Hawaii Food and Recipe Blog

Ho-Ho-HOLY SMOKES… is it really the holidays again?

Well if you’re getting ready to bake your holiday cookies, this recipe will probably get you into a tropical frame of mind (especially for those of us up north where it gets cold QUICK!)

Hawaiian Macadamia Nut Cookies

Ingredients
1-2/3 cups flour
3/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 cup butter
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/3 cup granulated (white) sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 egg
1 cup flaked coconut
2 cups white chocolate chips
3/4 cup macadamia nuts

Start by combining flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a small bowl. Next, beat the butter, brown sugar, white sugar, and vanilla in large mixer bowl until creamy. Beat in eggs. Gradually beat in the flour mixture. Finally, stir in white chocolate chips, coconut, and nuts (wow, I’m getting hungry just writing this…). Drop cookies by rounded tablespoons onto ungreased baking sheet - if you have it, use parchment paper, they turn out a bit better. Bake at 375 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes.

Let’s be honest, if you are gonna pick up some local food in Hawaii, then you’re going to have two things on that plate with your meal: Rice and mac salad. And sure, you could go out and buy a big tub of all that mayonnaise-covered goodness, but why not make your own?

Mac Salad Recipe

• About 2 cups cooked macaroni, drained, rinsed, and cooled
• 2 hard-cooked eggs, chopped
• 1/4 cup chopped celery
• 1/4 cup chopped onion
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 2 teaspoons vinegar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
• 1/2 teaspoon prepared mustard
• pepper and Mrs. Dash, to taste

Oh come on , this couldn’t be easier! Combine the mayonnaise and veggies, then fold in the noodles. Add the seasonings, then sprinkle a thin layer of Mrs Dash over the top, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least two hours to get the flavors to blend.

In honor of spring, I’ve been in a very milkshake frame of mind. So today I give you the tropical pineapple/coconut shake! Tastes yummy even if you don’t have coconut syrup on hand (but it’s not hard to find)

• 1/4 cup cold milk
• 2 scoops vanilla ice cream
• 1 5 1/4 oz can of pineapple chunks, and don’t drain it!
• 1 TBSP coconut syrup

Place them all in a blender, then mix until nice and smooth. Pour into a tall glass (with a little paper umbrella if you have one) and enjoy! Makes a very nice change from chocolate. Also works great with coconut sorbet (if you can find it) in which case drop the coconut syrup… although it isn’t quite as creamy.