DECEMBER 2021

I was feeling particular homesick so this seemed like an appropriate theme for my daughter’s 15th birthday.  Both of my kids feel like Hawaii is their second home and love it as much as I do.

We talked about all of the things we love and the first things we do when we get there. It’s always:  Beach, Willow Tree Kalbi for dinner, Agnes’ malasadas for breakfast.

Work in progress:

The shell was the first thing I made because I knew it was going to be the most difficult. And I was right.  The shape, the pointy bits, the ridged interior…. I almost feel like the success of this shell was kind of an accident.  Below is  a photo of the inspiration.  My dad found it somewhere in the waters of the South Pacific and now it sits on a shelf in my house.

Plumeria

Malasadas. Basically donuts,  but not really. I’m not a donut fan, but these Portuguese donuts are magical. And a tradition.  I would never consider eating three glazed donuts in one sitting, but I think nothing of it when it’s a malasada.  It’s the same way I think about cookie dough. I’d NEVER eat eight cookies in one sitting, but when it’s dough??? I easily have 4 giant spoonfuls of dough each time and could  likely eat the whole batch and never get ’em in the oven. I made up the term  “Cookie Doughn’t Count” to explain this phenomenon.

Manoa Chocolate. We are obsessed with this chocolate and are members of their monthly subscription club which means each member get three bars delivered every month.

Willow Tree Kalbi with rice and kimchee.  Our first night tradition. Always.

Shave Ice.  I *think* this one is my favorite. The ice is colored sanding sugar and the straw is a toothpick I colored with a red Sharpie.

Requisite Palm Tree. This involved a lot of wire and time as I had to wait for everything to dry before I could assemble it.  And of course, one of the palm fronds cracked in half so I “glued” it back together with royal icing.

Finished products, different angle.

One very very happy birthday girl.