HIBUSCUS (iced) TEA

On a beautiful day in Hawaii Nei it can be really hot, so for a nice cool down from working on the lawn, take a break and have some Hibuscus Tea. Here is the recipe:

Ingredients:

1. 2 quarts of water

2. ¾ cup of Hawaiian sugar, adding more sugar depending on how sweet you want it

3.  Dried Hibiscus flowers: Grab them from any place on a walk that you take around your neighborhood

4. ½ cinnamon stick

5. a few thin slices of ginger, optional, you can find this in any farmers market

6. Lime Juice, optional, which can be found in a farmers market

7. if your going to be fancy, grab some of those lime slices and fix them in the drink

8. if you want your hibiscus tea bubbly and iced, grab some club soda, or soda water

How to Make:

1. In a pan put the sugar and 4 cups of the water and sugar. Add any of the optional ingredients in pan. Heat pan until boiling and the sugar has dissolved.

2. When all the sugar has dissolved take pan away from heat and stir in the dried hibiscus flowers.

3. Now cover the pan and let it sit for 20 minutes. After letting sit, strain into a pitcher and discard all the hibiscus and extra flavoring(ginger, cinnamon).

*this is a concentrated form of the hibiscus drink

4. To DILUTE drink add the 4 cups of water that are remaining, add ice and lemon slivers(if you want to make it fancy), if wanted you can add soda water if you want it bubbly  

5. Enjoy!

helped by: simply recipes

SO LOVERS OF MEAT…

There is a big rush to go organic as of late and to watch what animals are being fed because it comes full circle and comes back to you. SO in Hawaii Nei local farmers are following suit and providing the islands with grass fed cows to make those lovely steaks and homemade specails.

Here are a list of farms that grass feed their cows here, in the islands!

Daleico Ranch-Ka'u

Ernest DeLuz Ranch-Hamakua

Ernest Pung Ranch-Hamakua

Kahua Ranch-Kohala

“White water coming, no foolin` around

Opihi man in the sun. Opihi man grab your bag and run

Opihi man another swell is coming your way

Opihi man another swell is coming your way”

You know the words, growing up with that song we all know what the Ophi Man is, the delicious ophi have always been the favorite of any Hawaii Native. So do you want some recipies for the lovely opihi?

Grilled Opihi

5 to 6 HOT chile peppers from your local farmers market

1 cup cider vinegar

1 cup water

1 tablespoon chopped garlic from your local farmers market

1 teaspoon Hawaiian sea salt

Opihis , shucked

Butter from a local farm

Aloha Soy sauce

Cayenne pepper, or Hawaiian chili pepper

Directions

Mix chiles, vinegar, water, garlic and sea salt together. Marinate opihi for about 15 minutes before grilling.

While grilling add butter, soy sauce and cayenne pepper or Hawaiian chili pepper.

helped by: http://www.foodnetwork.com/

HIBUSCUS (iced) TEA

On a beautiful day in Hawaii Nei it can be really hot, so for a nice cool down from working on the lawn, take a break and have some Hibuscus Tea. Here is the recipe:

Ingredients:

1. 2 quarts of water

2. ¾ cup of hawaiian sugar, adding more sugar depending on how sweet you want it

3.  Dried Hibiscus flowers: Grab them from any place on a walk that you take around your neighborhood

4. ½ cinnamon stick

5. a few thin slices of ginger, optional, you can find this in any farmers market

6. Lime Juice, optional, which can be found in a farmers market

7. if your going to be fancy, grab some of those lime slices and fix them in the drink

8. if you want your hibiscus tea bubbly and iced, grab some club soda, or soda water

How to Make:

1. In a pan put the sugar and 4 cups of the water and sugar. Add any of the optional ingredients in pan. Heat pan until boiling and the sugar has dissolved.

2. When all the sugar has dissolved take pan away from heat and stir in the dried hibiscus flowers.

3. Now cover the pan and let it sit for 20 minutes. After letting sit, strain into a pitcher and discard all the hibiscus and extra flavoring(ginger, cinnamon).

