Aloha Friday Recipe: Wok-Fried Garlic Noodles with Macadamia Nuts

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1 pound thin spaghetti
3 tablespoons olive oil
6 tablespoons butter or margarine
3 tablespoons garlic, minced
3 tablespoons Maggi seasoning
½ cup oyster sauce
1½ teaspoon chili oil
Cracked black pepper to taste
2/3 cup cilantro, finely minced for garnish
2/3 cup scallion, finely minced for garnish
2/3 cup macadamia nuts, toasted and coarsely chopped for garnish

Fill a pasta pot or stockpot with salted water and bring to a rolling boil; add pasta. While pasta cooks, heat a large wok over medium heat and add butter and garlic; sauté until golden brown. When the pasta is al dente, drain in a colander and add pasta to the wok with the garlic and butter, tossing carefully to combine. Then add Maggi, oyster sauce, black pepper and chili oil. Toss together so strands are well coated. Add more butter if pasta seems dry. Garnish with minced cilantro, scallions and macadamia nuts, stirring well to combine. Add chicken, beef or tofu if desired.

Note: To toast macadamia nuts, heat a nonstick skillet over a medium flame, add nuts and cook carefully until golden brown, then chop. Toasted nuts can be frozen and used as needed.

Recipe courtesy of Edible Hawaiian Islands. Excellent magazine!

Four Foods on Friday 105

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1. What are your four favorite soups?

French Onion Soup, Tomato Soup, Saimin (don’t know if that’s technically soup) and Clam Chowder.

Stop by Val’s to play along by tomorrow’s deadline.

Sweets for your sweetie at Parker Ranch

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Discover the Secret of Mama Ella Chocolate Chipper

Friday, February 12, 2010: Parker Ranch invited Mama Ella’s from our Big Island’s Hamakua Coast to share their secret of the Chocolate Chipper Paniolo Cookies. The perfect Valentine gift, and made with bits of real cocoa beans grown right here on Hawaii Island. These “sweet confections” are a must have for every loving couple.

Every country maiden would appreciate the gift of chocolate, so they are also featuring their favorite “cow pie” cookie by Blue Kalo. Three types of chocolate, walnuts, raisins, caramel, and poi! Made especially for Parker Ranch Store and what better way to appreciate your sweetheart than with a decorated box of cow cookies! Join them Friday February 12th from 9am-1pm and pick up the perfect “sweet” for your “sweetheart”.

Can’t make it to Parker Ranch? You can shop online by clicking the link below…

Valentine’s Day at Maui Ocean Center

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moc Enjoy a romantic evening surrounded by the beauty of Hawaii’s marine life at Maui Ocean Center’s 8th annual Sea of Love! Dine on a decadent four-course meal with your choice of entree, exquisitely prepared by James Beard Nominee Chef Henry Tariga and catered by the award-winning Seascape Ma’alaea Restaurant.

Semi-private seating against the enchanting backdrops of the Aquarium’s Living Reef and Open Ocean exhibits promises you an intimate Valentine’s Day experience like no other. Maui Ocean Center’s signature event is $99 plus gratuity and tax per person and includes a welcome glass of sparkling wine and special Valentine’s lei for the ladies. Seating times are between 6pm-8pm on Sunday, February 14, 2010. Seating is limited, call early to avoid disappointment.

Reservations
Call 808.270.7088
Monday-Friday
9am-4pm

Newest Hawaii Geocaches (2/9)

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Looking to have some caching fun in the islands? Here are some of the newest ones for your adventures!

Flumin’ Da Ditch (Big Island)

TB Hula Hale (Kauai)

Palapala Hoomau (Maui)

Hygrocybe noelokelani (Kauai)

Are You Serious? (Oahu)

Kokee Tree Keeper (Kauai)

Moon River Cache (Kauai)

Looking to get started in Geocaching? Here are some recommendations for handhelds!

Hawaiian Word of the Week

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Loved one- Mea aloha (May-ah ah-low-ha)

The alphabet contains 12 letters: 5 vowels (a, e, i, o, u) and 7 consonants (h, k, l, m, n, p, w). To simplify pronunciation, sound consonants as in English and break up words so they are easy to say (ie- Humuhumunukunukuapua’a would be pronounced humu-humu-nuku-nuku-apu-a-a)

Pronounce vowels as follows:

a – a in above; e – e in set; i – ee in see; o – o in some; u – oo in moon.

