Showing posts with label the Big Island. Show all posts
Showing posts with label the Big Island. Show all posts

Sunday, January 17, 2016

Creamy Polenta with Spinach, Mushrooms and Onions

One of my favorite restaurants on the Big Island of Hawaii is in a quaint town called Hulaloa that sits above Kona.  It started out as a Japanese community, and when I went there 20 some years ago there was one gift shop that sold woven Lauhala mats, and purses etc.  Now it's home to many beautiful art galleries a historic pink hotel and a favorite open air cafe.
Ed and I enjoyed our choices so much the last time we were there four years ago that we ordered exactly the same thing (The tuna melt for me and the Brie Burger for him).  I started eating tuna again after that trip and duplicated the dish many times.   Laura ordered the Polenta dish and it looked so wonderful that I couldn't wait to make it at home.  I added spinach to my dish for added nutrition and color.  I added my recipe at the bottom of this page.  Its so easy and as they say in theIslands  It's Ono! (delicious).
I wish I had taken more pictures of the inside.  It's planted with lush foliage and has beautiful
statues and coi ponds.

Our dear friends who were in Hawaii at the very same time.

     

Creamy Polenta with Sautéed Mushrooms, Onions and Spinach

3 cups of water +1 reserved
1 tsp salt
1 cup cornmeal
2 tbs butter
1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese

1 medium onion, roughly chopped
1 carton mushrooms of your choice, sliced
a large handful of cleaned baby spinach
thyme, salt and pepper to taste

Boil 3 cups of water with salt.  Add the cornmeal to the reserved cup of water and stir.  When the water starts a rolling boil add the cornmeal mixture, stir until smooth, reduce heat to simmer and cover.   Every few minutes stir the pot to keep from sticking.  

While thats cooking…

sauté your onions until transparent in hot oil.  Then add in the mushrooms.  It takes some time, but when they start to brown add salt, pepper and thyme.  When everything is the desired color (browned) add the spinach.


Turn the heat off of the cornmeal and add the butter and cheese.  

Serves 4

Tuesday, December 29, 2015

Day 3 Kona

Today we went to Kailua-Kona (my home 30 years ago for a spell.  I had never experience the museum Hulihe'e. The summer home of Hawaiian Royallty.  It's a simply home with beautiful Koa wood furnishings, and a magnificent view.  We did the tourist thing in Kona then ended on the beach to watch the sunset.
Ed wearing an UMT shirt❤️


The royal gate
Summer Palace
Queens bath
Happy hour at the Kona Inn
Rubber band fans

The desert of Hawaii
The small tide pools JD would swim in as a child.

Monday, December 28, 2015

Day 2. Hanging out with JD

Jeramiah has been busy with his friend from high school who now lives in Alaska teaching math at the University.  So we had a Kona coffee then got the tour of the farm he lives on.  So many beautiful fruit trees!  I was in Fauna and flora heaven!
We enjoyed some music in town during brunch and then hit the beach until the sun set.  A perfect Sunday.
Derick from Alaska

my son Jeramiah

The lane to his home

papaya tree

Bamboo 

Banana blossom


The yurts


bread fruit


His friends playing at the local coffee mill (our favorite breakfast joint)

dinner at the Bamboo in Hawi

sunset at beach 69 with Jeramiah on the slack slackline


Christmas in Hawaii (the decoration at our hale)