Adjusted Reality

“Reality can be beaten with enough imagination.” – Mark Twain

A Polynesian-ish Feast

Last saturday found us hosting a Polynesian feast at the casa to celebrate our wedding with the peoples in Austin that couldn’t make it to Vegas (and the ones that did, too – hey, I love excuses to throw shindigs).  Here is the spread.

Warning #1: If you’re hungry, you should probably come back.

Warning #2: I am decidedly NOT a food blogger.  My pictures suck.  Most things I actually used recipes for and modified very little (which is SO UNLIKE me), so I’ll give credit where I can.

So, here we go…

Appetizers:

Veggies and homemade onion dip: self explanatory

Homemade Lumpia: So not pretty, but so yummy.  These were gone every time a batch came out.  Recipe here.  We made some with pork, and some veggie for our veggie friends (and they were delicious both ways).  We tried to fry them, but since we suck at wrapping them baking them was better (and healthier too so yay!).  We served two dips with these, a homemade sweet and sour sauce and a spicy sesame soy and garlic reduction .  I wish I could credit the sweet and sour sauce, but I have NO IDEA where it came from.

  • 1 small can pineapple juice (or juice from a 15-1/4 oz. can pineapple chunks, drained)
  • 1/4 cup ketchup
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup vinegar
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 1/2 teaspoon granulated garlic
  • 1/4 teaspoon mustard powder
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce (or less)
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

Preparation:

Mix all together and cook over medium heat until thickened.

The Spicy Sauce was simply made by sauteing the garlic with a little sesame oil, and then adding a bunch of less sodium soy sauce and chili sauce until it was a little less watery.

Main Course:

Pork Ribs.  Oh these were tasty.  They were teriyaki-ish in flavor, but since Zliten did them, I’m not exactly sure what goes in them.  They were gone about 10 minutes after I sliced them up.

Chicken Katsu – so bad for you but so awesome.  I did these with the panko crumbs I won from Mara’s Blog!  Recipe here.  Normally I probably would have baked these for just me, but DAMN the panko was awesome fried.  These went with katsu sauce (again, this must have come from somewhere but I don’t know where… however, I think this is pretty standard as it tasted EXACTLY like I remembered):

1/2 cup Worcestershire sauce
1/4 cup ketchup
2 tablespoons soy sauce
pepper to taste

Vegetarian Ramen, recipe here.  This was devoured pretty quick by meaties and veggies alike.

Spicy Pina Colada Vegetarian Curry, from my brain.  We served this with jasmine rice (not pictured). I put this together REALLY quick so I don’t have specific portions.  Just make taste the sauce and make sure it’s ok.  It’s probably ok.   I spiced this up with a BUNCH of rooster sauce, but a lot of people liked it mild.  Not my favorite, and we had the most leftovers of this as anything, but I kept getting compliments.

5 carrots
1 head cauliflower
1 can chick peas
1 large green pepper
1 bag of frozen peas
1 can of pineapple
1/2 can of lite coconut milk
2/3 jar of korma sauce
Cilantro to taste

Throw giant bag and marinate for a few hours.  Then, toss in a wok or a big pan and cook on low for about 30 mins (or until the veggies are the right consistency).

Sesame Ginger Salad – this one was more asain but OH WELL.

Ass ton of mixed greens
Small can of water chestnuts
cilantro to taste
Onions to taste

Toss with pepper to taste, sesame ginger dressing (I use fat free newman’s own), and chow mein noodles.

My awesome pasta salad, which did not go with the theme but I care not.  I wanted pasta salad, but couldn’t bring myself to make a mayo-y hawaiian type macaroni salad.  No one complained.  Mara – the extra utensils came in handy.  I used EVERYTHING you sent except the chicken broth (and that doesn’t last too long around the Casa De Jank).

Desert:

I knew everyone would be so full by then, so I didn’t put much effort into it.  I made some key lime bars (from a box), and set out a fruit tray.  The bars went quickly, but I’m enjoying the fruit leftovers this week as snackies.

I’m sad I didn’t get drinky pictures, but we served Mai Tais and Pina Coladas.  These recipes were for the whole picture (not each, heh):

Mai tai
2 shots light rum
2 shots dark rum
1/2 shot lime juice
1 shot orange crack
1 shot orgeat syrup
fill blender with ice
Cherry juice and cherry for garnish

Pina colada
4 shots light rum
1/2 cup coconut milk
1 cup pineapple

It was a blast!  I remember why I only do those parties so often now, it’s a lot of prep and work, but it was so worth it.  I have a feeling the next one won’t be until around birthday time, so I’ll have to think of a good theme… until then, your favorite crazy wahine signing off!

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1 Comment

  1. What a spread!! You are the hostess with the mostest:) I’d forgotten all about those key lime bars… and now I want some.

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