Pronounce vowels marked by a glottal stop (`) quickly ie- o`o sounds like oh-oh! in English.

Stress rising dipthongs (ae, ai, ao, au, oi, ou, eu, ei) on the first letter and end with a short e, i, o or u. ie- oi sounds like oy in soy, ending with a short “i”.

Aloha Friday Recipe: Warm Coconut-Pineapple Tart

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Tart Shell:
Three-fourths cup butter (3/4 cup)
Three-fourths cup powdered sugar (3/4 cup)
1 egg
5 egg yolks
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Three and three-fourths cup all purpose flour, sifted (3 ¾ cups)

Cream the butter and sugar. Slowly add in the egg and the egg yolks. Scrape down the bowl and continue the mixing process. Add in the vanilla. Slowly add in the flour and mix well. Scrape down the bowl and mix. Massage onto work table. Place into plastic wrap and refrigerate for an hour.

Coconut Mixture:
1 cup granulated sugar
7 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 large eggs
Two and one half unsweetened shredded dried coconut (2 ½ cups)
One-fourth cup mango or passion fruit puree (optional) (1/4 cup)
One half cup fresh pineapple, chopped (1/2 cup)

Preheat the oven at 380 degrees.
Cut the pineapple into half inch cubes. Place onto a paper towel to drain all excess juices and moisture. Randomly scatter the chopped pineapple onto the bottom of the tart shell. Gently press slightly into the dough. Place into the refrigerator when ready for the second step.

Place butter and the sugar into a mixing bowl. Use the paddle attachment to cream the mixture. Slowly add in the eggs, followed by the coconut. Scrape down the bowl and mix for a short while. Spread the creamed mixture onto the surface of the chopped pineapple. Spread evenly onto the tart. Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes at 380 degrees. Once this time is completed, turn oven to 350 degrees and bake an additional 35 to 40 minutes. The top surface of the coconut cream should be golden brown and the center set and firm. Sprinkle with powdered sugar and top with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream.

Recipe courtesy Sam Choy’s Kitchen

Hawaii Dog or Colorado Dog…who do you prefer?

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We always get tons of hits after an episode of Dog airs so I know fans will eventually stumble upon us. I read an article in Hawaii magazine about when is Dog the Bounty Hunter coming back to Hawaii? The short answer is apparently soon but their time will be split between Hawaii and Colorado and neighbor islands should be a more prominent feature in the coming season. I watch the show every week and I have to say that I didn’t realize what a draw the scenery and people of Hawaii were until they were no longer featured. Colorado shows have been very boring for me to watch. So that got me wondering what the fans of the show prefered. See the poll below and vote only once please. If you have further thoughts on your preference you’d like to share, feel free to do so in the comments section.

Do you like Dog the Bounty Hunter in Hawaii or Colorado?

Hawaii
Colorado

View results

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Gearing up for Spring’s Kokua Festival

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Going green, eco-friendly, whatever you want to call it is not just for Earth Day, it is a way of life. (If it’s not, it should be!) Hawaii’s Jack Johnson will be hosting the Kokua Festival April 23rd and 24th in Honolulu to benefit the Kokua Hawaii Foundation. Some big name performers will be performing like Ziggy Marley, Jake Shimabukuro, Anuhea, Taj Mahal and of course Jack Johnson. So if you’re planning a spring trip to the islands, make this festival a stop on your itinerary. But you don’t need to wait to make a commitment to help save the Earth, see what some are pledging to do to help the environment…

Run for the Whales 5K this Saturday

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196 Fun & Exercise for a good cause

Runners and walkers are invited to join in the fun at the annual Run for the Whales, which follows the scenic coast of South Maui and is hosted by Pacific Whale Foundation. This popular running event is at the top of the list of Maui’s best-attended 5K and half-marathon runs, with more than 800 runners expected to participate. Participants receive a free race T-shirt, a free post-race breakfast, and free electronic timing (for the 5K and half-marathon).

There are medals for the top finishers and great prize giveaways. Fees benefit marine-education programs for Maui schoolchildren. The Run for the Whales will start at a new location this year, Makena Beach & Golf Resort, but will travel along much of the same route as last year, through the resort areas of Makena and Wailea. Parts of the course are oceanside–where you might catch a glimpse of a breaching whale or two as you stride along.

2010 Run for the Whales
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Thursday, February 4 is registration cut off date
Race times vary (see schedule)
Makena Beach & Golf Resort