Aloha Friday Recipe: Miso Butterfish

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Ingredients:
8 slices butterfish
1 Tbsp. Japanese Vinegar
Lemon juice
2 Tbsp sake or wine
2/3 C. white Miso
Chopped Green onions
2 Tbsp. sugar
1 clove garlic, grated
2 Tbsp. Shoyu
1 piece ginger, grated

Procedure:
Sprinkle lemon juice over butterfish. Mix rest of ingredients together and add butterfish. Marinate 2-8 hours. Broil or bake @ 350 degrees for 25 minutes. Enjoy with hot rice & Kim Chee. “Ho broke da mouth!”

Recipe courtesy of Sista Val’s “Honey I’m hungry, what’s for dinner?” on KPOA

Tune in to watch history!

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Don’t forget to tune in to ESPN2 or ESPN360.com and watch our Warriors remain the only undefeated team in college football when they play Washington at 11:30pmEST. (Check local listings)

If we win this one, there will be no way they can deny the Warriors the respect they so richly deserve and will be off to a BCS bowl. (If they find a way to screw them out of a bowl shot, the BCS better be ready for a heavy flood of “communication” from the Warrior nation!)

So nap up east coast, pump up all Warrior fans and let them hear our battle cries right along with them. I don’t know about you but when they do the Maori haka dance at the beginning of each game, it brings so much emotion. (See video below) Makes this wahine proud to be a warrior fan. We always knew this team had heart and now the whole world gets to see it!

WPvideo 1.10

Key mailing dates from Hawaii

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If you’re getting your holiday packages together to ship out, you’ll want to keep in mind the following dates to make sure your loved ones get their gifts on time.

The USPS recommends these mailing dates to make sure that your packages arrive on time:

Dec. 7 — Military mail to overseas by first-class or priority mail

Dec. 13 — First-class mail and priority mail to Guam, Saipan and American Samoa

Dec. 14 — Military mail to overseas by express mail

Dec. 15 — Parcel post, (the least expensive way to mail)

Dec. 17 — First-class mail and priority mail to U.S. Mainland

Dec. 19 — Express mail to Guam, Saipan and American Samoa

Dec. 20 — Express mail to U.S. Mainland; first-class/priority mail in Hawai’i

Dec. 22 — Express mail in Hawai’i

Other important dates to remember:

Dec. 17 — Busiest mailing day of the year

Dec . 19 — Busiest delivery day of the year

Green Tip of the Day

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If you are unable to use all your paint for a particular project or if you choose to keep a small amount of paint for touch ups or smaller projects, you will need to store the leftover paint so it remains usable. Leftover paint can last for years, however, the key to this is making sure the paint can is well sealed and stored in an appropriate location.

Cover the opening of the paint can with plastic wrap before closing the lid. This will help create an additional seal when the can is closed.
Use a mallet instead of a hammer to close a paint can, creating a good seal. Hammers can dent and bend the rim of the paint can, causing a poor seal. Mallets are gentler. By placing a small towel over the paint can lid and gently using a mallet to tap the lid closed, you will avoid damaging the rim.
Store the paint can upside down to create a tight seal around the lid. Generally this prevents air from entering the paint can so the paint will not dry out. Some local programs discourage this practice because if the paint goes bad, you may end up with a large chunk of paint on the lid making it difficult to open. Check with your local recycling or collection program for recommendations.
Store paint away from extreme heat and cold. Extremes in temperature will spoil paint and make it unusable. Keep away from freezing and hot temperatures in garages and sheds. Hot temperatures near furnaces and direct sunlight can also affect the quality of leftover paint. Store in a cool, dry area.
Write on the lid of each paint can the date opened, the color, brand and the room it is for. This will help you locate paint needed for touch ups and future purchases, as well as identifying paint that is no longer needed and can be donated and reused, or properly disposed of due to its age.
Leave the original label on the paint can. By leaving the original label on the paint can, you will alleviate any questions as to the type of paint in the can should you try to donate the paint for reuse (through an exchange program) or for disposal at a local collection event.
Do not pour anything else in the paint. No matter how you use or dispose of the leftover paint, do not contaminate it by pouring anything else into the can. If contaminated, the paint will be difficult to donate or dispose of properly.
Store paint in a safe location. Keep leftover paint in a location out of reach of children and pets.

Tips courtesy Earth911.org

UH Warriors…WAC CHAMPIONS!

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True Aloha would like to extend its heartfelt congratulations and aloha to the Warrior football team who defeated Boise State for the WAC Championship last night! This of course means Hawaii remains undefeated and this has everyone looking with anticipation at where the BCS poll will place the Warriors. C’mon BCS, you’ve GOTTA recognize…what more do these boys need to do??

For a great recap of the highlights, check out this Honolulu Advertiser article.

