GREAT EATS HAWAII: October 2013

Thursday, October 31, 2013

STUFFED CHICKEN BREASTS - PRESSURE COOKER RECIPE

STUFFED CHICKEN BREASTS

PRESSURE COOKER RECIPE

DINNER AT HOME

Once again went to my Bob Warden's Great Food Fast Cookbook and looked for a recipe that I could do without having to go to the store and buy stuff. We had some large Chicken Breasts so I looked in the Chicken section of the cookbook. Found the Stuffed Chicken Breast recipe and then checked our pantry to see what I could use to stuff the chicken. Was surprised to find Olive Tapenade and Roasted Peppers that were part of a gift basket that we received probably a year or two ago. Perfect for this dish I thought. The recipe is pretty simple to follow. I had a bit of trouble trying to turn the chicken breasts after they browned on one side. I paired the Chicken Breasts with some Orzo Pasta and Carrots glazed in butter and honey. The only thing that I would change doing this dish again would be to add some type of sauce over the chicken. It was a bit dry and needed a sauce to really make this great. You may buy the Bob Warden cookbook on Amazon via the link below:

http://www.amazon.com/Presents-Wardens-Ultimate-Pressure-Recipes/dp/1934193798

STUFFED CHICKEN BREASTS

BOB WARDEN'S COOKBOOK "GREAT FOOD FAST" IS A NECESSITY IF YOU HAVE A PRESSURE COOKER. DON'T HESITATE. BUY IT!

PHOTO OF STUFFED CHICKEN BREASTS FROM THE GREAT FOOD FAST COOKBOOK

HAD THESE TWO ITEMS IN THE PANTRY FOR YEARS. CAME FROM A GIFT BASKET

FOUR LARGE SKINLESS BONELESS CHICKEN BREASTS

COVER CHICKEN BREASTS WITH PLASTIC WRAP

POUND OUT THE CHICKEN BREASTS UNTIL SLIGHTLY FLAT

SPRINKLE WITH SALT, PEPPER AND ITALIAN SEASONING

ADDED LAYER OF ROASTED PEPPERS AND TOPPED WITH THE OLIVE TAPENADE

ROLL UP THE CHICKEN BREASTS AND HOLD TOGETHER WITH TOOTHPICKS

SET PRESSURE COOKER TO "BROWN" SETTING AND HEAT UP

ADD A TABLESPOON OF OLIVE OIL AND HEAT UNTIL SIZZLING

PLACE CHICKEN BREASTS IN PRESSURE COOKER

BROWN ON BOTH SIDES FOR APPROXIMATELY FIVE MINUTES. ADD 2/3 CUPS OF CHICKEN STOCK.

SET PRESSURE COOKER TO HIGH AND COOK FOR 8 MINUTES

CHICKEN BREASTS ARE COOKED AFTER ONLY 8 MINUTES

TOPPED THE CHICKEN WITH FETA CHEESE AND SERVED WITH ORZO

STUFFED CHICKEN BREASTS WITH OLIVES AND ROASTED PEPPERS

GOOD BUT REALLY NEEDS A SAUCE

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

COCONUT ISLAND (MOKU O LO'E) - GILLIGAN'S ISLAND

COCONUT ISLAND (MOKU O LO'E)

GILLIGAN'S ISLAND

KANEOHE, HAWAII

Finally visited Coconut Island on Oahu. This was the island used in the opening sequence of the hit television show Gilligan's Island. It is now a marine research facility owned and operated by the State of Hawaii and University of Hawaii. Coconut Island, or Moku o Lo'e is a 28 acre island in Kaneohe Bay and houses facilities for the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology. Access to this little oasis in the Bay is by boat only. We boarded a small craft that greeted us at the end of the pier. The free shuttle service for students, researchers, contractors and guests runs daily around every 15 minutes from the early morning until 10:30 at night. Travel time to the Island is just a couple of minutes. You end up at a small pier complete with a mini lighthouse. A handwritten sign reads "Coconut Island". We saw mostly contractors working on a new large building and renovating an entire wing of another building that was in disrepair. A few students in shorts, men in Aloha Shirts and University of Hawaii t-shirts walked about and did their business. The Island offers great views of Kaneohe Bay.

