It’s all Christy’s fault.  She was waxing ecstatic over our abundance of avocado trees and their great potassium supply. So, though DH and I have never been fond of the things, I made some guacamole for pupu dip when she and Brion came to visit.  Alright, it’s good.  Oh, alright, it’s damned addicting: 2 ripe avocado 1/2 onion, chopped juice of 1/2 lime 1 tomato, chopped   Scoop the pulp from the avocado and mash Continue reading

Malay Apples are called Mountain Apples here in Hawaii, and it is thought the first Polynesian explorers brought seedlings with them when they inhabited these islands. They are apple shaped with deep red or pink skins. The white flesh is similar to a pear. And they are in season now. “What should we do with all these?” asked DH. “PICKLES!” I said. (I have no idea why that popped into my head….but pickled they were. Continue reading

2 medium green papaya, peeled and shredded (we like them JUST on the verge of turning yellow-makes the salad a bit sweeter) 1 large carrot, peeled and shredded 2 cloves of garlic, finely minced 1 scallion, finely minced (or green onion 1/4 cup of  fish sauce 1/4 cup of granulated sugar juice from 2  limes) 1/4 tsp of lime zest 2 Thai bird chilies, sliced cross-wise , or a few drops of hot sauce (I Continue reading

8 oz minced shrimp, crab or imitation crab. 1 onion, minced 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese 2 cups mayonnaise 1/8 cup chopped fresh parsley Pepper to taste 1 loaf hard-crust bread, hollowed out. Mix together all ingredients. Spoon into the hollowed out bread. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes, or until dip is thoroughly heated. Serve with multigrain crackers

Well, it’s a diet thing……..can’t drink coffee without cream and sugar, but Grandma R taught me to drink my tea black. So, when trying to lose weight, I give up coffee for tea.  We found a hole-in-the-wall restaurant today, tucked in the back alleys of Hilo. And this place-”Garden Snack Club“-serves not only Thai recipes I haven’t seen anywhere else, they served this “combo tea.”  “Do you sell teabags, or loose tea?!” I asked excitedly after Continue reading

I don’t like avocado.  DH doesn’t like avocado.  But we have three trees on our small farm…..and have the things up the ying-yang.  We can only give so many of them away….Well, at a potluck today, there was this pie….looked like a lime pie…..tasted FABULOUS…….and it was made of avocado. 2 medium  well ripened avocados 1 8-ounce package softened cream cheese 1  can sweetened condensed milk 2  tablespoons fresh lime juice 1 tablespoons fresh lemon juice Continue reading

1 large loaf Cinnamon Raisin Bread, chopped 12 oz. Cream Cheese, softened 6 oz. Butter, softened 3/4 cup Maple Syrup (divided as in directions) 10 eggs 3 cups Half & Half Cinnamon Sugar Buttered Maple Syrup (50:50 mix of butter and maple syrup) Directions: Place chopped cinnamon raisin bread in a well buttered 13 x 9 in. glass pan. Mix cream cheese, butter and 1/4 cup maple syrup until smooth. Spread on top of bread, Continue reading

2 8oz pkgs. softened cream cheese 1 tbsp. lemon juice 3/4 c. sugar 2 eggs 1 tsp. vanilla Vanilla wafer cookies Beat cream cheese and sugar until well blended.  Add one egg at time, beating well. Then add vanilla and lemon juice. Beat until fluffy. In 2 dozen muffin pans, place cup-cake liners. Drop a vanilla wafer into each lined pan, then fill 1/2 – 2/3 way full with cheesecake mixture. Bake at 350 degrees Continue reading

We got papaya……plenty papaya. We like slaw, but don’t always have cabbage. So….. 2 green papaya, seeded and julienned 1 carrot, peeled and julienned Dressing:  3/2/1 mixture of 3 parts Miracle Whip 2 parts sugar 1 part white vinegar. (we use tablespoons) Pour dressing over slaw, chill.

1 head cauliflower, cut into florettes 1 head brocolli, cut into florettes 1 small onion, finely chopped 8-10 slices of bacon, fried and crumbled Mix together Dressing: 1 cup mayonnaise 2tbsp balsamic vinegar 1/2 cup sugar Pour dressing over vegetables, mix and chill.

Lilikoi (passionfruit) is a sweet-sour fruit whose juice is wonderful added to iced tea, thickened to cover a cheesecake, made into ice cream……or pie: * 4 egg yolks * 1/3 cup white sugar * 1/2 teaspoon salt * 1/2 cup passion fruit juice * 1 tablespoon unflavored gelatin * 1/4 cup cold water * 2 teaspoons grated lemon zest * 4 egg whites * 1 cup white sugar * 1 (9 inch) prepared graham cracker Continue reading

A Mexican cold soup.  We add chopped cold shrimp… 3 tomatoes, chopped 2 cucumbers, peeled and chopped 1/2 red onion, chopped 1 green bell pepper, chopped 1 yellow bell pepper, chopped 1 garlic clove, minced 1 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil 1 Tbsp. lemon juice 4 cups vegetable cocktail  (or tomato) juice….with enough fresh vegetables, it’s not needed…. garlic croutons  for garnish Directions: In a large  bowl, combine all ingredients except croutons  and mix gently. Continue reading