*this is a concentrated form of the hibiscus drink

4. To DILUTE drink add the 4 cups of water that are remaining, add ice and lemon slivers(if you want to make it fancy), if wanted you can add soda water if you want it bubbly  

5. Enjoy!

helped by: simply recipes

Local Taro Mochi Recipe!!!

What you need:

-          1 pound of mochiko powder

-          1 teaspoon vanilla

-          1 tsp baking powder

Go to your local mom and pop store and pick this up.

-          1 and ½ cup Sugar

-          1 cup brown sugar

Hawaii has home grown sugar cane felids on Maui. The company Hawaiian Commercial and Sugar Company sells 100% cane sugar that comes straight from their farm.

-          3 cups coconut milk

-          5 eggs (beaten)

-          3 and ½ cup grated cooked taro

From your local farmers market you can find a couple coconuts and chicken eggs can be found there or at a local hatchery.  ANAGI is a small hatchery in Honolulu, Hawaii, located at 1830 Kanakanui Street. They are open Monday through Friday. www.asagihatchery.com .

How to make:

In a mixing bowl take all the dry ingredients together. In separate bowl mix the rest of the ingredients together.  Pour liquids into dries and mix well. Grease a  9x13 pan  and pour in. Bake for 1 hour. Take out of oven and cool. Cut into small pieces and enjoy.

                                                Grabbing a Bite to Eat? Go for a Healthier Approach

With all the pesticides that go into our food sometimes it’s good to just take a break from the harsh chemicals. If tonight’s that night for you, how about trying some local restaurants that offer some really good food, that’s all natural, with no pesticides included.

Town: Town is located in Kaimuki, 3435 Waialae Avenue, Honolulu; with great ambient settings the restaurant has great food and people. Ed Kenny the founder and owner of downbeat has one mantra for the restaurant “local first, organic whenever possible, with aloha always.” It is a sit down restaurant with a nice bar if you just want a nice drink. It tends to be a bit pricey but the food is wonderful, a great place for a special occasion or a nice dinner with a friend.

Downbeat: Downbeat is a small restaurant in downtown Chinatown (42 North Hotel Street) in a really homely down to earth setting downbeat attracts regular customers with their happy hour drinks from 5-7pm at $2 a drink and dinner specials. It’s a great place for a wandering vegetarian or just someone who wants a bite in good company. Stop in and sit down no reservation needed, they have a varietry of food with great prices. Try their milkshakes, it’s love.

Ruffage Natural Food: If you are looking to just grab a bite, Ruffage Natural food is a perfect place to stop by. On 2443 Kuhio Ave Honolulu, you can pick up a quick sub or sandwich on your lunch break or a snack between meals. Vegetarian friendly it is a great place to check out. It has good prices and great options for your sub or sandwich.

Pumpkin Cheesecake

• 2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened (Made in Hawaii)
• 1/2 cup white sugar (Maui Brand) 
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 eggs (Ka Lei)
• 1/2 cup pumpkin puree (Aloun Farms)

• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 pinch ground cloves
• 1 pinch ground netmeg
• bake a crust using local ingredients (separate recipe) 

(note: all spices can be grown or found at Kaiulani Spices)
 Directions:

1. In a large bowl, combine cream cheese, sugar and vanilla. Beat until smooth. Blend in eggs one at a time. Remove 1 cup of batter and spread into bottom of crust; set aside.
2. Add pumpkin, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg to the remaining batter and stir gently until well blended. Carefully spread over the batter in the crust.
3. Bake in preheated oven for 35 to 40 minutes, or until center is almost set. Allow to cool, then refrigerate for 3 hours or overnight. Cover with whipped topping before serving.

Dole Fruit Smoothie

Among Hawaii's best grown fruits are the pineapple and bananna which combined, as in this easy recipe, make for a delicious smoothie! 