Aloha Friday Recipe: Duck Breast – Spinach Salad with Ginger-Soy Vinaigrette

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Serves 4

4 small duck breasts, trimmed and skin scored
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
4 cups baby spinach leaves, cleaned
1 cup sliced button mushrooms
Vinaigrette
1 tablespoon peeled and minced fresh ginger
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
Cup sesame oil

To prepare the vinaigrette: Combine all of the ingredients for the vinaigrette in a small saucepan. Cook over low heat for 5 minutes, or until warm. To prepare the duck: Season the duck breasts with salt and pepper and place in a very hot sauté pan over high heat with the skin side down first. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes on each side, or until the skin is golden brown and crispy and the duck is cooked medium. Remove the duck from the pan. Let the duck sit for 2 minutes and then slice on diagonal. To prepare the spinach: Place the spinach leaves in a large bowl, toss with half of the warm vinaigrette, and season to taste with salt and pepper. Place spinach leaves in the center of each plate and top with the mushrooms. Arrange the warm duck slices in the center of the spinach and spoon the remaining vinaigrette over the duck. Top off with fresh ground black pepper.

Recipe courtesy Sam Choy.com

Happy Thanksgiving from True Aloha!

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Just wanted to wish my readers a very Happy Thanksgiving! I’m thankful for all of the great people who stop by here every day and for the future readers to come. Feel free to leave a comment on how you spent your Thanskgiving. For instance, I have a turkey in the oven that is wearing a foil bikini. You know, like that email you always get every November? Yep, I wanna see if it works! I’ll take pics and let you know how that turned out! How about you?

(Greeting courtesy of Pacific Expressions Shaka Ecards)

Kauai Food Bank Holiday Food Drive

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The Kauai Food Bank relies on donations to support their operations to provide food for the hungry. Their physical plant includes the maintenance of a 4,000 square-foot warehouse and a fleet of vehicles (including refrigerated trucks), forklifts, pallet jacks, etc. Their electricity bill exceeds $35,000 annually, primarily because of the size of their walk-in refrigerators. In addition to operational needs, they also purchase food and may pay shipping costs if needed. The Kauai Food Bank uses funds to buy and distribute food to people in need.

For every $1.00 donated, they can distribute $7.00 worth of groceries.

For every dollar donated, $0.95 feeds hungry people in Kauai County.

All donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law.Donor lists are not sold, rented or shared with other organizations.

Now through December 14th is their annual Holiday Food Drive. Drop off of healthy, non-perishable food items at every Fire Station on Kauai and at the Food Bank warehouse in Nawiliwili. If you’re not a resident but would still like to help, you can donate online at their website via credit card or Paypal.

Green Tip of the Day

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Those energy saving CFL light bulbs you’re being urged to switch to? Did you know they contain a small amount of mercury? Here’s what to do when they burn out, courtesy of Energystar.com

What should I do with a CFL when it burns out?

EPA recommends that consumers take advantage of available local recycling options for compact fluorescent light bulbs. EPA is working with CFL manufacturers and major U.S. retailers to expand recycling and disposal options. Consumers can contact their local municipal solid waste agency directly, or go to www.epa.gov/bulbrecycling or www.earth911.org to identify local recycling options.

If your state permits you to put used or broken CFLs in the garbage, seal the bulb in two plastic bags and put it into the outside trash, or other protected outside location, for the next normal trash collection. CFLs should not be disposed of in an incinerator.

ENERGY STAR qualified CFLs have a warranty. If the bulb has failed within the warranty period, return it to your retailer.

Warriors win in spectacular nailbiter!

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You ever see one of those games where it’s all on the line and it comes down to one man? Last night kicker Dan Kelly (#86) was that man pulling out a 45 yard field goal the last 15 seconds of the game and made it…BUT…a nanosecond before that field goal was kicked, Nevada Wolf Pack coach Chris Ault called their last time out making it in vain. Hawaii was down by one. The players were all holding hands on the sidelines in anticipation. The hubby and I were screeching, twitching and knee bouncing in nervousness. This was it. If Kelly didn’t make it, the Warriors undefeated streak would end in Reno, Nevada and the chance for a BCS bowl game would be gone.

At 11.7 seconds left in the game, Dan Kelly kicked that ball right between the uprights for a successful field goal and Hawaii’s undefeated streak remained in tact. In the middle of the night on the east coast, these 2 Hawaii fans were screaming, crying, laughing, applauding and relieved that our Bows were able to pull off the impossible. Now the world will be able to see our boys for the winners they are. People are waiting for Hawaii to fail because they’re such underdogs. Well this wahine is all about the underdogs and last night’s game was about making dreams come true. Last night wasn’t about the talents of quarterback Colt Brennan for which the team is typically known as he was sidelined most of the night as a precaution. Last night was about a great football TEAM who deserves all of the praise they’re getting and what a team they are!

We’re still living the dream with you Warriors. Whether local, mainland or halfway around the world, Warrior fans are proud of you and can’t wait to see you shine in a BCS bowl. Keep up the awesome work!

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