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Saturday, March 30, 2013

EMMBER ROASTED GARLIC PETITE TENDER BEEF FILET

EMMBER ROASTED GARLIC 
PETITE TENDER BEEF FILET
DINNER AT HOME

Cruising through Sam's Club and saw something that I rarely notice at Sam's.  A product was marked down for quick sale.  The Emmber Roasted Garlic Petite Beef Filet that was originally almost $17 was on sale for $9.64.  I turned the package over and saw that there were two pre-maritnated filet's and did the math.  For under $10 I could feed the family dinner for two days.  Cooking these filet's is super easy.  Preheat the oven to 425 degrees and simply place the beef on a cooking rack over a pan.  We cooked the filets until the internal temperature was 145 degrees.  This resulted in a filet that was just over medium rare.  The meat had flavor and you could really taste the garlic.  Verdict on this one is pretty good especially if you can buy the product for almost 50% off the regular price.  I served the filet with vegetables that we had in the refrigerator.  Carrots, celery, asparagus and bell peppers.  Quick saute in butter, ginger and garlic.  Finished with salt and pepper and splash of honey.  

PETITE TENDER BEEF FILET WITH SAUTEED VEGETABLES AND RICE

EMMBER ROASTED GARLIC PETITE TENDER BEEF FILET.
MARKED DOWN TO $9.64 FOR TWO FILET'S
TWO FILET'S FOR UNDER TEN BUCKS - THAT'S DINNER FOR THREE FOR TWO
NIGHTS FOR FIVE BUCKS A NIGHT
ONE OF TWO FILET'S IN PACKAGE MARINATED IN GARLIC, SALT AND PEPPER
SAUTEED SOME CARROTS, ASPARAGUS, BELL PEPPER AND CELERY
IN FRESH GINGER, GARLIC, BUTTER AND HONEY
BAKED IN OVEN AT 425 DEGREES UNTIL INTERNAL TEMPERATURE IS 145 DEGREES.
THE FILETS SHRUNK A BIT AND BROKE APART AFTER COOKING
AFTER RESTING FILET FOR FIVE MINUTES WE CUT IN


MAUNA LANI GOLF - SOUTH COURSE


MAUNA LANI GOLF
SOUTH COURSE
KOHALA COAST, HAWAII

MAUNA LANI GOLF - SOUTH COURSE
68-1310 MAUNA LANI DRIVE
KOHALA COAST, HAWAII  96743
808-885-6655
808-885-9612 FAX

Mauna Lani is a high end resort community located about 40 minutes north of the Kona airport.  Once you pass the large lava sign you will be in lava fields for miles.  The lava fields are lined with high end homes and condominiums that surround the resort and two world class golf courses.  We played the Mauna Lani South Course which is famous for its 15th hole and for being the past home to the Senior Skins Game for over ten years.  Greats like Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player have played this incredible course on the beautiful Kohala Coast.  On the day that we played, the Kona "Vog" was thick and hazy.  Vog is Hawaii's form of fog and is caused by the erupting volcano on the Big Island.  How many people in the world can say they golfed while a volcano was erupting just miles away.  Lucky we live Hawaii they say.  While the Vog did change the beautiful blue skies of Kona to gray, it did nothing to improve my game or diminish the dramatic beauty of the course and Kohala Coastline.  I hit some of the best shots of my life here including reaching the green off the tee on the famous 15th hole.  Truly memorable for this hacker.  Loved the course and food after in the Clubhouse.  We dined at Huli Sues restaurant that sits adjacent to the Pro Shop and overlooking the putting green and South Course.  I went for the Southwestern Marinated Big Island Fish Tacos ($18).  Two huge fish tacos filled with super fresh Hawaii Ono.  Probably one of the best fish tacos I have ever enjoyed in Hawaii.  The fish was cooked perfectly and served with crunchy cabbage on a good tortilla that was lightly charred.  Added salsa and guacamole and they were fantastic!
 
 
MAUNA LANI HOLE #15 - THE MOST PHOTOGRAPHED OVER THE WATER HOLE IN THE WORLD

LOVE THE KONA AIRPORT - OLD SCHOOL HAWAII WITH NO TERMINALS OR JETWAYS
WALK DOWN THE RAMP INTO THE KONA SUNSHINE
THERE IS NOT AN AIRPORT IN THE COUNTRY LIKE KONA.  NO HEATING AND NO A/C.
JUST PALM TREES AND THE KONA SUNSHINE
ENTRANCE TO  BEAUTIFUL MAUNA LANI 
MAUNA LANI SOUTH COURSE HAS BEEN HOME TO THE PGA SENIOR SKINS GAME 
LAVA DOES FUN THINGS TO YOUR BALL.  IT EITHER BOUNCES BIG OR GETS EATEN ALIVE
THIS KONA DAY WAS FILLED WITH "VOG" WHICH IS LIKE FOG BUT COMES FROM THE VOLCANO
THINK I ENDED UP IN THE WATER ON THIS HOLE
BEAUTIFUL VIEWS TO THE OCEAN WHERE HUMPBACK WHALES WERE PLAYING
OCEAN ON THE LEFT AND LAVA BEDS ON THE RIGHT - HIT IT STRAIGHT!
THE MAUNA LANI COASTLINE IS MOSTLY LAVA
COURSE IS IN GREAT SHAPE WITH ROLLING FAIRWAYS AND FAST GREENS
THIS HOLE IS A LAVA OBSTACLE COURSE - HAD ONE OF MY BEST DRIVES OF THE DAY
AND LANDED THE BALL SAFELY IN THE FAIRWAY
MAUNA LANI SOUTH COURSE HUGS THE HAWAII COASTLINE
YOU DON'T WANT TO HIT YOUR BALL IN HERE

PULLED OUT MY FIVE IRON AND MADE IT ON THE GREEN.  WILL REMEMBER THIS FOREVER!
VIEW FROM OUR TABLE AT HULI SUES RESTAURANT AND BAR INSIDE                                                         THE MAUNA LANI CLUBHOUSE
HULI SUES BAR AND RESTAURANT AT MAUNA LANI CLUBHOUSE
HULI SUES LUNCH MENU
SOUTHWESTERN MARINATED BIG ISLAND FISH TACOS
FISH TACOS WERE FILLED WITH FRESH HAWAII ONO AND WERE GREAT!