• 4 ice cubes
• 1/4 fresh pineapple - peeled, cored and cube (dole)

• 1 large banana, cut into chunks (dole)
• 1 cup pineapple or apple juice (dole) 

Directions: 

1. Place ice cubes, pineapple, banana, and pineapple juice into the bowl of a blender. Puree on high until smooth.

Made in Hawaii Foods

 One great store to check out is the " Made in Hawaii Foods" store, which sells all different types of snacks all locally made. This includes delicious mochi, jams, and jellies. Its perfect for both gifts, and for just snacking. http://www.madeinhawaiifoods.com/index.php?osCsid=bb36a234f0f139be68d3c03c38eb8e02

Thanksgiving Stuffing Recipe

Ingredients

1 cup Chopped celery (farmer's market)

1/2 cup Chopped onion  (farmer's market)

1/4 cup margarine or butter (Naked Cow Dairy)

1 tsp. Dried sage crushed  (farmer's market)

1/2 tsp. Dried thyme crushed  (farmer's market)

1/4 tsp. Pepper  (farmer's market)

1/2 cup Macadamia nuts chopped (Macadamia Nut Farm Outlet)

1/2 cup Dried cranberries (these cannot be found in Hawaii sorry) 

1/2 cup Chicken broth (no local brand was found) 

2 Loaves KING'S HAWAIIAN Original Hawaiian Sweet Round Bread cubed (approx. 1/2 inch cubes, 6 cups) 

 
To Make: 

Step 1
Cook celery and onion in margarine or butter in a small saucepan until tender. 

 Step 2
Remove from heat. Stir in sage, thyme, and pepper.  

Step 3
Place dry bread cubes in a mixing bowl.  

Step 4
Add celery mixture, macadamia nuts, and cranberries. Add the 1/2 cup chicken broth, tossing to moisten. Step 5
Use mixture to stuff one six-to-eight pound turkey. Transfer any remaining stuffing to a casserole dish, acover and chill casserole dish until ready to bake. 

Step 6
Bake the stuffing, covered, at 325°F during the last 30 to 45 minutes of turkey roasting until stuffing is heated through.

 

Famous Hawaiian Chefs: Sam Choy

From his childhood, Sam Choy was introduced to a large range of foods by his family. As a young adult, he attended Kapolai Community College, where he realized his passion for culinary arts. After saving money from working at many different kitchens, he opened his first restaurant in the Big Island in 1981. He was able to later open 2 restaurants in Honolulu, and a branch in both Japan and Guam. He credits his success to the variety of flavors available all  over Hawaii. 

Cooking Hawaiian Style

 New to OC16 is a show called "Cooking Hawaiian Style" featuring famous Hawaiian Foodies sharing their favorite recipes and will be hosted by Lanai Tabura. It was created by the local Frank Abraham, who also created cookinghawaiianstyle. This cooking show will promote and share hawaiian style recipes while showing us some famous foodies here in Hawaii. “OC16 is excited to air Cooking Hawaiian Style, and foster a renaissance of local recipes that many of us grew up enjoying. Viewers are sure to enjoy learning how to make local style Chow Mein from veteran TV chef Titus Chan or how to prepare Filipino Sari Sari soup from Richie of Elena’s Restaurant in Waipahu,” said Mitzi Lehano, Vice President of Programming for OC16. “With a wide array of new and traditional recipes, there is something for everyone’s taste buds.” This show premiered just a few weeks ago on October 7th, at 7:30. 

Locally Pumpkin Patch

Looking for some locally sourced Halloween fun? Check out the Aloun farms pumpkin patch!

The patch is available for school tours as well as family/public visits during the month of October! Hawaii families and children can choose and learn about their own pumpkins as well as learn about Hawaiis agriculture! 

Kale Smoothie #2: Chocolate milkshake!

For chocolate lovers who want a way to indulge without all the calories and fat, try this kale chocolate milkshake!

Ingredients

• 1 cup of ice water
• 1 cup of cashews
• 1 banana
• 5 dates
• ¼ cup cacao powder
• 2 leaves kale

Instructions

1. combine all ingredients into a blender, blend, serve, and enjoy!

Kale Smoothie: Avocado Banana Kale

Green smoothies have been heavily trending lately, here's a super simple recipie to try on your own at home! All ingredients can easily be found organic, from local producers! Enjoy!

