Musings of a wife and mother, born and raised in Hawaii. Far away from home now, but creating and discovering bits of sunshine and paradise in everyday life.
Desserts
Fresh Strawberry Manju (Hawaiian Crispy Style)

Fresh Strawberry Manju (Hawaiian Crispy Style)

The farmers markets are brimming with berries this time of summer. The other day, I picked up some blackberries and strawberries that were so sweet and juicy. On my way home, I was thinking about what I could make with them, when I was struck by the greatest idea–   A whole fresh strawberry tucked...
Mini Donut Cookies & The Coffee and Donut Lei

Mini Donut Cookies & The Coffee and Donut Lei

We’ve been a little fixated on donuts around here lately. Because I bake pretty frequently, I usually only get the family donuts once a year. For some reason, I’ve gotten donuts twice in the past few weeks, just recently from Doughbot Donuts. I’ve been thinking about a tiny donut cookie. I’d never seen one before,...
Vanilla Flax Milk Float with Hibiscus Tea Gels

Vanilla Flax Milk Float with Hibiscus Tea Gels

Remember my Peach Rooibos Almond Float? Well, this is my newest favorite:  Good Karma’s Vanilla Flax Milk poured over tea gels. It’s so refreshing and filled with good stuff for you! Start off by melting in some unflavored gelatin or agar agar powder into some hibiscus tea, Tangerine Hibiscus Tea Juice, or any other lightly...
Vanilla Almond Spongecakes

Vanilla Almond Spongecakes

I’ve been tinkering around in the kitchen again, and made these sweet little sponge cakes. The fragrance of vanilla bean paste and almonds swirled delightfully in the air.   I had been admiring another one of Quill’s drawings she made for me this past Mother’s Day. She told me that when she was drawing this,...
Chinese New Year of the Snake: 5 Spice Chocolate Chip Walnut Date Cookies

Chinese New Year of the Snake: 5 Spice Chocolate Chip Walnut Date Cookies

Chinese New Year is coming up, starting on February 10, 2013. Time to start planning to welcome the Year of the Snake, Lunar Year 4711. So last mother’s day, Quill gifted me with several drawings she had done, especially for me, and for my website Guava Rose. How sweet! As a mother, something handmade or...
Animal Cracker Angels and Peppermint Roses

Animal Cracker Angels and Peppermint Roses

This post is dedicated to those who lost their lives at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut last Friday. Dorothy from Crazy for Crust is part of a group of bloggers who have organized a #BloggersforSandyHook online Cookies and Craft event to show support for the Newtown community.  My heart broke as news of the shooting...
Enchanted Forest Cookies

Enchanted Forest Cookies

It all started when I first saw these whole grain tree branch cookie cutters. “How odd, but interesting…” I mused. Then, I had to have them. Quirk is my middle name. My chai cookie dough is the perfect color for this. I rolled the dough out about 1/4″ thick and started cutting out the branches. The...
Chantilly Cake Tutorial: Whipping the Egg Whites (Part 3)

Chantilly Cake Tutorial: Whipping the Egg Whites (Part 3)

We’ve separated the egg whites from the egg yolks, and now we’re on to whipping them up. In a standing mixer, start whipping the eggs on medium speed. When they become a little frothy, add the cream of tartar. After the egg whites have about doubled in volume, increase the speed to the highest and...
Hawaiian Chantilly Cake

Hawaiian Chantilly Cake

Hawaiian Chantilly Cake Chantilly Cake is one of the absolute best cakes in the world. Found only in Hawaii. If you’ve read my post I’m Dreaming of Cakes, you’ll know how special this cake is and how much I love it. This holiday season, I’d like to share my version of Chantilly Cake –my gift to...
Soft Fruit Pies

Soft Fruit Pies

Last week, when the Blue D. was eating a spinach and artichoke variation of my Spinach and Feta hand pies, he said to me, “You know, this crust would taste really good with a fruit filling inside…” Coincidentally, I had been thinking about doing a soft crusted hand held fruit pie for a while. Apple...
Cornflake Cookies

Cornflake Cookies

Most of us, especially those of us of a “certain age” are sure to be familiar with Tony the Tiger. If you spent any part of your childhood watching cartoons on television, I’m sure you’ve seen him rave about frosted flakes. Tony is the childhood friend we, and even our kids all had. Last week was...
Chocolate Covered Kula Gold Fruit Skewers

Chocolate Covered Kula Gold Fruit Skewers

Anytime I go back home to Hawaii, I love to visit the farmer’s markets to see what’s new, and to buy all the local fruits and vegetables. Kula Strawberries and Maui Gold Pineapples are two must haves on Maui. Since we were having chicken and vegetable kabobs for dinner, and I had a ton of...