Lemon raspberry cupcakes with chocolate sauce

Adapted from Joy the baker

I didn't have fresh raspberries so I used frozen, I also whisked it in instead of folding, therefore the colour of batter turns out pink/purple.

I also added 1/4 cup of lemon juice and a teaspoon of lemon zest.

I decided to use almond milk wherever 'milk' was required, yes even the ganache.  I brought these into work and they were received well.

FB stands for food blogger. FB BBQ @ Edworthy Park

{Belated I know... }

I didn't let the riff raff happening to my kitchen ceiling from attending a fabulous potluck bbq.  Vincci (from Ceci n'est pas un food blog) kindly invited me into the circle of local food bloggers for a fabulous potluck at Edworthy park.  Even the ominous clouds did not prevent us from bringing some great food that neighbouring picnic sites would be jealous of.  

My cousin brought Sopapilla cheesecake dessert squares (topped with apple pie filling and toasted almonds).   I brought my classic lemon bars.  I made these ones using a metal 9x13 pan and realize that the baking time should be cut by a few minutes as the edges burn/caramelize a lot faster than glass baking dishes.

 Sopapilla aka the Apple almond cheesecake square (apologies over the resolution)

 Pierre's garden salad(his own garden!) with edible pansies and black currant vinaigrette. 

Check out Pierre's blog 

Ginormous cookies-that-ate-the-cookie from

a bakery in Banff. (I tried the lemon (healthy) and gingerbread)

Seedless watermelon opened with the back of an axe. Well done Pierre!

Chicken with Tzatziki

Jen from Chocolate & Ginger brought Golden watermelon and basil/feta skewers, and truffled mushroom brushetta with sweet onion, basil and parm 

Let's go clockwise: Lemon bars, Potato Salad (Julie from Dinner with Julie- also CBC radio)*, Golden watermelon/feta basil skewers, mushroom brushetta, Pierre's salad, Vincci's tzatziki, Plum cake (Lauren from Celiac teen)** Julie's quinoa salad.

  * My cousin will back me up on this, as I would not shut up about how I fell in love with the Quinoa Salad.  Thank you Julie! Also, I love the potato/bean salad as it's not the typical potato salad that I usually see at potlucks :D

** Lauren's gluten-free plum cake was delicious. Very moist, not overly sweet (which is what I like) and honestly I did not know that quinoa flour even existed.  

I enjoyed meeting everyone and hope to partake in future events! Cheers.

"It's like I am around the League of Extraordinary Foodies LXF "

NM Espresso bar

For my last lunch in Hawaii, I welcome you to
Neiman Marcus... espresso bar

I believe each floor of Neiman Marcus has a different restaurant, from casual to somewhat posh.

I had the applewood smoked salmon pasta salad.

[Fusilli pasta, cucumber, tomatoes, red onions, tarragon,

red wine vinaigrette] and yes, I ate with chopsticks.

MARIPOSA IN HONOLULU: Neiman Marcus launches its latest f/s concept | North America United States from AllBusiness.com

Lower level near valet entrance

Neiman Marcus

1450 Ala Moana Blvd.

Honolulu, HI 96814

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L & L Drive-Inn

L&L Drive-inn

Now this is fast food that I will eat! Each plate lunch includes rice, coleslaw, macaroni salad and meat of your choice.  In this case grilled Ahi. $5.

House without a key

The view is great, the entertainment is alright if you do want some Hawaiian music and dance.  The food was alright, nothing really stood out. I think I'd order a burger next time.

I had the snapper: catch of the day.  We also ordered coconut tiger shrimp with orange mango coulis, beef satay with peanut sauce, and coconut cake. 

Frozen Lemonade and Le Mint- Now these drinks are fab.

Enjoying Hawaiian music from far away

Romy's Kahuku Prawns & Shrimp

After an hour and a half drive from where I was staying, this shrimp truck has the most delicious prawns and shrimp I have ever tasted.

My hands got into the shrimp right away so the photo of the shrimp was an additional one brought back tot he place I was staying at.  If you are traveling clockwise around the island, this truck is on the left hand side.  It is past Turtle Bay resort and past another competing shrimp truck. 

Garlic & butter, Sweet & spicy.  I forgot how hard prawn shells are, but I like the taste of them better than shrimp.  However, I feel like they give you more shrimp since the size is a bit smaller.  

Caution: Not for those who don't like to get their hands messy because that is what happens. 

There is an outdoor sink to wash your hands, but no bathroom, just a portable toilet.  

Special thanks to my cousin for introducing me to the term Sprunch.  (Sprite + fruit punch)

Kahala wedding reception food

The Kahala Resort & Hotel. 

Vanilla butter cream wedding cake.

The top and bottom filling is vanilla butter cream, the middle was a citrus fruit mélange. I figure it's a mix because I couldn't quite identify it. 

 Kalua pork appetizers (Ahi poke not pictured).  

 

Red tuna and Seared Ahi

 

Tropical salad with a sweet vinegrette- tomatoes, bell peppers, mangoes, red onions.

Beef, potato wedges, asparagus and a tough fish with slivered almonds.