Tag Archives: macadamia nuts

Have a Merry Choco-Christmas

How much is too much? Is it possible to have too much chocolate? My sister-in-law certainly doesn’t think so. With less than two days until Christmas she is in her kitchen whipping up her famous chocolate macadamia nut clusters. I didn’t have the heart to tell her that if I see one more Christmas cookie I may just run in the opposite direction. But, that’s just because I spent the last three weeks churning out more than 300 cookies to give to friends and neighbors. (Did I mention I sampled a few dozen along the way?) My sister-in-law is by … Continue reading →

Macadamia Nut Madness

You can’t go to a holiday get together in Hawaii without finding at least a dozen dishes that feature local macadamia nuts. Now that I live on the mainland attending a holiday party and finding a dish made with the hearty salty nuts is rare (unless it’s a dish I bring to pass). And macadamia nuts are readily available in all 50 states so there really is no excuse for not experimenting with them in the kitchen. My aunt makes a macadamia nut pie to die for, but it’s a bit labor intensive, not to mention, incredibly rich. One slice … Continue reading →

Holiday Quick Bread with a Tropical Twist

I don’t know about you, but for me banana bread falls into the category of “quick bread.” It’s fast, the ingredients are affordable, and it doesn’t require the sweat or time associated with kneading, proofing and punching down. If you are tired of baking the same ol’ Christmas cookies year after year you might consider going the quick bread route this holiday season. They are the ideal homemade treat to pass out to friends or family members as gifts. They also make great additions to a holiday brunch. I used to make the following recipe each December and take it … Continue reading →

Hawaiian Style Christmas Cookies

A week ago today I was braving the crowds at the grocery store in order to get the ingredients I needed for our Thanksgiving feast. Today, I’ll be back at it again. This time to gather the ingredients for all the Christmas cookies I plan to bake in the weeks to come. Weeks… Who am I kidding? Our first round of Christmas parties starts on Saturday, December 1st. My friend and former colleague is hosting a Christmas party in her newly renovated home and I want to get a few batches of her favorite cookies done in time to take … Continue reading →

Hawaiian Style Thanksgiving Dishes

No, you don’t have to live in Hawaii to create the following recipes. I selected ones that included ingredients that are readily available at markets on “the mainland.” For those of you who do not read my regular blogs (Valorie has been kind enough to allow me to guest blog here) I was born and raised in Hawaii, but left the island paradise nearly two decades ago to attend college in Wisconsin (don’t ask)… and the rest, as they say, is history. However, no matter where I spend Thanksgiving I like to include a bit of home into my feast. … Continue reading →