Welcome Home Aloha Style

After being in Honolulu for seven weeks straight my "sweetie" finally came home. To help him feel at home two of our daughters decided to throw a surprise welcome home-luau. It was actually supposed to be a surprise for me as well but I had figured it out and tried to keep it in until I had to admit I knew when they were trying to make specific arrangements around me.

Kerry was very surprised despite the fact that there several hints throughout the day.

Natalie and Rebecca had worked for hours to make it like an authentic luau.

Kalua Pig

4-5 lb pork roast

1/4 Kosher salt

3 cloves minced garlic

½ cup liquid smoke

1 cup water

Rub salt over roast. Set roast in slow cooker. Add other ingredients to slow cooker. Cover. Cook on Low 6-12 hours, or until meat shreds easily with fork. Shred meat. Serve over rice. Or cool and freeze in Ziploc freezer bags in dinner-sized portions. To serve from frozen, simply remove from freezer bag and reheat in microwave.

Teryaki Chicken

5 lbs chicken thighs, bone in, with skin

1 T Vegetable Oil

2 T Cornstarch mixed with 1 T water

Sauce:

1/2 cup Sugar

1 c. Water

3/4 c. Soy Sauce

1/2 inch piece Ginger, smashed (or substitute ginger powder)

1 clove Garlic, smashed

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine sauce ingredients in pot and bring to boil. Turn off heat and stir to dissolve sugar. Let cool. Divide sauce in half. Marinate chicken pieces in half of sauce. Reserve other half of sauce for baking pan. Marinate chicken for at least an hour, up to overnight, turning at least once. Heat oil in heavy skillet over high heat. Sear chicken pieces in skillet, working in batches. Place seared chicken pieces in baking pan, skin side down. Stir cornstarch slurry into remaining dipping sauce. Pour sauce over chicken. Bake 60 to 70 minutes, until cooked through. Pour sauce over chicken.

Dave made homemade rolls tinted purple to look like the rolls served at most of the luau's.

This really looks like an authentic luau plate including the store bought macaroni salad.

Rebecca and Natalie planned the entire evening. Rebecca made wonderful fruit smoothies .
Afterwards we played Pineapple Bowling on the deck coconut and all. The boys got a great kick out of it.

Our cute Natalie and Dave awaiting the arrival of the little one, we are all so excited!

It was a very relaxing and fun evening. Thanks girls, and guys!