LB Says Hi

While this post isn't about the normal topic of food, it's still an important one.  When I was little, I was an overly sensitive kid. It didn't take much to hurt my feelings or make me cry, and I mostly coped with that by masking my sensitivity with false toughness. So, naturally, I was a bully. My feeling was, if I hurt you first, you can't hurt me. Once I grew out of that shameful phase and started to let my sensitivity show, I was made fun of. That confusion turned into resentment, and then bitterness, which consequently cast a dark shadow on most of my preteen-to-teen years.  I've had friendships end because of my oversensitivity; relationships that have set me back because I believed I was the problem. I didn't want to be labeled as a drama queen. Even my relationship with my mother was muddled because of unexplained tantrums and exaggerations of what could be classified as "normal" arguments. She would say one thing, and I would hear some...

In the days leading up to our trip home, I was rarely in the kitchen. JP and I relied on Postmates, Uber Eats and Seamless to survive. I don't know if it was the end of the year, or the stress of a new job (and new city), but there was absolutely zero part of me that wanted to cook. I don't even think we stepped foot in a grocery store for the last three months of the year, and we definitely didn't have the urge to try out new recipes — something that normally excites us.  When I got to Hawaii, I still didn't have the urge to cook, but upon my nephews' requests, I put on my chef's cap once or twice during the trip. A home-cooked meal is always better, especially when your mom is cooking — and she definitely spoiled me this Christmas! Here are some of the homemade meals I had in Hawaii: 1. Aunty LB's Mac n Cheese I've realized that my twin nephews (now 11 years old) love anything with bacon and cheese. I've made a variation of dishes wi...

Poi Malasada I never really considered my recent return to Hawaii as a "Homecoming." That was, until the days leading up to my departure began to change my perspective. When I think of a true homecoming, I think of incredible circumstances, like the parable of the Prodigal Son, or someone returning home after being lost for a long period of time. As Christmas neared, I realized that I, too, had been lost this past year — in a way. New York has been unlike any place I had ever lived in, unlike any expedition I had ever traversed. There were so many times I felt terrified, discouraged, confused ... the list goes on. Going home meant something different to me this time around, and it took me the entire trip to truly digest that. And boy, did I DIGEST! The best part of my "epiphany," was cherishing all that was waiting for me in Hawaii, which included: My family, friends, dog and, of course, FOOD. Here are some of my favorite Homecoming Meals: 1. Duk...