Sweet Garlic Sticky Wings

My boys had been asking me to make sticky wings for a while.  They really like the Buffalo version, but I wanted to try a new sauce so I made these.  Yum!  If you like wings, these are really good!  Sweet with just a kick of red pepper flake heat that hits you in the back of the throat but doesn't burn your tongue or over power the flavor.  I adapted the recipe from here: wings

Sweet Garlic Sticky Wings
4 lbs. raw chicken wings (with the skin on)
salt and pepper
hot sauce (Frank's or any kind you like)
flour
garbage bag
For the glaze/sauce:
2 Tbsp. garlic, minced
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup rice vinegar
3 tsp. soy sauce
2 tsp. red chili pepper flakes (more if you like hot or less if you like mild)
           Cut the wings into three pieces at the joints and discard the tip.

           Salt and pepper the wings.  Pour 1/4 cup hot sauce on the wings and toss them to coat well.

             Place the wings into a garbage bag with 2 cups flour.  Hold bag closed and shake to toss and coat wings with flour.

             In a large skillet or cast iron pan, heat up 1/2 cup oil on high heat.  Fry the wings until cooked golden brown and all the way throught the meat.  About 5-6 minutes on each side. Remove and  let oil drain.

             In a small bowl combine the glaze ingredients.  Place the cooked wings into a large mixing bowl.  Spoon over the wings and toss to coat.

                    

Aloha! Itinerary

Tuesday 11th:
Sherry arrives at
Amy arrives at 2:49 p.m.
Kenny arrives at
Shuttle to the hotel?

Activities:
Beach, pool, relax and unwind.

Dinner:  CHOOSE A RESTAURANT


***
Wednesday 12th: 
Rent mopeds: http://www.hawaiimoped.com/scooter-rentals
$35 plus $25 insurance (or damage deposit) for the whole day (8:30 am-5:00pm)
Distance from hotel: walking .1 mile, 3 minutes   map
Manoa Falls video and map of tour
Diamond Head video and map of tour
Oahu bike map

Lunch:
A. For Ride 2- Manoa Falls (1/2 day trip- see Oahu bike map):
Island Sub and Burger in Manoa
2752 Woodlawn Dr., Ste 5-118 Honolulu  (808)988-2685    map
$
B.  For Ride 1- Cruise the Crater, Diamond Head (1/2 day trip with hike- see Oahu bike map):
Surf nTurf Tacos
http://surfnturftacos.com/
3045 Monsarrat Ave., Honolulu (808) 456-5345    map
$

Dinner:   CHOOSE A RESTAURANT


***
Thursday 13th:
Moped ride.  Ride 6- Lanakai /Kailua 1/2 day ride.
Kailua Beach video and map of tour
We can ride around  the SE coast and stop at the blowhole for pictures and Hanuama Bay for snorkeling.  If we want to go snorkeling at Hanauma Bay the reviews all say to be there early!  They open at 6:00 am and the waters are still and very clear then.  Also, we will want to beat the crowds.  We will have to watch a short 20 minute video and rent gear.  Rental shop opens at 7:00 am.  Be there by 6:45am.
map to Hanauma Bay snorkeling
$7.50 Entrance fee
$1 Parking fee
$12 Snorkeling gear rental

Lunch:  
Keneke's near Kailua Beach (authentic Hawaiian food, plate lunch with shaved ice/red beans/ice cream
http://www.kenekes.net/ -  or -to see blurry menu photo:  kenekes on yelp
41-857 Kalanianaole Hwy, Waimanalo, HI 96795   map
$

Continue the moped Ride #6 to Lanakai.  Return the same way we came.
Return mopeds by 5:00 p.m.

Clean up and go to a semi-formal dinner??

Dinner:  CHOOSE A RESTAURANT


***
Friday 14th:
Pick up the Jeep at 9:00 a.m.
Enterprise Car Rental

Distance from hotel: walking- .4 miles, 8 minutes    map
$452 for 3 days.

