One of Art's favorite cousins, Jane came to Oahu from the Big Island with her husband who needed an eye operation. We picked them up at the airport, brought them to the hospital and took care of their luggage while they were going through the doctor's appointment and later surgery.
It was so wonderful spending time with them. We were really stunned to see all the treats they brought with them from the Big Island. (Some people are calling it Hawaii Island now also, but I'm used to calling it the Big Island.)
Jane had made boiled peanuts for Art just the way he remembered them in his youth. She also picked poha (Cape gooseberry) and guava from their yard and made us jams. Amazing!
There was Donna's Cookies from Honokaa which taste truly homemade. They'd stopped at the Hilo Farmers Market to pick up some gigantic avocados, zucchini and sweet potatoes for us.
However, the one thing that had Art drooling and his eyes lit up was the large jar of rakkyo. Rakkyo is Japanese pickled scallions. It really is delicious. I remember having them as a child too. We've seen bottles of them sold at stores, but Art just doesn't think they'd live up to his taste bud's memories. Jane prepared this huge bottle for him (us). We had a very tasty dinner tonight and tomorrow we'll have a great breakfast with the sweet bread she also baked for us along with her homemade jams.
Yum!
By the way, we asked the cousins about the coqui frogs I wrote about yesterday and Jane said they hate them. She said there are some evenings in Hilo when she has to sleep with the pillow wrapped around her ears.
I'll be going out to listen for them tomorrow night.
It was so wonderful spending time with them. We were really stunned to see all the treats they brought with them from the Big Island. (Some people are calling it Hawaii Island now also, but I'm used to calling it the Big Island.)
Jane had made boiled peanuts for Art just the way he remembered them in his youth. She also picked poha (Cape gooseberry) and guava from their yard and made us jams. Amazing!
There was Donna's Cookies from Honokaa which taste truly homemade. They'd stopped at the Hilo Farmers Market to pick up some gigantic avocados, zucchini and sweet potatoes for us.
However, the one thing that had Art drooling and his eyes lit up was the large jar of rakkyo. Rakkyo is Japanese pickled scallions. It really is delicious. I remember having them as a child too. We've seen bottles of them sold at stores, but Art just doesn't think they'd live up to his taste bud's memories. Jane prepared this huge bottle for him (us). We had a very tasty dinner tonight and tomorrow we'll have a great breakfast with the sweet bread she also baked for us along with her homemade jams.
Yum!
By the way, we asked the cousins about the coqui frogs I wrote about yesterday and Jane said they hate them. She said there are some evenings in Hilo when she has to sleep with the pillow wrapped around her ears.
I'll be going out to listen for them tomorrow night.
I have only eaten boiled peanuts one time and can't even think of them without getting the awful taste in my mouth again. I have been told that the ones I tried were not good ones and I should try them again...but "ain't no way".
ReplyDeleteWhat to give people who have everything? FOOD! Hooray.
Can't wait to hear about the frog listening.
what a wonderful selection of treats, now thats a truly thoughtful gift,
ReplyDeletedelightful cuisine-how fun, treats from your past freshly homemade!
ReplyDeleteI am curious to know what some of those things taste like. I do hope the eye surgery went well. You are very good friends indeed!
ReplyDeleteWhat thoughtful gifts from people who know you well. Gteat that you could enjoy a visit with then and some special treats as well.
ReplyDeleteWhat a nice treat is must have been to get so many things all at once that Art loves.
ReplyDeleteWhat a feast! I'm sure Art will share some of those goodies.
ReplyDeleteThe food looks delicious, especially the cookies! Looove cookies!
ReplyDeleteThat was so nice of the visitors to bring you such wonderful snacks from the Big Island!
ReplyDeleteRakkyo reminds me of my grandfather. It was his job peeling the onions. He said it was humbug. He sat in the middle of his living room with a heapful of the smallest onions. I hate peeling onions, so I can imagine small onions the size of a thumb must be nerve wrecking. Lots of love went into the gifts you've received!!
ReplyDeleteL. from W.
I know...
DeleteAnd we are sure enjoying these treats. Avocados with sugar on sweet bread... serious YUM!
What sounds like treats to you and Art don't sound all that great to some of us. We sure are products of our culture.
ReplyDeleteBut how nice of Art's cousin to prepare such lovely gifts just for him, and you, of course.
I was on the Big Island two months ago, and I didn't think the Coqui frogs were so bad. They sounded about like the Spring Peepers I grew up with in New York. On the other hand, the Spring Peepers didn't peep all year long, just in the Spring when love was in the air. However, so many prople detest the Coqui that I think I'm probably wrong. It's just that I was surprised they didn't annoy me as much as I had heard they would.
ReplyDeleteMany introduced species prosper in Hawaii because there are no natural enemies. The Java Finch, Java Sparrow, or Java Rice Bird WHICH HAS ITS EYE ON YOUR ATTIC I MIGHT ADD, is a case in point. These people who have pythons and boa constrictors as pets are really endangering us all. Thank goodness they haven't prospered as much in Hawaii as they have in Florida.
Then again... I did hear a legend of piranhas in our reservoirs. I don't know if it's true though. I'm just battling pigeons and bulbuls. The neighbor up the block, pretty far away is feeding the Java sparrows so they're all on his end of the neighborhood. :-)
Deletewhat thoughtful gifts, wonderful friends!
ReplyDeleteI love rakkyo. Our neighbors used to make them and give us some. But he died and she is very old now. Id say most places we have the coquis under control and don't mind them much any more.
ReplyDeletethose pickled scallions are so expensive.
ReplyDeleteOh.... we know. We know. We're eating them a little at a time.
DeleteOno, oishi desu!
ReplyDeleteIt'll always be the Big Island to this haole!
Co-KEEE! co-KEEEE! Heard them in Hilo last year, and I think we'd get used to them. They are beloved in Porto-Rico. Hope we don't have to...
Aloha from Honolulu
Comfort Spiral
=^..^=
> < } } ( ° >
That all looks wonderful - how thoughtful of them. For some reason Kay I thought you lived on the Big Island. Duh!! The Guava jam sounds delicious. I shall be over for breakfast so set another place if you don't mind!
ReplyDeleteI would always love such friends..;)
ReplyDelete