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.
Guava Rose Mochi Tarts

Guava Rose Mochi Tarts

I've been working on these off and on for a while now, and think they're finally ready. Rose shaped guava mochi atop a buttery shortbread crust.
Roasted Beets with Goat Cheese and Walnuts

Roasted Beets with Goat Cheese and Walnuts

Several days ago, I was delighted with the sight of different colored beets, piled high on the tables at the farmer’s market. Vibrant colors of pink, orange, and deep, deep red mesmerized me. I couldn’t resist, and found myself grabbing a bunch of each color. After I cleaned and trimmed...
Doughnut Plant NYC Visit and Baked Donuts

Doughnut Plant NYC Visit and Baked Donuts

This is the result of what happened after we got back from a visit to Doughnut Plant in New York City a few weeks ago. Cole and Kallie had been telling Laurel and Quill about this doughnut place, and they were all excited to try it out. Early one morning,...
Musubi Day

Musubi Day

The weather’s been so nice lately, that it’s actually getting a little hot in the afternoons. We’re expecting temperatures in the 80′s by this weekend. Picnic weather = musubi weather. =) This morning I got up earlier than usual for some reason, so I decided to make some musubi. It’s...
Baked Pomme Frites with Curry Ketchup

Baked Pomme Frites with Curry Ketchup

In yesterday’s post I mentioned visiting Pomme Frites, a small restaurant specializing in Belgian french fries and dipping sauces, on our way back from visiting the Statue of Liberty. The kids enjoyed them, so I thought I’d try to make a home version. The original pomme frites are deep fried...
An Impromtu Tea

An Impromtu Tea

Every once in a while when I’m feeling nostalgic, I think about some of the things I used to eat when I was little. One of the things I loved to eat was deviled meat (from those little cans) sandwiches on white bread. Alright, I can hear all the “yucks”...
Peach Rooibos Almond Float

Peach Rooibos Almond Float

The Sun!!! I’ve been waylaid by the flu for the past several days, and it’s been rain, rain, raining! To be sick and have gloomy weather too… ugh… Today though, a few rays of sunshine between the drizzling! I did a play on the traditional Chinese Almond Float. Instead of...
Roasted Mini Eggplant

Roasted Mini Eggplant

I love eggplant, and when I spied these mini ones, I just couldn’t resist getting them. So adorably cute, and only about the size of figs. It doesn’t hurt that violet just so happens to be my favorite color. After washing them, I pierced them all over with the tip...
Girl's Day Treats and Mochi Making

Girl’s Day Treats and Mochi Making

It’s raining rice crackers on Sakura mochi! Last Saturday, March 3rd, we celebrated Japanese Girls’ Day, also known as Hinamatsuri (Japanese Doll Festival). A couple of days before Girls’ Day, I was lucky to be able to watch some special Girls’ Day mochi being made at Osaka-Ya, the only Japanese...
Mini Coconut Pineapple Macaroons

Mini Coconut Pineapple Macaroons

Coconut and pineapple are two of my favorites flavors. Put together in sweet little bites, and I am in heaven. They’re simply made with unsweetened coconut, coconut oil or butter, evaporated cane juice, dried pineapple, an egg, and a little flour. Earlier this week you saw some of them nestled...
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I'm Dreaming of Cakes...

I’m Dreaming of Cakes…

I yearned for cake and I yearned for home.
The Statue of Liberty & Pomme Frites

The Statue of Liberty & Pomme Frites

Breathtaking. Our national symbol of freedom. I finally got a chance to see her in person. Over the spring break, we took a little trip to New York City! Still slowly recovering from jet lag and all the hustle and bustle of NYC. Laurel and Quill both had homework and projects due. Boy, what’s with...
Steamy Kitchen Recipe Testing - Part 5

Steamy Kitchen Recipe Testing – Part 5

More Steamy Kitchen Test Recipes:  Roasted Kabocha Squash They say eating sweet vegetables helps when you have cravings for sweets. I had this roasted Kabocha squash last night sprinkled with spices, and it did a pretty good job of filling a need for something sweet. Though it’ll never take the place of cake, of course!...
Cabbage Day!

Cabbage Day!

Sauteed Cabbage with Carrots and Fennel Seeds With St. Patrick’s Day right around the corner, I prepared a couple of cabbage dishes. Here I’ve used a regular green cabbage, and some sliced carrots. I steamed the carrots first, since the pieces of cabbage would cook so much faster than the raw carrots would. I think...
Steamy Kitchen Test Recipes - Part 4

Steamy Kitchen Test Recipes – Part 4

Dan Dan Mien made with spinach noodles Here are a couple of noodle recipes I tested out for Steamy Kitchen‘s second cookbook in the works. Warm noodles are definitely the way to lift spirits, with all the gloomy skies and rain we’ve been getting. Quill was certainly happy with all this pasta, especially the spicy...
Steamy Kitchen Recipe Testing- Part 3

Steamy Kitchen Recipe Testing- Part 3

Korean Beef Bites with Kimchi Another test recipe for Steamy Kitchen. It was yummy.
A Love Note to Laurel

A Love Note to Laurel

I’m wishing my daughter Laurel, a little belated Happy, Happy Birthday! Look what I made for you– Cream Cheese Custard Mousse with Raspberries and White Chocolate Truffle Curls. This is much, much better than that birthday cake I made for you. When you have a mother who likes to experiment in the kitchen, sometimes you...
Steamy Kitchen Recipe Testing - Part 2

Steamy Kitchen Recipe Testing – Part 2

Stir-fried Bean Sprouts and Snow Peas Glorious Vegetables! I’ve been testing more recipes for Steamy Kitchen here. Steamed Carrots with Sesame Ponzu Vinaigrette Blackened Tofu with Ginger Ponzu Sauce Ma Po Tofu  
Steamy Kitchen Recipe Testing - Part 1

Steamy Kitchen Recipe Testing – Part 1

Recently I was delighted to be chosen to help test recipes for Jaden Hair of Steamy Kitchen. She’s working on her second cookbook, which will focus on lighter and healthier Asian fare. The recipes themselves remain under wraps, so enjoy the pictures for now. I had one child home sick today, so soup seemed to be...
Lapsang Souchong Tofu

Lapsang Souchong Tofu

Salty, Smoky, and Creamy. Tofu infused with Lapsang Souchong Tea and Soy Sauce is a sure pleasure for the taste buds. Start off with two blocks of medium firm tofu. Stay away from soft and silken tofu for this recipe– they’re simply too soft and fragile here. Quarter each block of tofu into 4 smaller...
Mochi Love

Mochi Love

Earlier this month, I was in charge of putting together a fundraiser for Laurel and Quill’s Japanese school. I threw everything together in a week, and we really just had two weeks to sell. The school already does a really successful mandarin orange fundraiser in the fall, and a tamale fundraiser in the late spring....
Spinach Feta Pies

Spinach Feta Pies

There’s a frozen, spinach and feta hand held pie that I absolutely love.  I don’t buy it very often, as it costs about $3.50 -$4.00 each. I’ve been fooling around with making a homemade version, and I’m quite pleased!   Start off by making a yogurt dough using nonfat or lowfat plain yogurt, greek style...
Cherry Almond Cookie Bites

Cherry Almond Cookie Bites

Tiny almond cookie bites crowned with bits of cherries. I made some of these earlier for my Chinese Candy Box. Usually Chinese almond cookies are topped with a dot of red food coloring, or a blanched almond. As I’m always trying to find alternatives to artificial food colorings, I thought I’d try to use a...