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.
Monthly archive March, 2012
An Impromtu Tea and Healthier Deviled Meat Spread

An Impromtu Tea and Healthier Deviled Meat Spread

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” and “grosses” out there, but...
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 milky almond flavored gelatin cubes,...
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 of a paring knife before...
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...
Girls' Day Treats and Mochi Making

Girls’ 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 confectionery shop in the area....
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...