Halloween Party

The weekend before Halloween, I decided to throw a little house party. It was my first official Saturday off since I started working for the airline and I wanted to take advantage. Here's a little peak into what we did that weekend. 

Curtis Orchard pumpkin patch

Feeding the Shetland pony

Hot apple cider

The manliest of men

Happy Halloween! Now it's time for candy sales. 

-Akemi-chan

Pumpkin Vase

I'm feeling crafty, and it's a good season to have these feelings. Between homemade Halloween costumes, apple pies and pumpkin carving, Fall is the perfect time to let your creative juices flowing.

Boyfriend and I normally carve pumpkins for Halloween, but we're throwing a party for friends (party pictures will be posted soon). I wanted something simple, pretty and worthy of inside the house in lieu of the front porch.

Please do not drink with using knife

Carve a small hole on the crown of the pumpkin to remove the stem. Scoop out the seeds and gunk from the inside of the pumpkin. Place silk flowers into hole and tadah! Instant vase.

If you want to used real flowers, place a glass, or an aluminum can in the pumpkin. Fill container with water and add flowers.

This was my effort to be crafty and decorate for our little Halloween party. Might not be fancy, but at least it was fun.

-Akemi-chan

Hawaii Day 6

The day before Thanksgiving means one thing: preparation. There are so many Thanksgiving parties this year and I'm grateful to be invited to them all. It's been so wonderful to spend time with people that I love so dearly, both family and friends.

The day started with stuffing prep in Kaimuki. I got to tear breads. Multigrain wheat, sourdough, challah and Hawaiian sweet bread to be exact. Bestie and I helped prep the stuffing by tearing bread and shelling pistachios.

Helper/ Minion #1!

TEAR ALL THE BREADS!

Then I headed home to my parents' house for lunch and the dessert prep. When I got home I got a bit of a shock from an enormous papaya, almost bigger than my head.

Holy papaya!

My parents and I headed for lunch at a local Korean BBQ joint that my family frequents called Mililani Bar-B-Q.

One of the greatest parts of eating at a Korean restaurant is all the little goodies they bring out before your dish arrives. I love Korean food. It's too difficult to resist, especially the spice. Speaking of spice...

Tofu stew

My parents shared a meat jun and BBQ chicken plate while I lost myself in a bowl of spicy tofu stew with clams.


The rest of the day my Mom slaved away in the kitchen over those delicious desserts she makes every year for holiday gatherings. Since my family is so extensive, my family and I have lunch with my Dad's side of the family and dinner with my Mom's side. That means twice the food and twice the dessert my Mom has to prepare.

Mixing away

Giant block of cream cheese

Pumpkin cheesecake, Cranberry cheesecake crumble and Apple crumble

I tried to help, but I think I just got in the way. Haha. It's going to be a good Thanksgiving.

PS: just had to get some Jack in the Box for dinner for the sake of High School Memories.

Spicy Chicken sandwich, curly fries and Fanta fruit punch

-Akemi-chan

Pumpkin Carving/ Apple Cider Cocktail

Last year, boyfriend and I attended a casual game night at our friends' home. Since it was Fall, we decided to be seasonal and make a cocktail from apple cider and Captain Morgan spiced rum. The sweet, fresh flavor of the apple cider, mixed with the warmth from the cinnamon and a flavorful kick from the spiced rum was a huge hit and gave birth to my favorite fall cocktail.

I must warm you to be cautious. We discovered that the sweetness and full flavor of the apple cider easily masks the sting of the alcohol. Consume wisely, last year the cocktails were equal parts cider and rum and we couldn't tell the difference.


Apple Cider Cocktail

1 gallon apple cider
3 apples, sliced (optional)
2 tbsp cinnamon (optional)
Spiced rum, to taste 

Pour first three ingredients into a large slow cooker on low heat. Heat through to incorporate flavors, this can take a while. Can also use sauce pan on stove for smaller portions. Add spiced rum to glass to your preference, completely optional. Add apple cider mixture to rum and mix well. Add a splash of lemon juice, if desired, to cut through sweetness.

Pumpkin Cheesecake with Chocolate Swirl

Our friends Kevin and Patty are having a potluck/ Housewarming party. We hardly get to see them because they live out in the country. So when they say to bring something to the potluck, I'm your gal. 

