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.
Instant Potato Veggie Soup Packets

Instant Potato Veggie Soup Packets

It’s been rain, rain, rain in the whole state of California for weeks–definitely soup weather. Laurel, who’s away at college, requested I send her more soup packets to make in her dorm room. Last year I made her some Kale and Chickpea Soup Packets, which she and her friends loved....
Dancing Bride White Fudge

Dancing Bride White Fudge

I love creating recipes inspired by things I have seen or read. This is one of my favorites that I made a while ago for my dear friend, Frances, author of the Wordsworth the Poet series. As tomorrow is Valentine’s Day, it seems appropriate to share this sweet, romantic recipe...
Stir-fried Bowl of Gratitude

Stir-fried Bowl of Gratitude

“I am grateful for what I am and have. My thanksgiving is perpetual.” -Henry David Thoreau Remember to eat lots of vegetables~ Try these vegetable almost noodles =) Stir-fried Bowl of Gratitude Author: Guava Rose Prep time: 5 mins Cook time: 12 mins Total time: 17 mins Serves: varies Fresh,...
Hawaiian Petroglyph Cookies

Hawaiian Petroglyph Cookies

Ki’i Pohaku (Stone Image) Cookies Petroglyphs can be found on all the Hawaiian Islands, but most of them are located on the Big Island of Hawaii. The ancient Hawaiians made pictures in fields of smooth pahoehoe lava rock, boulders, and cliffs. Some petroglyphs tell stories or events, while others are just pictures of people,...
Koi Musubi

Koi Musubi

I was inspired to make these cuties by a poem written by my lovely friend Frances, a most wonderful poet and author~ Fish Pond How still the waters. A red koi moves lazily. Pink cherry blossoms Slowly float to block my view. Oh, Mr. Koi, where are you? I dip...
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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...
Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Papaya Parfaits with Ginger Lime Greek Yogurt

Papaya Parfaits with Ginger Lime Greek Yogurt

The best papayas are definitely grown in Hawaii. When they are ripe, they are so sweet! I picked up a few Kahuku grown papayas at the farmer’s market. The orange flesh ones are great, but I really love the red flesh ones called Red Papayas. Both kinds have orange and  green flecked outer skins. The...
Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

 
Chocolate Chip Rice Krispie Cookies

Chocolate Chip Rice Krispie Cookies

Hello my sweet cookie! Some of the best island style cookies involve cereal, like this little baby above– chocolate chip dough covered with Rice Krispies. Another more famous is the classic Cornflake cookie. I’ll get to that one too, later on. We were so lucky these were staples in our school cafeteria lunches. Start off...
Green Tea Peach Smoothie with a Green Tea Face Mask

Green Tea Peach Smoothie with a Green Tea Face Mask

What’s the best way to counter the third consecutive day of 100 degree and above heat? A frozen fruit smoothie and a green tea face mask! Start by using good, clean filtered water and organic green tea to make a cold infusion of green tea. I get my organic green tea from The Taste of...

Happy 4th of July! Strawberry Watermelon Smoothie with Blueberries and Haupia Stars

Something cool and refreshing for this hot 4th of July– a patriotic smoothie! Sweet watermelon, frozen strawberries, and a little gingerale blended up,  then topped with fresh blueberries, and haupia stars. The blueberries look a lot like those tapioca balls in boba tea drinks, but are definitely much healthier. Haupia, a  Hawaiian coconut milk pudding, is...
Cornbread Cake Patties and Muffins

Cornbread Cake Patties and Muffins

One of the best things I loved to waking up to on a Sunday morning as a child was finding a King’s bakery box on the kitchen table. My favorite in the box was a soft, buttery cornbread pattie. Every few weeks, my mom or dad would make an early morning trip to King’s Bakery...
Lite Chocolate Trifle Cups

Lite Chocolate Trifle Cups

We celebrated Father’s Day with these chocolate trifle cups. And of course some lemon bars, as requested by the Blue D. Laurel woke up early Sunday morning to pick some lemons from the yard and bake these before the day got too hot. She did a good job! The Blue D. had been strongly hinting...
Chanoyu, The Way of Tea (Part 2)

Chanoyu, The Way of Tea (Part 2)

After the Japanese Tea Ceremony demonstration, it was time to set up for the students. Here are the ladies unpacking and setting up on the school desks. The tea bowls were stored and transported in these wooden boxes. I’m told the tea bowls sometimes cost as high as $1000 , but not these bowls brought in...
Chanoyu, The Way of Tea (Part One)

Chanoyu, The Way of Tea (Part One)

Chanoyu, Japanese Tea Ceremony, is a highly artistic presentation of the preparation, serving, and drinking of matcha, powdered green tea. I was able to participate, along with Kallie, Laurel and Quill when the Omotesenke School of San Francisco came to present Chanoyu for the girls’ Japanese class. Matcha was a popular drink in China during...
Victorian House Scones

Victorian House Scones

Cranberry Gorgonzola Walnut Scones- made with Victorian House original recipe scone mix (not pictured below) Yum, yum, double yum! These were so light and delicious that I had to restrain myself from eating all of them myself. I ordered some scone and biscuit mixes, along with a scone making handbook from Victorian House Scones not...