Drive to Wet n Wild Waterpark  10:30a.m.-3:30p.m.
Waterslide park.  Food vendors available inside.  
http://hawaii.mywetnwild.com/
Cost $47.99  Parking $7
Distance from hotel: driving 24 miles, 35 minutes    map

Beach Time! Relax, read a book, soak up some rays!
Clean up and go to a semi-formal restaurant for dinner??

Dinner:  CHOOSE A RESTAURANT


***
Saturday 15th:
Pearl Harbor and Arizona Memorial
http://www.pacifichistoricparks.org/phh_park_info.php 
We have tickets reserved for the 8:30 audio tour.  It is 2 1/2 hours.  We need to be at the ticket window an hour early to pick up our reserved tickets.  The other 3 museums are free and can take up to 2 hours each, depending on time spent touring.
Distance: driving- 12.4 miles, 24 minutes    map   National Park map to PH from Honolulu
cost $9

Lunch:
Queen Street Cafe and Grill
Small restaurant service across from hospital.  Great reviews for huge, inexpensive food plates of hibachi chicken, pork, or steak combos with rice and vegetable.  $8-$10 each plate, which is said to be enough for 2 people.  Might be a good place for lunch before driving up to the Dole plantation for a pineapple whip!
Distance from Pearl Harbor- driving 1.3 miles, 6 minutes     map
$
--OR--
Bravo Restaurant
Italian
menu
lunch specials menu
Distance from Pearl Harbor- driving 1.9 miles, 6 minutes     map
$-$$

Dole Plantation
http://www.dole-plantation.com/
Things to do:
Pineapple Express (20 min. narrated train ride) $8.50
Plantation Garden Tour (walking tour) $5
World's Largest Maze  $6
Pineapple Whip  $5
Distance from Pearl Harbor- driving
from Queen Street Cafe and Grill- 15 miles, 25 minutes    map
from Bravo Restaurant-  15 miles, 25 minutes    map

Drive up to North Shore and Turtle Bay in the jeep.

Dinner:
Hang Ten Bar and Grill (Turtle Bay Resort)  Casual.  Near the beach bar and grill.
http://www.turtlebayresort.com/resort/restaurants/hang_ten_bar/
menu
$$
Distance from Dole Plantation- driving 17.5 miles, 30 minutes   map
--OR--
Kuhuku Grill  (near Turtle Bay)  Casual.  Reviews say  "Great burgers with Hawaiian twist."
http://www.kahukugrill.com/
Distance from Dole Plantation- driving 20 miles, 33 minutes   map
$$
--OR--
We can drive back to hotel and change and go somewhere nice.  The drive from Turtle Bay to Waikiki  is about 1 hour and 15 minutes either direction, back down the center or on the east coast.


***
Sunday 16th:
Tropical Farms of Hawaii tour  (macadamia nut farm)
http://www.macnutfarm.com/
Hours:  9:30-5:00pm
Cost: $20  Tour: 2-2.5 hours
This is the nut farm tour.  The tour winds throught the farm and the driver stops to pick fruits from the trees for sampling.  The farm is the location for the movie, "Jurassic Park" and a few others.  The island on the farm is where "Gilligan's Island" was filmed.  We need to be their right at opening to get on the first tour and not have to wait.  Only one tour is done at a time.  When you return you get to sample several flavored macadamia nuts.  Gift shop on premises.  Great reviews!
Distance from hotel: driving  23 miles, 40 minutes     map

Drive up the east coast.
Stop at the entrance to the PCC for a picture  :)
Stop at the Hawaii LDS Temple for a picture  :)

Lunch:
http://www.tedsbakery.com/
menu
One of the few places to eat on the North Shore.  Has really good reviews!
Distance from Tropical Farms: driving  21 miles, 36 minutes     map
$