'Tis the season for pumpkin everything! Though it is not my favorite seasoning, I cannot deny the temptation that flutters in my gut when the words, pumpkin cheesecake are uttered. Only this time, we're adding chocolate. Be afraid, be very afraid.

Pumpkin Cheesecake with Chocolate Swirl based on Martha Stewart recipe

Crust

• 2 cups graham cracker crumbles
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup butter, melted
• 
  

Filling

• 2 packages bar cream cheese (8 ounces each)
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup canned solid-pack pumpkin puree
• 3 large eggs
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon pumpkin-pie spice
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 4 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Start with a 9 x 13 glass casserole dish, spray with cooking spray for easy removal. In a small bowl., thoroughly combine ingredients for crust and gently press into sprayed casserole dish. Refrigerate for at least 15 minutes.

In a large bowl, cream the 2 bars of cream cheese with stand or hand mixer. Add sugar, pumpkin puree, eggs, flour, spice and salt and mix with cream cheese until smooth. 

In a microwave safe bowl, melt chocolate in 30 second increments. After chocolate is melted, take 1/2 - 1 cup of pumpkin cheesecake blend and mix with chocolate to get smooth consistency. 

Pour remaining pumpkin mixture onto cooled crust. Drizzle/ drop chocolate mixture onto surface of pumpkin mixture and use pointed object to swirl chocolate on surface of pumpkin cheesecake. Bake in oven until cheesecake is set but jiggles slightly when shaken, 40-50 minutes. 

Cool in pan on wire rack. Cover and chill until firm, 2 hours (up to 2 days). Cut into bars and serve. 

Ta-dah!

Our friends' housewarming party was wonderful. Nothing like hanging out with friends; chatting, eating, drinking and laughing. Isn't that what life's about? 

The lovely hosts even made my Slow Cooker Kalua Pork with their own twist: pineapple! I never thought about it, but it's genius. It gives the dish some acid and sweetness that is delicious with the salty and richness of the pork. YUM! They even served it on little Hawaiian rolls. 

Kalua Pork sandwich, BBQ pulled pork sandwich and cowboy caviar

Don't forget the drinks! Boyfriend was nice enough to bring his wine, which was awesome next to the bonfire. Since one of our hosts is a beer drinker and the other has gluten allergies they had beer and malt liquor, including my favorite, Mike's Black Cherry Lemonade. Delicious!

Reunited, it's been too long

The Pumpkin Cheesecake with Chocolate swirl was a hit. Loads of compliments on flavor and aesthetics. *victory dance* 


-Akemi-chan

Our Annual Fall Stay-cation

Since I've been employed at American Eagle Airlines, my perception of vacation has drastically changed. The vacations of my childhood meant a week or two of Disneyland and other California destinations. Vacations of my young adulthood were mostly Christmas trips to Las Vegas thanks to my cousin attending UNLV. My current views on vacation mostly consist of  2-3 days every other month and going to new destinations, old favorites or making a mini stay-cation out of a long "weekend". This stay-cation marked the beginning of Fall and that means our annual trip to Curtis Orchard.

Curtis Orchard is a local apple orchard and pumpkin patch here in Champaign county and boyfriend and I are in love with this place. It's a family destination of hay rides, apple and pumpkin picking, a country store and an adorable little cafeteria. Did I mention the Wizard of Oz theme? WHAT?

In the matter of a week, boyfriend and I have been to the orchard twice. We can't get enough of the atmosphere, the friendly people and of course, the food. Award winning apple cider; hot, cold or our favorite slushie-form. Apple donuts, apple fritters, pumpkin pie, freshly picked apples, picking out your own pumpkin from the patch, house-made salad dressings, jellies, jams, preserves, bbq sauces, butters, the possibilities are endless.

We picked up a handful of indian corn to decorate the house, a pumpkin bigger than boyfriend's head, two apple cider slushies, half a dozen apple donuts, and our favorite chipotle apple barbecue sauce.

I wouldn't be surprised if we visit Curtis Orchard again before the season is over, especially since we have to get a gallon of cider for our Captian Morgan and apple cider cocktail party. YUM! Until then, it's nice to support a local business that gives us so many fond memories.

-Akemi-chan