Made in Hawaii Foods Mochi – Honolulu, HI

I need to get back into the swing of things!  I’ll try to get some posts up and running tonight.  I am however going to make mochi tonight too!  I’ve made mochi before but it has always been the basics.  Butter Mochi…Coconut Custard Mochi, Chi Chi Dango, etc.  If I am ever in a mochi shop, I am always drawn to flavors that aren’t found elsewhere.  Well this is the perfect time to share the mochi I tried last week!  I scored a parking spot at Made in Hawaii Foods and bought their variety pack – it was marked off 25%.  LOL, I am Chinese after all.  This set included their Fresh Strawberry Mochi with azuki, chocolate truffle and Lilikoi (!!!) Cheesecake Mochi.  Let’s take a look…

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From left to right, Chocolate Truffle, Lilikoi Cheesecake and Fresh Strawberry Mochi. Continue reading

Mighty Wings

Have you seen the new promotion for McDonald’s?  Fried Chicken Wings!  I had to give it a try, especially after they closed down the Dillingham KFC.  How could they do that?  I mean the only other KFC in the area is down on North King Street and there is no drive through.  That decision made no sense to me.  I guess it’s either be good and don’t eat fried chicken or head on over to Popeyes.

Anyway, the chicken wings are pretty good!  I wonder if it’s for a limited time.  Do you guys remember the time that McDonald’s tried to do plate lunches?  I thought it was a cool idea but it didn’t work out.  That’s too bad.  I still do think McDonald’s needs to carry their breakfast platters all day long.  I’d love to have breakfast for dinner every once in a while.  Anyway, here are some pictures of the Mighty Wings!

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Happy October!

Do you know what October signals to me?  Fall!  I love Fall and Winter.  I know a lot of people get all mad about Christmas decorations being sold so early but I secretly love it.  I love it because Christmas is my most favorite holiday.  I used to Pandora Christmas music all year long, I was that hardcore.  Anyhow, Happy October!  Sorry I’ve been quiet, but I did kind of warn you guys that I had a few crazy weeks ahead of me.  I do want to take some time out to wish my friend Wendy a happy birthday.  I’m sorry you had to work but I hope you had a good day either way!

Sorry it’s going to be another short post.  I hope to get back into the swing of things end of this week?  I’ve got some stuff to do still so I haven’t been able to concentrate.  Let me share my sewing machine.  I bought my first sewing machine this past May and opened the box in September, lol.  Crazy right?  I’ve always wanted a sewing machine so I can do basic hem repairs on my clothes.  And no, I don’t want to use needle and thread.  Thank you.  Hahaha.  Anyway, the first thing I wanted to mend was this white skirt I have.  I finally mended my hem and guess what I see?  A freaking stain on the skirt!  And I’ve been bleaching and bleaching it to no avail!  I don’t even know what the stain it.  The closest way I can describe the stain is that…it almost looks rust stained.  So frustrating!  So I finally fix my skirt and it’s for nothing.  Sad ah?  Anyway, look at the first stitch I made.  LOL…have a great week everyone!

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Typical Morning

This semester has been unpredictable.  Usually after a week or two, traffic stabilizes but that has not happened!  What’s going on??  I’ve been trying to go to work before 7 and even then, there is so much traffic!  Then when I leave much later – I get stuck in UH traffic.  I heard there’s going to be a new H1 project coming up but luckily it’s at night.  I hope it doesn’t affect traffic in the morning too!  Anyway, just wanted to share a picture of traffic one morning.  I really like rain but we know what happens to traffic when it rains in Hawaii…

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Orecchiette with Kale

I’ve been looking at my blog the past few days and could have swore I had scheduled out updates all week!  So then I realized I had got all my pictures ready for posting but hadn’t actually done any write-ups.  Sorry!  It’s been crazy busy at work and next week will be even worst so I need to really schedule some things up for posting this weekend.  I wanted to share something I made about two weeks back.  I’ve been trying to cook lunch for work to save money and in hopes of eating healthier!  Here is a dish I made out of orecchiette, anchovies, kale, San Marzano tomatoes, fresh tomatoes, zucchini, and pork meatballs.  I’m really getting into kale just cooked down in a dish.  Kale chips, I’ll pass on those.

Anyhow, the dish came out great!  I don’t put too much seasonings so some may think it’s a bit bland but I really enjoyed it.  I also felt like this dish kept me full a lot longer.  It was great.  I will definitely try to make it again!

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Thank you Jalna!!

I started reading Jalna’s blog a few months ago and just love all her stories and photographs.  She also finds some great deals at the Flea Market, lots to learn from her!  One day, she did a drawing for two beautiful bracelets and a cell phone lariat.  I loved it and put in my name even though I never win anything!  Well guess what??  I was lucky enough to be drawn first!  I was so happy to win these three, thank you so much Jalna!  Check her blog!

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Cloud Gate – Chicago, IL

Just wanted to share some pictures of the Bean from Chicago aka Cloud Gate.  Can you guess why it’s called Cloud Gate?  It was a really hot day so I didn’t stick around to take too many pictures.  I’m also including a picture of the Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower), we were going to go up but were told it was a 2 hour wait to get up there!  I’ve been up once before so I am good…lol.

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Sillyness

I don’t think I take out enough time in the day to be silly.  I watch kids who have no worries and inhibitions and wish I were the same.  I really need to lighten up some days, I wish I could control that.  Wait, doesn’t that defeat what I’m trying to do?  Trying to control being too controlled?  🙂  Anyhow, just wanted to share a quick shot of my youngest brother.  Yes, for those who don’t know me well – I have VERY young brothers.  I love them with all my heart.

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Isn’t he the cutest? 

12th Avenue Grill – Honolulu, HI

My birthday this year fell on a Saturday and I got to spend my evening with one of the coolest people I know, Kristian!  He treated me to an incredible meal at 12th Avenue Grill.  It was the first visit for us both and we left wondering why we haven’t been to this place before.  We know one thing for sure, we will be returning again soon!  The service was great, we had a waitress named Jen (of course she’d be great with that name!).  Hopefully when I make a reservation again in the future, I can request her again.

130914-01My entree.  It was a daily special and it was AMAZING.  And head on shrimp?  Yes please.  The head of the shrimp is the BEST part.  

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Million Restaurant – Honolulu, HI

Is it Millions or Million?  I swear it was called Millions before?  No?  Anyhow, Million Restaurant has been my go to Korean restaurant for a few years now.  I enjoy them because the restaurant is clean, the service is on the most part friendly and the food is good.  The prices aren’t too shabby if you aren’t doing yakiniku.  Their parking is limited but the street parking is free after 6pm I believe.  I love their regular bi bim bap (no hot stone pot), cheaper that way and I don’t need the scorched rice.  I LOVE their Kalbi Tang (Kalbi Soup) and I also love their banchan.  Sometimes you score and get raw crab like we did this night.  I am pretty sure I am allergic to raw crab because my mouth and throat gets very itchy – but I still eat it.  I do silly things like that.  Here are the pics!

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Banchan.  My favorite is the savory egg custard.  I could eat that alone and be satisfied.

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130913-01Kalbi Tang!  So good.  Two big kalbi rib bones, daikon, long rice, egg, thin slices of meat…you can’t go wrong.  Ahhh I want some kalbi tang…