Jet Ski around the North Shore.
http://www.jetskis-hawaii.com/where-are-we/
This jet ski rental place does not require reservations..It is the ONLY renter that allows an additonal backseat rider for FREE!  You  pay per jet ski, NOT per person.  The fee is also the least of anywhere on the island at $65 for a 1/2 hour.  (Most reviewers on all sites say the 1/2 hour is a great amount, the hour long ride seems too long and tiring!)  You do have to put down a credit card number to be held as a damage security deposit for insurance on the jet ski.
Distance from Ted's Bakery: driving- 19 miles, 35 minutes     map
Phone number:  (808) 637-8006

Matsumoto's Shave Ice (Grocery)
http://matsumotoshaveice.com/
Distance from jet ski rental location: driving-  1 mile, 4 minutes     map
This is the famous shave ice store with the red beans and ice cream (optional) under their shave ice.
$

Return Jeep tonight or tomorrow morning by 9:00 a.m.

Dinner:   CHOOSE A RESTAURANT


***
Monday 17th:
Return jeep by 9:00 a.m.

Parasailing
http://www.goparasailinghawaii.com/About-Us
9:05 shuttle outside the Marriott Beach resort (our hotel)  9:30 check in, 10:00 sail
Cost $60 plus $30 for a cd of 30-40 digital phots taken while in the air.
3 people can parasail together, side-by-side for 5-6 minutes at 500 ft.  This boat has a perfect safety record, is the biggest and has the newest sail in use (2011) compared to all of the other parasailing companies.  They use state of the art weather equipment and have excellent reviews.  They will transfer us to and from the hotel, no additional charge.  Longer and higher flights are available for additional charges. You can do a completely dry flight with take off and landing right on the boat or you can opt for a small touch down onto the water before reflying back up and landing in the boat, a little wet from the dunk.  (Dunk is recommended.)

Lunch:  CHOOSE A RESTAURANT

Waikiki Rigger Catamaran Tradewind Cruise (whale watching)
2:20 pm check-in for 3:00 pm set sail
check in located at:   Outrigger Reef on the Beach Hotel (Beach Side)
                                Address:2169 Kalia Rd Honolulu, HI 96815
Distance from hotel: walking .92 miles, 27 minutes     map
Bus info.  $2.50 each way   bus map to Outrigger hotel for Catamaran check in  (which bus and where)
cruise info. website
$34

Dinner: CHOOSE A RESTAURANT


***
Tuesday 18th:
Massage and Spa day at the hotel.
Shopping.
Fly home.

St. Patrick's Day Idea

I will be gone this year for St. Patrick's Day so I put these together early.  On the morning of the 17th Mike will bring them out of hiding and have them at the breakfast table for the kids.  (I had him set an alarm on his phone :) so he would remember!)   Each child gets their own green basket.  They all have green, gold and rainbow items in them.  The girls always get a few hair things, the boys get more small toys, glow lights etc.   Everyone gets a bag of Lucky Charms cereal too.  I mailed my college daughter her "basket" a few days ago to make sure she gets it and I shed a few tears at the reminder that she is on her own now.  :(   I love doing fun little things for the holidays.  It's so fun to see the kids' faces!  Even though they are mostly teenagers now, they still get excited by little surprises.  :)

Chicken and Fruit Pasta Salad

I entered this in the county fair contest, in the "pasta" category, a few years ago and won 1st place.  It is an unusual combination of chicken and fruit and pasta with a poppyseed dressing, but it is delicious!  My kids gobble it up!  I have been waiting for a decent cantaloupe to appear at the store (It is a little early for melons, yet!) and when I saw one that looked like it would be good in a few days I grabbed it!  Luckily I was able to find some red, ripe strawberries and some firm green and red grapes too. 

Chicken and Fruit Pasta Salad
1 - 16 oz. box mini farfalle (bowtie) pasta
2 large chicken breasts, grilled and seasoned  (I use McCormick's Montreal Chicken)
1 lb. strawberries, sliced
1/2 cantaloupe, cubed
2 cups green grapes, halved
2 cups red grapes, halved
6 green onions, sliced
2 mint leaves, finely chopped (optional, sometimes I add it, sometimes I don't!)

