Happy Halloween

Candy, ghosts, jack o lanterns, my favorite part of the year! Happy Halloween! Memories come flooding back as I take Anna out trick or treating. The best part is dressing up the house and passing out treats!

Halloween Party

The young ones, including 2 new babies were adorable in the cute costumes while the older kids displayed their goth sides.

I Love My Hubby!

Not only does he do the laundry, clean the house, and the dishes but he carves a gorgeous looking pumpkin and makes his two favorite ladies a steak dinner. What a guy!

Breakfast in Bed

The grinding of coffee, boiling of water, and the hustle and bustle in the kitchen were indications that someone was planning a surprise. What surprise it was to have breakfast in bed! Now, where are the napkins?! Thank you my sweet Anna!

Jeremy's Scone

My handsome, smart, and oh so talented nephew Jeremy is now the assistant pastry chef at Lanai's Koele's Lodge. I'm so proud of him! These are the scones that he whips up for the fancy, shmancy hotel guests. This recipe is worth gold! Crispy on the edges and light and flaky.

Pumpkin Muffin

Hawaii leaves don't turn but when crisp breezes start to blow at the start of fall, these are the perfect muffins to make-moist, tasty and full of pumpkin flavor.

Happy 70th Birthday Pops!

I adore my father in law! He is as passionate about food as I am and I love that about him. We gathered to enjoy Italian food at Buco di Beppo to celebrate Pop's 70th birthday. It was an evening of good company, efficient service, and delicious food.

Banana Pie

An alternative to a banana cream pie and just as yummy! Our first double crust pie ever and we are so proud! Flaky crust, delicious filling and gorgeous looking too!

Banana Lumpia

The perfect sweet ending to a Filipino meal.

Pinakbet 101

My cousin Rose is a fantastic cook and I begged her to show me how to make my favorite Filipino vegetable dish. Easy, nutritious, and full of color. This is comfort cooking!

Chun's Reef, North Shore

I've been to beaches all over the world-Spain, Netherlands, Philippines, Indonesia and Canada but this is my all time favorite-clean sand and blue, crystal clear waters.

Blueberry Square

I was motivated by Starbucks to create a better blueberry square than the one they sell for $2.50. Delicious crust of oatmeal, butter, and brown sugar and a gooey blueberry filling (antioxidant power house).

Vegetarian Chili

I once tried to become a vegetarian. It lasted 2 hours. This meatless chili was hearty and delicious enough to satisfy a meat loving health nut!

Phantom of the Opera Musical

How good would Phantom of the Opera be on the windward side of the island? OMG...so good! Miles Wesley as the Phantom, Lydia Pusateri as Christine, and Kyle Malis as Raoul helped to create a first rate production at the Paliku Theatre at $45 a ticket. What a steal! Their voices gave me chicken skin!

Napoleon's Bakery Malasadas

Good news-Zippy's is now selling malasadas. Bad news-I live right across the street. If I were to leave Hawaii, this is one food that I would miss! I LOVE malasadas!

Children's Discovery Center

Read a book in a humungous chair, go back in time to plantation days, and see the workings of the skeletal system. All of this and MORE at the Children's Discovery Center in Kakaako. A great place to celebrate Kira's 4th birthday!

Pumpkin Cake

Could the cooler weather signal the coming of fall? What better way than using an ingredient associated with this season. Moist, simple and the right amount of pumpkin taste with the addition of 1/2 t of pumpkin pie spice.

Orange Sesame Chicken

Melissa d'Arabian's episode on Takeout Fakeout was great-fast, cheap and flavorful. I thought the orange marmalade, mirin, and shoyu combination was odd but it was the key to delicious chicken. Rolled in panko and drizzled with melted butter and baked at 375 for 15 minutes. If you're thinking of ordering out, save your money and try this dish!

Orzo with Spinach and Sun Dried Tomatoes

I raced home after a meal at Macaroni Grill to recreate the orzo and it was a success! The sprig of thyme and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice were the last touches to a unforgettable side dish. Light, full of flavor, and yummy!

Gingerbread Cake

A feature on Food Network inspired me to get into the kitchen and try something new. Crystallized ginger, molasses, and spices made this cake pleasantly different from all the cakes I usually make but good. A dollop of whipped cream and a sprinkle of powdered sugar were perfect for a sweet ending!

Macaroni Grill

We rarely venture into town and when we do we make it a point to have dinner at Macaroni Grill. Fresh calamari, succulent opah, and oh so light and delicious orzo with spinach and sun dried tomatoes.

HTY's Momotaru "Peach Boy"

I would flip through the pages and make up stories with this Japanese tale before I could even read. The page with the peach floating down the river fascinated me. I wanted to share this special story with Anna and Kamalu and they enjoyed it as much as I did. Furry monsters, Momotaru, anime style with clever techniques made this production smart and fun!