Mmm…poke!

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If you read that and said “mmm…poke” (like poke your brother in the head) and not “mmm…poke” (po-kay) then you’re missing out on a yummy traditional staple in the islands.  Poke means to cut into cubes and usually consists of raw ahi tuna, a little sesame oil, shoyu (soy sauce), red pepper flake, Hawaiian salt and maybe some scallions…toss it and you’re done!  Now that was a very basic recipe but the variations are so far out there that you can truly make it anything your heart desires from tuna to tofu from shoyu to yes, peanut butter…poke is the dish that keeps on evolving.  It’s so popular that friend/famed Hawaiian chef Sam Choy has a Poke Contest every year where entrants both professional and amateurs give their own variations on the dish. 

Now there are some people who can’t stomach the raw fish.  I’ve had it “traditional” (raw) and it’s tolerable but the hubby can’t get past it.  We prefer it to be flash fried.  When Sam made this for us once he used ono (wahoo) and it was DELICIOUS!  He said as an alternate for the flash fried version, you can use swordfish for the same effect.  Knowing I didn’t have access to the ogo (seaweed) he used on the mainland, I sought out dried ogo in the store and came across the Poke Mix by NOH.  It is wonderful!  All you need is ahi or swordfish depending on which version you’d like to make, the poke mix and 2 tbsp of sesame oil, fry it up in the wok and as long as you don’t overcook them–it’ll taste just like the pros!  If you want this easy way to make poke, the best deal is through Amazon.com.  The 12 pack averages out to $2.27 per packet which is the cheapest price out there.  Take some for yourself and give some to others as stocking stuffers. 

So what about you? What’s your favorite way to make poke?

Newest Hawaii geocaches…

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Once again, here are some of the newest geocaches in the islands.  Lots on Oahu and some on Maui, which is fine, but come on Big Island, Lanai and Kauai…you got some catching up to do!  (I *almost* put “caching up to do but it’s too early for that kind of cheese!)

Enchanted Playground  (Oahu)

Between a Trail and a Rock  (Oahu)

Kanaha Beach Cache  (Maui)

Snorkel Stash 2.0  (Maui)

As always, if you wonder what the heck a geocache is and this looks intriguing to you, go to the Geocaching website to get started.  It’s not just in Hawaii but also in your town!

Green Tip of the Day

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By purchasing a 100% new renewable energy product for a year, an American household using an average of 938 kWh per month could help avoid contributing over 15,600 pounds of carbon dioxide annually.

Saving our environment is everyone’s responsibility.  What will your legacy be?

Aloha Friday Recipe: Papaya Cake

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½ cup Shortening
1½ cup Sugar
2 Eggs
2 cups diced Papaya
3 cups Flour
2 teaspoons Soda
1 teaspoon Salt
1 teaspoon Cinnamon
½ teaspoon Nutmeg
¼ teaspoon Ginger
2 tablespoons Water
1 teaspoon Lemon Juice
1 cup Raisins

Preheat electric oven at 350°F.  Grease and flour a 13×9x2-inch pan.  In large bowl of electric mixer, cream shortening and sugar.  Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.  Add papaya and beat well.  Sift flour with soda, salt and spices.  Stir into papaya mixture.  Add water and lemon juice.  Fold in raisins.  Pout into prepared pan.  Bake for 40 to 50 minutes.

Yield: 16 servings

Recipe courtesy of Hawaii Dept of Agriculture

(Happy Birthday Mr. Beach Bum!)

Don’t forget!

Filed Under Hawaii Sports, Hawaii TV | 1 Comment

Tonight on ESPN you’ll be able to catch the Hawaii Warriors take on San Jose State at 8pm EST (check local listings in your neck of the woods)  Colt Brennan says he’s geared up and ready to go.  If you didn’t read about last week’s game, Colt had to come out after the first quarter, scoring 10 pts.  BUT the final score was 52-37 against Utah State which means that we have a kick ass team this year overall! 

