Sigh, before I left for my sunny West Coast vacation with my brother a couple weeks ago, I departed a sunny, 70 degree Madison. The realist in me knew Wisconsin doesn’t typically warm up until late April, but the possibility of an early spring tricked me into thinking the warm weather was here to stay. Despite having a lovely week of sun, surf, and some of the best sushi in California, I returned to find that had Mother Nature buried my car in 5 inches of snow. Desperately missing the sun, I threw a luau party (for one) to keep my chin up as I power through these last lingering weeks of winter chill.
Naturally, what luau could call itself a luau without some pineapple and Spam? Did you know that Hawaiians are the world’s largest consumers of Spam? Although initially introduced during World War II as a wartime food staple, Spam has become deeply ingrained into Pacific Island cuisine. You can find it in sushi, stir frys, and even in burgers in Hawaii. I especially love it with some fried rice. Throw in some pineapple and say aloha to summer! Tropical tip: slice a pineapple in half (this is way easier to do than you think), scoop out the insides, and voila a festive pineapple bowl to serve your rice in. You’ll impress your guests AND reuse parts of the pineapple you would have tossed anyway. Add even more island flair with some fresh flowers!
