4.07.2010

A Birthday Bash, Hawaiian Style

The jolly thing about being part of CEC is that whenever it's your birthday, you get to choose the theme for the menu! This week was Toby's birthday and, being an island lad, he asked us all to cook Hawaiianish things. We were more than happy to oblige. :-)

Deborah started the evening with her fantastic Coconut Pineapple Sliders, scrumptiously moist little burgers mixed with coconut and pineapple and served on toasted sweet rolls spread with coconut milk solids.


Darren made us all deeeelicious Mai Tai's and Jason and Kim served up a cheery bowl of fruit salad made of three different varieties of apples, plus oranges, bananas, pineapple and coconut.


Don whipped up a batch of his "Hawaiian" Guacamole which looked suspiciously like his "Mexican" Guacamole. :-) Regardless, it was a marvy mash perfect on the extra salted tortilla chips he brought.


Meanwhile, Toby was working hard over the stove creating two chicken dishes: Shoyu Chicken and Teriyaki Chicken. They were both splendid, the chicken tender and juicy, the sauces distinctive and savory.



Then Cameron emerged from the darkness bearing platters of four different types of smoked Spam (yes, SPAM!!!!) and pork tenderloin. I don't think I'd ever had Spam before and I was assured that these renditions were the best Spam I would ever taste. :-) Cameron smoked plain Spam, Teriyaki Spam, BBQ Spam and "Dry Rub Special Spice" Spam. :-) We all agreed that they tasted like greasier, saltier hot dogs, and that's not necessarily a bad thing. :-)



Cameron's smoked pork loin was gorgeous and tender, packed with flavor.


Our evening of feasting ended with my creamy Coconut Almond Jelly with Fresh Mangoes, and Jason's crispy Fried Plantain slices sprinkled with sugar. Delish! :-)




Happy Birthday, Toby! :-)

Deborah's Coconut Pineapple Sliders

Ingredients:

1 pound hamburger
3/4 can pineapple tidbits
1 cup shredded coconut
1-2 Tbsp coconut milk, enough to moisten
King's Hawaiian Rolls, halved and toasted
3-4 Tbsp coconut milk solids

Directions:
  1. Mix hamburger, pineapple, coconut and coconut milk together. Let sit in fridge overnight. 
  2. Form small patties with ice cream scoop and grill to desired doneness. 
  3. Spread toasted rolls with coconut milk solids. 
  4. Place burger between rolls and serve immediately.
Don's "Hawaiian" Guacamole

Ingredients:

4 ripe avocados, halved and flesh scooped out
1-2 tomatoes, chopped
1/2 white onion, chopped fine
handful fresh cilantro, chopped
lime juice to taste
sea salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Directions:
  1. Mash everything in mortar and pestle to desired consistency. 
  2. Serve with salty tortilla chips
Jason and Kim's Fruit Salad

Ingredients:

3 apples, different varieties
2 oranges
3 bananas
1/2-1 pineapple
1/2-1 cup shredded coconut

Directions:
  1. Chop all fruit then toss with coconut and serve.
Jason's Fried Plantain

Ingredients:

Plantains, sliced 1/4 inch thick
Vegetable oil
Granulated sugar

Directions:
  1. Heat 1/4 cup of vegetable oil in frying pan. 
  2. Add plantains and fry until golden and crispy. 
  3. Transfer to paper towel and drain. 
  4. Sprinkle with sugar while still hot and serve immediately.
Krista's Coconut Almond Jelly with Fresh Mangoes

Ingredients:

2 pkgs. unflavored gelatin
1 cup cold water
1/2 cup sugar
2 1/2 c. coconut milk
1 tsp. almond extract
2-3 ripe mangoes, cubed

Directions:
  1. Sprinkle gelatin on cold water in a pot. Put on medium heat.
  2. Stir constantly until dissolved.
  3. Add 1 cup sugar, stir to dissolve. Remove from heat.
  4. Add almond flavoring to the milk and pour into the gelatin mix. Stir to blend.
  5. Pour into 9" square glass pan and put in fridge to set.
  6. When cut in 1/2 -1-inch squares.
  7. Place a cup full into each bowl. Top with cubed mango and serve.

16 comments:

  1. Some gorgeous looking food here, quite a party!

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  2. It was very fun, Sarah. :-) I love my cooking group friends!

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  3. This was a feast of near epic proportions. I love shoyu chicken and it is so easy to make. You must have had a fantastic time.

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  4. I'm still stuck on the coconut in the sliders. What an original idea! I love this theme. You should tell us beforehand what you decide on for YOUR birthday so we can have a bloggerwide event for it!

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  5. You aren't kidding, Mary!! It was one amazing dish after another. :-) SO much goodness and such lovely people. :-)

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  6. Isn't it amazing, Joanne? Deb came up with it all on her own and WOW!! Absolutely delicious. :-) Oooo, that would be fun to do for my birthday! It's not until November though, so it'll be a bit of a wait. :-) Thanks for thinking of such a lovely thing! :-)

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  7. Looks like a whole lotta aloha going on! The smoked spam was an inspired addition! Takes me back to camping trips. My mother loved spam "on the road".

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  8. Sure was, Paradis! :-) It was such a fun night and the smoked Spam was actually good. :-)

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  9. Everything is so so so super delicious here....gosh how does the best food find its way to Rambling Tart...
    and i so Agree with Joanne,Nov it is...looking foward sure...
    cheers and twinkles for ya....

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  10. Wow! That looks like some great party food!! Wishing for the leftovers ;) Though I'm certain there was probably not a single bite left!

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  11. Ohhh, thank you, Sugar Plum! :-) I'm so glad you like it! Looking forward to a grand celebration in November. :-)

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  12. I'd share if you were closer, Southern! :-) We cleaned up nearly every last morsel. :-)

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  13. Wow - what great food, photos & recipes! It's funny how popular Spam is in Hawaii but found that out after traveling there a few years ago. Those sliders sound out of this world - thanks for sharing the recipes.
    I just signed up to follow your fabulous blog! Stop by and visit me sometime at www.stephaniesavorsthemoment.com. Looking forward to your next delicious post!
    Stephanie

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  14. Thank you, Stephanie! :-) It's lovely to meet you and I just added your blog to my reader. :-) Looking forward to more of your scrumptious recipes and wine pairings :-)

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  15. It sounds like a fantastic party, with great food like that! I especially like the dessert recipes. I've just visited your blog for the first time, and your photos are beautiful!

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  16. Thank you, Mary! I'm so glad you like the photos. :-) I'm off to visit your blog! :-)

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