Hello there!
Hope you had a wonderful holiday weekend. Thanks SO much for all your birthday and Happy Thanksgiving wishes! Len, Cornelius and I just returned from 10 days in Hawai’i, where we gorged ourselves feasted amicably with ever-charming friends and relatives.
Every day was a delicious new adventure of visiting favorite restaurants and savoring a nice variety of multi-ethnic flavors — everything from teriyaki butterfish to Italian pasta to kalua pig. Of course my mom served mandu (dumpling soup) our first night there, and each morning began with half a sweet, juicy papaya.
You know you’re in Hawai’i when there’s sushi on the Thanksgiving table,
but we did recruit our token haole, Len, to mash the potatoes.
Cornelius was thrilled that instead of pumpkin pie, we got to try something new: Pumpkin Crunch lovingly prepared by my sister-in-law Alison:
It was great celebrating our birthdays together,
having dim sum at the Chinese Cultural Plaza,
lunch at the Waikele Country Club,
shave ice at Aoki’s,
and at Kokonuts (where President Obama goes).
I daresay Cornelius got more than his fair share of attention at our Willows family dinner.
While we were loading our plates with prime rib, crab legs,
steamed laulau,
fresh salads,
and sides,
Cornelius was busy making new friends
and being positively pampered by several of the beautiful ladies present:
We’ll be sharing a few more pics of our foodie field trips later this week, but for now we’d like to introduce you to Hatley, a birthday gift and the newest resident of the alphabet soup kitchen. So, these questions remain: Can this moose make mousse?
And can Cornelius eat even more desserts?
Stay tuned, and have a terrific week!!
P.S. HAD to share my favorite birthday card, created by Peter Laird (uber-cool Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle co-creator and husband of dear author friend Jeannine Atkins):
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Copyright © 2011 Jama Rattigan of Jama’s Alphabet Soup. All rights reserved.
Jama's Alphabet Soup 
Looks like a DELICIOUS trip!
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Um, yes, it certainly was. I think the plane was tilting to one side on the way home because I was that much heavier . . .
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Glad you’re back, and I’m glad you had such a lovely, food-filled trip. The pumpkin crunch looks particularly delicious.
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Thanks for the nice welcome home — the pumpkin crunch was yummy; Alison gave me the recipe, which I might share here sometime :).
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Welcome back! I missed you! Must catch up soon (forgot whose turn it was to email)! Looks like a fabulous and delicious get-away! Loved all the pics – and welcome to Hatley! xoxo
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Hatley sends his regards :). I think it’s my turn to email — sounds like we both traveled many miles and consumed many calories . . .
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No matter that we were just there in October… I wish we were back there already! We will have to plan to be there at the same time next time because you seem to go to places that I have never been before!
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Yes, we should coordinate our next visits. I think I could learn a lot from you, with your cooking expertise and discerning palate. 🙂
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Yum!
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Yum yum yum!! *nods*
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I’m SO jealous! ; )
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Don’t worry, Leslie. I ate enough for the both of us, and then some :)!
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Missed you! And look at your dad!
How did Hatley get his name?
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Hatley is the name of the brand — he was designed in Canada but made in Indonesia :). Hatley also makes children’s clothing.
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Wow, that is more delicious food than I could ever keep track of. It’s good you took pictures! Looks like a very happy 29th birthday! Pass the pumpkin crunch, I mean green tea ice cream, I mean Haupia square… I hope Cornelius is doing his crunches or laps this week!
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Cornelius is napping as we speak! He’s been naughty, as you’ll find out tomorrow :).
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How appropriate that you got mandoo/mandu (why the change in spelling?) when you arrived! Sounds like a lovely, delicious trip – and I LOVE the sound of that pumpkin crunch!
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Either spelling is used. Same delicious dumplings!
The PC is delicious but highly caloric. Perfect for special occasions :).
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Gorgeous photos, Jama! Looks like a good time was had by all on that 29th birthday of yours. Such a great photo of you and your dad… and oh my, what a cake!
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Thanks, Amy. The cake was very coconut-y and creamy :)!
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Jama:
Dad was surprised to read your blog description of the pumpkin crunch…buttery crust & cream cheese topping!!!!! He didn’t suspect it when he ate it. Mom & I told him that as long as he liked the taste why does it matter what’s in it!
Newton
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Yes, well, he seems to like dairy products in dessert — he also loved the long johns, eclairs and coco puffs — all cream filled pastries. 🙂
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Generally I do not learn article on blogs, however I wish to say that this write-up very forced me to take a look at and do so! Your writing taste has been amazed me. Thank you, very great post.
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