Monday, December 8, 2014

Maui Made Gifts for the Holiday Season

Its that time of year again when we are all rushing about trying to find the perfect gift. Here on Maui we are blessed with some amazing local business that create some awesome products. If you'd like to gift someone a piece of paradise this season here are my top recommendations:

Ocean Vodka 
 
Ocean Vodka is an incredible spirit distilled on Maui from Organic cane sugar and deep sea mineral water. It works by itself or in mixed drinks and their new sea float inspired bottle is really beautiful. 

 
Adobo Loco is a really cool little family run hot sauce company that sources from local farmers on the island. All of their sauces are delicious and we always keep a bottle of their Pineapple Habanero sauce in the fridge.

 
Maui Babe sun products are made using local Hawaiian ingredients and work really well. I have to say that as a very fair girl who does not tan easily their Browning Lotion works quick and well. The fact that its not a stain or dye but just stimulates natural tanning factors in the skin is a big bonus.

 
Nothing says Hawaii like Pineapple, and Maui Gold is the sweetest pineapple I've ever tasted. You can taste these super sweet fruits for yourself by ordering from their website if you can't find them locally. Maui Gold uses Fedex 2 day air to get your pineapple to you as quick as possible and all prices include shipping. 





Island Essence Bath and Spa 
  
Island Essence spa products are a luxurious line of products made with local ingredients such as sea kelp, kukui nut oil, and noni extract. I am particularly in love with their body butters, especially in the Passionfruit Lime scent. It is sweet, light, and really unique. 


Maui Brewing Co 
 
Maui Brewing Co is our award winning local micro brewery here on the island. Their creations all use local ingredients giving them a truly unique taste. You can find their products near you using their handy Beer Finder


 
Maui Girl & Co is an amazing swimwear company based on Maui's North shore in Paia. They have some incredible designs and have been featured several times in Sports Illustrated's Swimsuit Edition. 

 
Maui Soap Company makes a lovely line of handmade vegan bath products using Coconut oil. The scents are very true to life and really bring the scents of island home. 

 
Now I don't own one these myself because they are a bit pricey, but they are so so awesome. Each piece is handcrafted and numbered. The pieces incorporate a compass and sundial with instructions engraved on the back. I really hope these catch on and think they would make a truly unique gift for any watch lover. 



Surfer Girl Jewelry 
 
Surfer Girl Jewelry is based right in my little town of Kihei and makes some really beautiful pieces. Each piece is handcrafted and really captures the spirit of the islands. 



So I hope if you are looking to give a bit of paradise this season my list has helped. I love giving out of the box gifts that people aren't expecting, especially things from far away places. Until next time Aloha from Maui. 




Saturday, December 6, 2014

My Obsession: Scented Candles and Wax Melts

I love scented candles and wax melts, like really love them. Much to my husbands frustration I tend to buy them in large quantities whenever I find them on sale. Living on a remote tropical island makes finding them locally a challenge so thank goodness for the internet. Today I'm going to share with you some scents to bring a tropical atmosphere to your home, and then later in the blog I'll share the scents I'm currently obsessing over.

Leeward Lagoon 
 This is described as a serene and tropical mixture of water lily, flowering tonka and pink grapefruit with a splash of coconut water, to me it is bright light and watery and makes me think of the beach early on a warm morning. 

 
This one is described as an intricate blend of the blooming white florals of jasmine and orange blossom mixed with rich espresso beans. It was warm, comforting and reminds me of drinking my coffee on my balcony when the plumaria tree is in bloom. 


 
This one is full of soft island fruits, papya, guava, banana with an undercurrent of pineapple, coconut, and a hint of cinnamon. Its a warm and heady scent. 

 
This one is like a bowl of tropical fruit salad, full of pineapple, kiwi, dragon fruit, and mango. 

 
This one is truly tropical mix of green island palm and coconut milk. Think Pina Colada at your favorite beach bar. 

This one is mix of bright citrus, spicy vanilla, and tropical florals. It makes me think of a walk down the beach at sunset. 





That brings us to the conclusion of our tropical scents today, now on to my current obsessions. The first four are from an amazing little shop based in Minneapolis Minnesota called Frostbeard Studio. Their scents come in both wax tart and candle forms.

A mixture of lavender, basil, thyme, and herbs. It was inspired by the Outlander series and makes me think of a sun drenched herb garden, fresh, green, spicy and calming. 

