Hanai - new upscale organic store in Kapaa

Kathy and visited the new store. A bit pricey, but some really fun items. Hey, this is why we work, true?

Nextdoor.com Seis de Mayo Paina

Before we left for Belize I signed up our neighborhood, Waipoli, for nextdoor.com. It is a pretty neat way to stay in touch with your neighbors. Tonight we are throwing a party for the neighborhood. And, someone is trying to start a Kapaa neighborhood. I am anchoring the party with some Latino food and music since that is our theme, (Seis de Mayo). I documented a few of the recipes. After refreshing beverages, chips and many dips, this is the playlist:

Patata Tocino Clara de Huevo Tarta
Jamon y Queso Quesadillas
Chile Verde Lagana

Flan
Chocolate Flan
Almond Vaneera Flan Pudding
Kumquat Jalapeno Bread Pudding

Passion Fruit Mango ginger tea

It will be great to meet some new neighbors.

Passion fruit and Kumquat Jalapeno Bread Pudding

4 eggs
1 can evaporated milk
(leftovers from previous dishes in the blender, maybe a touch some chocolate)
1/2 can coconut milk
1/4 cup dried cherries, (Washington state if possible)
1/4 cup pistachios shelled
Nutmeg to taste, a little sugar if you must
Scrape one vanilla bean and add.
3 slices of Costco Gluten free bread, cut into chunks.

Blend everything but the bread. Pour over the bread. Let sit for at least 30 minutes, that bread does not absorb liquid.

Cook at 300 degrees for one hour. Pull it out to cool.

Topping:
3 Tablespoons Kumquat Jalapeno Jelly
1/4 cup condensed Passion Fruit juice.

Pour over the bread chunks that have risen in the mix.

Patata Tocino Clara de Huevo Tarta

1 large Costco Russet Potato
1 16 oz Costco Egg White
20 strips Costco Cooked Bacon
20 stalks/leave chive
Tablespoon cooking oil, I used Costco Mediterranean
Salt, garlic, chili powder, red pepper, black pepper to taste
Shredded Cheese for garnish, (and structural integrity)

Blend egg white, potato, chives
Chop Bacon coursely
Add spice, stir, pour into oiled non-stick large saute´pan

1 hour at  300 degrees, put a plate on top, flip add more shredded cheese, garnish with paprika

Geico - Enterprise Rent a Car - Unintended Consequences

The highway merges from 2 lanes to 1 in front of the Safeway on Kuhio HWY. Usually we go every other car. However, back in March a huge SUV decided two cars in the merge lane should get to go and ran my truck down, (I am guessing it was something like cell phoning while driving).

The police came and looked at our credentials and filed a report. We were both Geico, or so said the report. However, the other motorist had given the police false credentials and was an uninsured motorist.

Geico explained that I would have to pay my $500 deductible even though I was not at fault. OK, not happy news, but that is the way it is. I explained that Kathy and I would be out of the country and would deal with this when we got back. Now we are back.

Geico, called, said that the uninsured motorist was going to pay, and I would not have to pay the $500. Good news.

I managed to get an appointment with Kauai Collision for tomorrow. We only have one vehicle on island, so I need a rental. Geico pays $30.00 per day. OK.

For the last 45 minutes I have been calling Geico and Enterprise and can't get a lock on a car and a pick up time. It isn't that Geico is stiffing me. My adjuster, (one of them actually, Jesse), has been responsive, especially by email. Enterprise, has also called, just not the part of Enterprise that will pick me up and provide a car. I think it will all work out, we have time.

The point though is unintended consequences. I don't have experience in such things because I had not been in an accident in 40 years. Many of you already know the story of my GEO Metro that was totaled when a UPS truck ran a stop sign. I had forgotten just what a bummer an accident is, because the value they give you when they total a car is probably less than you think the car is worth.  This is the second time I am not at fault, but this go around it looks like it will be less about money than time. Any way you slice it, being in an automobile accident is going to cost!

Shitake Mushroom Burger

Kathy and I happened across a raw 90% lean, 10% fat Sirloin ground beef offer. We took fifteen Shitake dried  mushroom slices and blended them into powder. Mixed everything together with garlic, black pepper and salt, on a cutting board. The result was great. We limit our exposure to red meat, but this looks promising.

Chile Verde - Lagana

Kathy and I attend a church small group for Calvary Chapel Lihue and the topic is Philippians. This Wednesday is the end of the study and we are having a pot luck to celebrate. Our fearless leader is Mike Lagana. As we ended the study for the night the conversation turned to the pot luck for the last session. Someone had suggested Mexican, (it is the week of Cinco de Mayo), and who would bring what. Mike mentioned he had just had an awesome Chile Verde. So, we volunteered. I have zero focus on making the best Chile Verde, but I would like to make a good and immaginative one.

The secret of a great Chile Verde is simple, let the peppers, (in conjunction with the Tomatillos and spices), do the talking.

Boneless porkchops, trim the fat, 2.5 Pounds
Bacon strips, 10
Ground beef, 90 percent lean, 1 lb
Anaheim peppers, Safeway, .57 pound
Poblano, Safeway, fire roasted at home, .85 pound
Serranos, Safeway, .85 pound
Mini-Sweet bell peppers, (Costco), in three colors -10
Black chili peppers - 2 (These are awesome, Kathy grows them, I wish I had hundreds)
Peppers from Hanai, the local organic specialty shop, 1 white sweet bell pepper, 1 purple pablano
Jumbo Yellow onion, 1
Garlic cloves, 15 (Make sure you and your lover both pertake)
Carlic chives, chopped, 2 cups, yes you read me right, chives do very well on Kauai and take this dish over the top. Grow chives, if you live here, you will not be disappointed.
Button mushrooms, 4 huge Costco style
Pinto Beans - 1 can rinsed
Black Beans - 1 can rinsed
16 oz. Edamamme (For a touch of whimsey)
Fresh Oregano, 1 heaping teaspoon
Cumin, 1 heaping teaspoon

I think we scored, but I am one, (biased), opinion. I hope we can give Mike a healthy and acceptable taste when we have our potluck.