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.