Poppyseed Dressing
1 1/2 cups mayo
1/4 cup sugar
juice of 2 limes
2 Tbsp. poppy seeds
     Combine the ingredients for the dressing in a small bowl and wisk to combine.

     Cook the pasta until al dente, I usually cook it 3 minutes less than the package directions and then start to taste it for doneness. I really dislike mushy pasta, so I check it early.  Drain the pasta, rinse with cold water and add it to a large mixing bowl.

Dice your grilled and seasoned chicken breasts.  Add them to the pasta.

Add your fruit to the pasta and chicken.

Pour the poppyseed dressing over everything and stir to combine. 

Southwest Chicken and Tortilla Strip Salad

I made a double recipe of Creamy Tomatillo Dressing for our Cafe Rio copycat burritos and had some leftover so I decided to try it on a different salad.  I wanted something with a southwestern flavor and this salad is what I came up with.
Southwestern Chicken and Tortilla Strip Salad
lettuce
baked or grilled chicken tenders, cut into strips
baked or fried tortilla strips
black beans
corn
tomatoes, diced
green onions, sliced
avocado, diced
Creamy Tomatillo Dressing

Creamy Tomatillo Dressing

Cafe Rio's Creamy Tomatillo Dressing copycat.  This is the best dressing!  You can't have a true Cafe Rio meal without it.

Creamy Tomatillo Dressing
1 cup mayo
1 cup sour cream
3 tsp. ranch dip mix powder (I use Uncle Dan's)
2 tsp. garlic, minced
3 small tomatillos, chopped
1 cup cilantro, chopped
1 tsp. cayenne pepper
     Add all the ingredients into a blender and blend on high until smooth.  It takes a couple of minutes to finely chop the cilantro and tomatillos.

Cilantro Lime Rice

Another Cafe Rio Copycat!

Cilantro Lime Rice
5 3/4 cup water
3 cups rice, uncooked
1 Tbsp. butter
4 tsp. chicken boullion
4 tsp. minced garlic
1/2 bunch cilantro
1 small can diced green chilis
3/4 tsp. salt
juice of 2 limes
    In a blender add 1 cup of the water, chicken boullion, garlic, cilantro, chilis, salt and lime juice.  Blend on high until the cilantro is finely chopped and the ingredients are mixed together really well.  Add the rice, remaining water, butter and mixture from the blender to your rice cooker and turn it on.  If you are not using a rice cooker then put all the ingredients into a large pot with a lid.  Bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat to low and simmer for 20-25 minutes until rice is tender. Do not lift the lid while cooking.   

Cafe Rio Pork Barbacoa (Sweet Pork)

This is a Cafe Rio copycat recipe.  There are several of them online, but this is THE official version, from someone who actually knows!  ;)

Pork Barbacoa
3-4 lb. pork loin roast
1- 2 liter of Coke, not diet!  (disclaimer:  I use Dr. Pepper.  I don't like Coke.), divided
1- 20 ounce can of mild, red enchilada sauce
2 cups brown sugar
       Put the roast in your large, removable crock pot dish.  Pour enough soda (Coke or DP) over the roast to cover it.  Save 2 cups of the leftover soda for adding to the recipe later!  Place the lid on and set it in the refrigerator overnight.  In the morning place the dish back into your crockpot base and cook on high for 5 hours.  After 4-5 hours, remove the roast from the crockpot.  Empty the liquid from the crockpot and discard it.  Wash the pot clean.  Cut the roast into quarters and plce them back into the clean crockpot.  Add the enchilada sauce, brown sugar and the 2 cups of soda saved from the night before.  Cover with the lid, place the crockpot back on the base and cook on high for another 2 hours.  After 2 hours, use 2 forks to shred the pork in the crockpot.  Recover and cook for another hour or until the pork is tender.