Oh man, not that I want Ohio State to lose but as Hawaii continues to crawl up the ranks the dream game of OSU playing UH could come true and this would be one happy wahine!!!

Hawaii vs San Jose State
ESPN/ESPN 360 (online)
8pmEST

A great source for Hawaiian music…

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If you’re looking for a place to find some great Hawaiian music, I always use Mele.com.  Mele.com allows you to not only search by artist but by album title or even song lyrics.  I can’t count how many times I’ve entered 2 keywords from a chorus of a song I had no clue who the artist was or even the name of the song and found it thanks to Mele.com.  Many CD’s have the tracks listed in bold which means you can listen to a snippet of the song to make sure it’s the one you were thinking of.  If you find one of your songs is out of print by that artist, search by the song title because many times it’ll come up on a various artists compilation CD.   They also sell Hawaii related DVDs.

If you haven’t heard contemporary Hawaiian music or think it’s all 60’s slack key instrumentals (which are beautiful on their own) like portrayed on TV, then stop by the website and check out some of Hawaii’s best artists.  From Israel Kamakawiwo’ole, Keali’i Reichel, Jake Shimabukuro, The Makaha Sons, Na Leo Pilimehana, Raiatea Helm, Robi Kahakalau, and many, many others.  The music of Hawaii is some of the most soothing and groove shakin’ in the world depending on your mood.  If you want to sample some on your computer, go to KPOA.com which is a radio station on Maui.  They’ve got the best DJ’s and it’s a great way to get a taste of music of aloha!

Monk Seal Watch and Training

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October 11 and 20

 Are you interested in supporting monk seal conservation? If so, join NOAA and the Division of Aquatic Resources for the 2nd Semi-Annual Hawaiian Monk Seal Count. Training for the count will be held at Maui Ocean Center on October 11 and the count will be held statewide on Saturday, October 20! On April 28, an astonishing 41 seals were counted statewide!  

Monk Seal Watch Training:
Date: Thursday, October 11
Time: 6:00-7:00pm
Admission: Free
Contact: (808) 292-2372 or mauimonksealwatch@yahoo.com

One of my favorite Halloween books…

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With Halloween coming up, I felt compelled to tell you about one of my favorite series, the “Hawaii’s Best Spooky Tales.”  You’ve got several versions to choose from, all with their own chills and spills to offer.  There are all kinds of great ghost stories about ghosts at Iolani Palace, night marchers and various other things that go bump in the islands.  Kids can read these books if they don’t scare easily.  There’s no gore or anything like that just campfire ghost story material but it’ll also spook the adults as well.  So order one of the Hawaii’s Best Spooky Tales today so you’ll have it in time for Halloween and start a new spine tingling tradition!

Green Tip of the Day

Filed Under Going Green | 1 Comment

Simple steps like cleaning air filters regularly and having your heating and cooling equipment tuned annually by a licensed contractor can save energy and increase comfort at home, and at the same time reduce greenhouse gas emissions. When it’s time to replace your old equipment, choose a high efficiency model, and make sure it is properly sized and installed.

Saving our environment is everyone’s responsibility.  What will your legacy be?

Aloha Friday Recipe: Bacon Lettuce Tomato Aloha Teriyaki Salad

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INGREDIENTS:
1 pound Bacon
1 head Lettuce - rinsed and shredded
2 large Tomatoes, chopped
1/4 cup mayonnaise
3/4 cup of Aloha Teriyaki Sauce
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 pinch salt
2 cups seasoned croutons

PROCEDURE:
1) Place bacon in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium high heat, turning frequently, until evenly browned. Drain, crumble and set aside.

2) In a blender, combine mayonnaise, Aloha Teriyaki Sauce and black pepper. Blend until smooth. Season the dressing with salt.

3) Combine lettuce, tomatoes, bacon and croutons in a large salad bowl. Toss with dressing, and serve immediately.

Recipe courtesy Sista Val’s “Honey I’m Hungry, what’s for dinner?” at KPOA

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