Ingredients

• 2 bananas
• 1 cup ice water
• 2 leaves kale
• 1 avocado
• 2 dates

Instructions

1. put all ingredients into blender, blend and enjoy!
2. remember to put the avocado in last, so it doesn’t get too frothy.

All ingredients can be found at your local farmers mar

Locally made Li Hing: Yick Lung brand

Li Hing Everything

The Yick Lung brand of Li Hing Mui, also sometimes called “crack seed” (which is a wetter, literally cracked Li Hing Mui seed) and other related preserved fruits and sweets under that brand dominated endcaps at the checkout stand at the neighborhood Long’s Drugs and Star Market (the latter now only a memory) during the 70′s and early 80′s when I grew up here in Hawaii (dating myself). You can’t mistake that classic yellow label with the rounded top. Remember that?!!!
While Yick Lung has since pulled out of this particular market, today you can find Li Hing flavored snacks under a number of new labels at grocery stores and other retailers all around the islands. Most of which maintaining the quality I remember Yick Lung offered, with the key exception being that Yick Lung was manufactured right here in Honolulu (made in Hawaii) at their former facility on Dillingham Boulevard (gotta’ miss that). This while the brands available today are mostly repackaged from sources in foreign countries.


According to the Wikipedia article on Li Hing Mui, the name translates in Chinese to “traveling plum”, with Li Hing meaning “traveling” and Mui meaning “plum”. I’ll assume being its preserved makes it easily portable, therefore the adjective “traveling”.
Now with the widespread availability of Li Hing Powder, we’re seeing more and more culinary uses for it. Local snack companies offer the everything from Li Hing Arare (Japanese rice crackers), Li Hing lollipops, Li Hing Gummy Bears and Gummy Worms, to an ever-growing variety of Li Hing dried fruits, such as these Fuji Apples…

Local Restaurants to check out

Local Restaurants to check out

Check out these great hole-in-a-wall, hidden treasures making local dishes with locally sourced ingredients.

Places to eat: The Modern Honolulu

Places to eat: The Modern Honolulu

"THE MODERN HONOLULU’s Executive Chef Scott Toner is a luminary. Today, Toner incorporates all organic ingredients, with liberal amounts of locally-sourced ingredients, at the restaurants, bars and catering services he directs at THE MODERN HONOLULU.

Today, Toner incorporates all organic ingredients, with liberal amounts of locally-sourced ingredients, at the restaurants, bars and catering services he directs at THE MODERN HONOLULU.
That fact won’t surprise you if you know anything about our property, an uncommon experience among Waikiki hotels. It is, after all, unexpected to search for sustainable, organic restaurants in Oahu and find the best tucked inside a resort.


Toner’s approach delivers seafood fresh from area waters – Hawaiian sea bass, tuna – six days a week.

Made In-House Each Day

Rich with organic and local ingredients (a signature of THE MODERN HONOLULU Executive Chef Scott Toner), these and other house creations taste even more memorable."


http://www.themodernhonolulu.com/organic-restaurants-oahu

Hawaii's source for fresh, local eggs

Ka Lei Eggs
Located : 439 Kalihi St, Honolulu, HI 96819

Ka Lei has been a trusted island brand name since 1975.  The farm began providing fresh island eggs to Hawai'i families and businessess in 1947.  Today, Associated Producers distributes the eggs from our farm in Wai'anae, on the leeward coast of O'ahu, where we blend the best of the new along with good, old-fashioned country pride.

Good things to know about eggs:
- The only difference between brown and white eggs is NOT the flavor but the thickness of the shell. Brown eggs have thicker shells but the flavor of the eggs are the same.
- The difference between egg sizes (small to jumbo) are the amount of egg whites each egg contains. The yolk in all eggs are the same. Ie. Jumbo eggs have the most egg whites.