 
This one is described as the scent of a bookstore with timber, driftwood, coffee and leather. It is right on the money. It is fresh, clean, both cool and warm at the same time with a hint of coffee in the air and reminiscent of getting lost among the shelves and discovering new favorites. 

 
This one is a mix of sweet pipe tobacco, cherry wood, and fresh rain. It was warm, heady, enveloping, with a hint of intrigue. Like the man himself this leaves you dazed and wanting more. 

 
This one is oakmoss, amber, sandalwood, a hint of tobacco and leather. It is fresh, cool, full of knowledge. Like browsing rows in an underused section on a cool afternoon, it is truly the scent of a large library. 




This last scent I'm obsessing over is by Colonial Candle. I received a scent sample of it months before it was released and knew I had to have it. It was well worth the wait. 


 
This is described as a mixture of tobacco leaf, amber, white patchouli, carnation, and honey. It is deep, dark, sweet  and intoxicating. It makes me think of dark raw honey and a warm fire. 


Well that's it for this post. You can be sure that many people on my gift list this year will be receiving some of these. Hope you enjoyed, until next time. Aloha from Maui. 















Friday, November 21, 2014

Tropical Holiday Recipes: Desserts

Here is the final installment in this series of tropical recipes for the holiday season: Desserts. This is everything other then the pies and cheesecakes and tarts covered in the first installment. Please enjoy

1)Kona Coffee Creme Brulee 
 

2) Aloha Cake 
 

3) Haupia 
 
This is my go to recipe for this this traditional Hawaiian coconut pudding, always a hit. 

 
This recipe calls for leftover pumpkin cheesecake but is also good with pumpkin pie. 


 
This is a sweet take on a holiday stuffing. 

 

 

 

You have to scroll half way down the page for this recipe but it's worth it. 

Well that's it for this series of posts, I hope you enjoyed them. Check back next week for a new post. To everyone in the US I hope you are having a wonderful Thanksgiving. Aloha from Maui. 



Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Tropical Holiday Recipes: Appetizers, Drinks, and Sides

On this weeks edition of Tropical Holiday Recipes I'll be giving you a collection of my favorite appetizer, drink, and side recipes. I love green beans so there are several recipes for them, also if you look back to my early posts on the blog you'll find an additional recipe for sweet potatoes fried with cinnamon and coconut milk. Now on to the recipes:

1) Hoisin Green Bean Salad 
 
This recipe calls for agave but if you don't have that on hand honey will work fine

 

 

 
This is a super quick and simple recipe with just 4 ingredients and 2 steps. 

 

 
This is great on lots of things but is particularly good on the famous Kings Hawaiian Rolls. 

 
This is a Disney recipe from their Polynesian resort and popular with kids. 

 

If you don't have the palm sugar the recipe calls for organic or light brown sugar is fine. 

 

Well there they are to inspire you. As I said if you check out this earlier entry Adventures in Island life you'll find my personal favorite sweet potato recipe where they are fried with cinnamon and coconut milk. Sweet Potatoes with a tropical twist.  Next week will be the last in the series and contain a collection of tropical dessert recipes, until then Aloha from Maui. 





Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Tropical Holiday Recipes: Cranberries and Stuffing

This week in my Tropical Holiday Recipes series brings what I feel are the two most important side dishes of any holiday meal. I adore cranberry sauce and stuffing ridiculously and try to find any excuse to make them year round. I have compiled 10 recipes for each to help in your tropical holiday plans, so without further ado:
CRANBERRIES

 
This will keep for up to a month in the refrigerator. 

 

 
This one freezes great. 

 

 
This is an unusual recipe from Iron Chef Bobby Flay with both sweet and savory elements.

 

 
If you don't have access to fresh passion fruit, frozen is fine. In a pinch you can even use passion fruit nectar though the consistency may be more fluid. 

 
To make this one even more tropical replace the walnuts or pecans with macadamia nuts. 

 

 
Any tropical juice blend will work in this recipe. 


Now on to the next part of the blog. I know a lot of people still like to stuff their turkeys, but I'm a bit paranoid of food born illness so I always make mine separate. These recipes can be adapted either way, the choice is yours.

STUFFING

 

 

 
This is probably the most local recipe. Check the frozen section of specialty grocery stores to find Kalua pork on the mainland. Or make it yourself in a slow cooker using this link: Kalua Pork

 

 
Rice stuffing is a great gluten free alternative for the holiday

 

 

 

 
 

Well that's all for this week, be sure to check back next week when I feature other tropical side dishes as well as tropical holiday drinks. Until then Aloha from Maui.