guava, and...
Somen salad is a popular cold noodle salad in Hawaii. It has its origins in Japanese cuisine but like many dishes found in Hawaii, has become a fusion dish (as evidenced by the use of Spam or char siu). You'll often find a version of somen salad at a potluck and it...
I love a good potluck dessert. You know, the ones made in a 9" x 13" pan that aren't fancy or fussy, and that everyone loves. This is one of those desserts. It's called Chocolate Yum for a reason. You may know this as Chocolate Delight or Cream Cheese Delight, but...
Long before cauliflower became the darling of low-carb diets or the steak substitute for vegetarians, we were making this tasty side dish. Think of it as an updated version of the boarding school side dish. The microwave is your friend This is a perfect weekday side...
Our Chinese New Year Tradition 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...
I like going through our family cookbook and rediscovering foods from my childhood. Sometimes as I'm reading through the cookbook I come across recipes that I don't remember at all, even when it says it comes from our specific household. But the ones I'm most happy to...
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...
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...
2022 Edible Holiday Gifts - Part 4 For as long as I can remember, at Christmastime my mom made Swedish Tea Logs. Not only was it a centerpiece to our Christmas breakfast, they were also gifts for neighbors, family, and friends. Making this holiday bread was one of the...
Dorie Greenspan recently created a new Facebook group called Bake and Tell, a community about baking, sharing, and helping fellow bakers. You apply to join and administrators must approve your request. As part of the application, you must answer a series 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,...
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...
#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...
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...
When we were young, a cheap and easy snack was a package of dried ramen noodles, crushed into little bite-sized pieces, tossed with a little of the seasoning packet. Later when we got to college, packaged ramen was the go-to cheap meal that could be zhushed up...
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...