Why to buy local:
-Fresh eggs make all the difference when you're making breakfast. And by fresh, I mean these eggs were laid only 2-3 days before they're sold. That's as fresh as you're gunna get if you don't have chickens in your backyard.
-^ Fresh enough to eat raw
-cheaper than supermarket prices

Kalua Pork Nachos

2 pounds pork butt roast (Young's Fish Market)
1 Tb Hawaiian sea salt (Alaea Red Hawaiian Salt)
1 can black beans, 15 oz drained
1 Cup of shredded cheddar, jack, mozerella cheeses (or the 3-cheese blend in a bag works too) (Naked Cow Dairy)
Fresh made guacamole to top (farmers markets)
Pickled sliced jalapeno peppers to top (farmers market)

The Pork
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Rub your pork butt with sea salt and wrap in foil (Brennecke’s uses tea leaves, but until I see those in Ralphs, foil it shall be). Seal the foil completely. Place in a roasting pan with water at the bottom.
Bake around 5 hours, or until the internal temperature reaches 145 degrees F (63 C).
Remove and let cool before shredding, and sprinkle the shredded meat with a dash more Hawaiian salt.

Assembly
Put a layer of chips down first, then pile on the beans, pork, cheese – and repeat, like you’re making lasagna. Once you’ve put on the final layer of cheese, pop the whole plate under the broiler for a few seconds until the cheese is melted. I like to assemble my nachos in a pie plate just so I can pop it in the oven without fear. Then add the final touches of guacamole, sour cream, and pickled jalapeno.

What you need:

Go to your local mom and pop store and pick this up.

-          1 pound of mochiko powder

-          1 teaspoon vanilla

-          1 tsp baking powder

Hawaii has home grown sugar cane felids on Maui. The company Hawaiian Commercial and Sugar Company sells 100% cane sugar that comes straight from their farm.

-          1 and ½ cup Sugar

-          1 cup brown sugar

From your local farmers market you can find a couple coconuts and chicken eggs can be found there or at a local hatchery.  ANAGI is a small hatchery in Honolulu, Hawaii, located at 1830 Kanakanui Street. They are open Monday through Friday. www.asagihatchery.com .

-          3 cups coconut milk

-          5 eggs (beaten)

-          3 and ½ cup grated cooked taro

How to make:

In a mixing bowl take all the dry ingredients together. In separate bowl mix the rest of the ingredients together.  Pour liquids into dries and mix well. Grease a  9x13 pan  and pour in. Bake for 1 hour. Take out of oven and cool. Cut into small pieces and enjoy.

Why buy local?

Thia article illustrates some of the many reasons to buy local as well as offering connections to local farmers. http://www.oneisland.org/hawaii/green-resources/support-local-agriculture/

Oahu's only local dairy

 Currently in oahu we have only one local cow dairy, and the first ever cow milk cheese production in the state of hawaii!Its called the naked cow dairy and is run by women in wainae. They make butter, cheese, and yougurt in many different flavors. It's sold at local foodlands, as well as farmers markets across the island. Here is their facebook page! https://www.facebook.com/pages/Naked-Cow-Dairy/134344683244683

Easy Poke Bowl

Ahi poke bowls are hugely popular, and here is a simple recipe, using all local ingredients to make it at home.

• 2 pounds fresh tuna steaks, cubes (tamashiros, or any local store with fresh ahi)
• 1 cup soy sauce (Aloha Shoyu)
• 3/4 cup chopped green onions (farmers market, or homegrown)
• 2 tablespoons sesame oil (family food company)
• 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds (farmers market)

Directions

1. In a medium size non-reactive bowl, combine Ahi, soy sauce, green onions, sesame oil, sesame seeds; mix well. Refrigerate at least 2 hours before serving.

Hawaii Farmers Markets

 One of the best ways to get local produce and goods is to shop at a farmers market. In oahu we have great farmers markets all over the island, filled with homegrown produce as well as locally made goods. This includes seafood, North Shore beef, Manoa honey, Kahuku corn, Waialua chocolate, and Waimanalo greens, and much more. Often at the markets there is also jewlery or other homemade crafts, including sunrise shell necklaces. Here is a schedule of the upcoming events: http://www.gohawaii.com/oahu/guidebook/topics/farmers-markets-on-oahu

Local Eats

This site helps you to find the best local, not chain restaurants, within hawaii.
http://www.localeats.com/q/Honolulu-+HI-restaurants/?lat=21.3069444&lon=-157.85833330000003&rad=50