Hawaiian Curiosities

The hotel I stayed at in Honolulu had penguins. Penguins. They swam in the water with turtles and koi, and people could pet them if they came close enough. Penguins. In Hawaii. The inner part of Honolulu is very different from the coast. It is cloudier and more tropical. The plant life is very unique. Granted, we were at a botanical garden. But look at this tree! I’d never seen anything like it. It reminds me of a crayon…peel back … Continue reading

Crispy, Double Coconut Chicken with Grilled Pineapple

I have a confession to make. I licked my plate, *shame.* Warm, sweet pineapple juice mixed with Thai chili sauce and crispy coconut bits was just too much for me to resist. When dinner is this tropical, it’s sure to be a crowd pleaser. I can’t wait to make it again! To make it, start by getting some thinly-sliced chicken breasts. You can buy the chicken thinly sliced, or you can cut regular chicken breasts in half horizontally. Salt and … Continue reading

Tropical Shrimp Quesadillas

This quesadilla put me on the beach. With each bite, the sound of crashing waves got louder and louder. I wish! Now that I think about it, there isn’t any mango or pineapple in this quesadilla to make it truly “tropical,” but it is something that I want to eat oceanside with a piña colada. To make 2 quesadillas, sauté 1/2 of a diced onion, 1 minced garlic clove, 8-9 jumbo shrimp cut into thirds (no tails), and 1/4 cup … Continue reading