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

SAM'S CLUB ROTISSERIE CHICKEN ENCHILADAS

SAM'S CLUB ROTISSERIE CHICKEN ENCHILADAS
DINNER AT HOME

Could not resist the Rotisserie Chicken Enchiladas at Sam's Club.  At $14.26 this looked like something that could feed our family of three for two days and it did.  Followed the simple directions and heated the Enchiladas for around 50 minutes at 350 degrees.  The entire family was pleasantly surprised with the taste of these Enchiladas.  Lots of flavor in the chicken, tons of cheese and a nice mild sauce.  Each of us could only finish half of one Enchilada at a time so this was a really good value.  You can add lettuce, sour creme, olives and jalapenos to kick up the flavor to suit your taste.  Would not hesitate to buy these again.  

SAM'S CLUB ROTISSERIE CHICKEN ENCHILADAS

SAM'S CLUB ROTISSERIE CHICKEN ENCHILADAS FROM THE REFRIGERATOR
THREE HUGE ENCHILADAS FOR $14.26
REMOVE PLASTIC COVER AND YOU FIND THREE LARGE ENCHILADAS WITH SAUCE AND CHEESE
 TENT WITH ALUMINUM FOIL AND PLACE ON OVEN TRAY 
AND COOK FOR 50 MINUTES AT 350 DEGREES
REMOVE FROM OVEN AND LET COOL FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES
ENCHILADAS ARE FULL OF CHICKEN AND PRETTY DARN GOOD!


DAY TWO KICKED UP WITH LETTUCE, TOMATO, ONION AND CILANTRO

Monday, March 25, 2013

PASTA PRIMA - SHRIMP AND LOBSTER RAVIOLI

 PASTA PRIMA - SHRIMP AND LOBSTER RAVIOLI
DINNER AT HOME

On a trip to Sam's Club my daughter saw ravioli and asked if we could have that for dinner.  I saw the Shrimp and Lobster and said yes immediately.  Pasta Prima Shrimp and Lobster Ravioli comes in a two servings package for $13.48.  You get around 15 ravioli per serving.  Simply place the ravioli in boiling water for about 4 minutes and you are done.  Add some sauce and you have a quick and easy dinner.  I sauteed onion and garlic and then added a jar of Bertolli Tomato and Basil Sauce.  After the sauce heated for a bit I added fresh thyme and basil.  The pasta cooked perfectly and the ingredients were good.  Probably would not use a tomato sauce for these when I cook the second package.  Recommend using a light butter or creme sauce when you cook these.  Will post that recipe next time.  Update:  Use Bertolli or Safeway Select Alfredo Sauce with these Ravioli.  Perfect combination of flavors.  You will like it!

PASTA PRIMA SHRIMP AND LOBSTER RAVIOLI

PASTA PRIMA SHRIMP AND LOBSTER RAVIOLI FROM SAM'S CLUB
TWO SERVINGS OF RAVIOLI - AROUND 15 PIECES PER PACKAGE
WE LOVE BERTOLLI SAUCES
SAUTE ONIONS AND GARLIC IN OLIVE OIL
ADDED FRESH BASIL AND THYME
WOULD RECOMMEND GOING WITH A LIGHT BUTTER OR CREME SAUCE WITH THESE RAVIOLI
NICE PIECES OF SHRIMP AND LOBSTER

IMAGES OF THE COCONUT COAST - KAUAI, HAWAII

IMAGES OF THE COCONUT COAST
KAUAI, HAWAII

Blessed to have what I call a very little beach shack on the Coconut Coast in Kauai.  Love waking up here and sitting on the lanai as the sun rises and warms the day.  The Coconut Coast is home to the towns of Kapaa, Wailua and Waipouli.  This is the East Side that is known for the groves of coconut palms that grow in and around the resort areas.  The area is also known for the Wailua River, Fern Grotto, Sleeping Giant and Opaekaa Falls.  The old Coconut Palms resort is here.  Made famous by Elvis Presley movies, the resort is now abandon and deteriorating. 16,000 out of the Islands 62,000 residents call this area home which is 25% of the population of the Island.  The condominiums and resorts along the Coconut Coast are not the high end like you find in Poipu and Princeville.  I call this the working mans resort area where you will not find the five star hotels, restaurants and spas.  You will find some pretty empty beaches, pool bars and travelers looking for a more budget minded vacation.  I like the fact that there are dozens of restaurants here and numerous supermarkets where you can easily pick up provisions for a nice BBQ back at the condo.  I love the Coconut Coast.  My only complaint is that I do not get her often enough.  With Inter Island airfares ranging around $160 - $200 roundtrip, it makes for an expensive weekend when you bring the family, rent a car and buy food and activities.  

LOVE TO HAVE A CUP OF LOCAL KAUAI COFFEE ON THE LANAI