Easy Hawaiian Style Recipes
by Jerry Gill, editor
Published by Ann Darrow Co.
Click on book
cover to order
at Amazon.com
Reviewed by Yuka Mizushima
My husband and I went to Hawaii for our honeymoon. While we enjoyed eating some gourmet meals, we also looked forward to the blue plate lunches. This cookbook represents the home cooking styles of Hawaii. Easy Hawaiian Style comes with a book stand and a wooden spoon.
Each recipe is on a single page and has three headings: ingredients, instructions and options. Recipes range from appetizers, main courses and desserts. A glossary of terms at the beginning of the book explains various ethnic ingredients. I liked how the recipes used ingredients that I already had—soy sauce, crushed pineapple, etc.
I made and enjoyed: Sweet and Sour Pupu Wings, Macaroni Salad, Potato Salad, Shoyu Chicken, Banana Bread and Banana Pineapple Upside Down Cake. I have marked the following recipes to try next: Meat loaf, Skillet Prawns, Saimin, Huli Huli Chicken, Shortbread Cookies and Fruit Bread.
I found that the recipes were clearly laid out and easy to follow. The Options section was also helpful as it contained ideas for ingredients substitutions, serving ideas and recipe variations. And the taste was amazing! I made the Shoyu Chicken and my husband said it tasted just like his mom’s. My parents loved the Sweet and Sour Pupu Wings and wanted the recipe. Very high praise!
Although I really wanted to give this book five stars, it only received four stars for the following reasons:
—A few minor typos: 8 “ox” instead of “oz.” and “of” instead of “off.”
—Attention to details: tomato sauce is listed in ingredients but tomato paste is used in instructions, for another recipe 1 box of sugar is used, I would prefer a standard measurement.
—And when I made the Banana Pineapple Upside Down Cake, flour was missing from the ingredients section but mentioned in the instructions. I was able to look on the Internet and figure out the missing amount. But it did give me a few moments of panic since I had already melted my butter.
I think if these issues are addressed this will be a five-star cookbook that will be loved and used in many kitchens.
Armchair Interviews says: Treat your taste buds to a tropical vacation.