More info at: http://www.hawaii.edu/himb/

COCONUT ISLAND IN KANEOHE BAY - ISLAND OF OAHU

GOOGLE EARTH SHOT OF COCONUT ISLAND

GATED ROAD TO PARKING LOT, PIER AND BOAT RAMP

WRITTEN PERMISSION IS REQUIRED TO ACCESS THE ISLAND

MOKU O LO'E COCONUT ISLAND

RESIDENTIAL HOMES LINE THE HILLS OVERLOOKING COCONUT ISLAND

GILLIGAN'S ISLAND IS IN SITE

GREAT VIEWS FROM THE PIER

KANEOHE BAY

WATER WAS BEAUTIFUL - WANTED TO TAKE A SWIM

ALL ABOARD THE SHUTTLE TO COCONUT ISLAND

TRAVEL TIME TO COCONUT ISLAND IS JUST A FEW MINUTES

LANDING SPOT ON COCONUT ISLAND

REALLY DOES LOOK LIKE GILLIGAN'S ISLAND

NEW RESEARCH BUILDING ON COCONUT ISLAND

FRESH SHUTOME FILLET (SWORDFISH) - DINNER AT HOME

FRESH SHUTOME FILLET (SWORDFISH)

DINNER AT HOME

Fresh Shutome (Swordfish) was a bargain at $6.99 per pound so I picked up a few pieces for dinner. I had planned to cook the Shutome on the outside BBQ but a sudden thunderstorm caused me to take my cooking indoors to a grill pan. Found some canned pineapple and teriyaki sauce in the pantry so I tried making a Hawaiian Style Pineapple Teriyaki fish dinner. Results were not bad. The Shutome really worked well on the grill pan. Stayed very moist. Served with some fresh vegetables that I sauted up with some garlic and jalapeno in a little butter and vegetable oil. Added a few tablespoons of chicken stock to steam the vegetables and add flavor.

FRESH SWORDFISH DINNER

FRESH SHUTOME (SWORDFISH)

FISH WAS FRESH AND MEATY

MARINATED IN TERIYAKI SAUCE FOR 30 MINUTES PRIOR TO COOKING

GRABBED WHATEVER FRESH VEGETABLES WE HAD PLUS SOME GARLIC, JALAPENO
AND CANNED PINEAPPLE SLICES

SAUTE GARLIC AND JALAPENO IN A LITTLE VEGETABLE OIL AND BUTTER. THEN ADD VEGGIES

COOKED FISH AND PINEAPPLE ON THE INDOOR GRILL PAN

SWORDFISH WAS THICK AND DELICIOUS

STAYED MOIST AND MELTED IN YOUR MOUTH

Sunday, October 27, 2013

TORITOS MEXICAN FOOD

TORITOS MEXICAN FOOD

HONOLULU, HAWAII

TORITOS MEXICAN FOOD

MARKET CITY SHOPPING CENTER

2919 KAPIOLANI BLVD

HONOLULU, HI 96826

808-735-7991

We had not been back to Toritos at Market City Shopping Center in one or two years. After today, I can remember why. The food here is not bad but it does not deliver the Mexican flavors we crave. The Chips and Salsa were good. Liked the bit of heat the salsa delivered. I ordered a Shredded Beef Taco and Chicken Enchilada for around $12. What I got was a pre-made taco shell filled with ground beef with some lettuce, cheese and tomato and a pretty dry enchilada. The taco tasted like something you can make at home with some ground beef and taco seasoning. I would never go to a Mexican restaurant for a ground beef taco. I specifically asked for Shredded Beef and the waiter said o.k. The Chicken Enchilada looked good but there was not really any enchilada sauce to make it taste like an enchilada. The chicken inside was plentiful and tasty but there was no sauce to bring this together. I thought the rice and beans were o.k. but my wife said they were too oily. Toritos has one of the best locations you could ever ask for in Honolulu. Really wish they could step of their game and deliver better Mexican food. The place is pretty run down and could use a makeover. Don't think we will be returning again. One positive here was the service. The place was almost full when we dined here for lunch. A single server and busboy handled all of the customers politely and very efficiently. We had Chips and Salsa on the table within minutes of sitting down and our water was refilled regularly. Food came out fast considering the number of people eating here at one time. The single waiter did an excellent job taking orders, running food, generating checks and bartending all at the same time. My hats off to that dude!