shave ice & gelato

I would recommend watching the videos full screen video mode to get the full effect. To view full screen, click on the little box on the far right after clicking on the arrow to play (click escape to exit full screen video mode).

Important tip: Never, never, never stand where the foolish people at the edge of the water are standing if you ever get a chance to see these big waves in person. It IS very dangerous! You can get swept away in a blink of an eye.

I found an interesting article while checking out the CNN website this weekend written by Elizabeth Cohen, CNN Medical Correspondent on five ways to avoid germs while traveling. The tips come from Dr. Mark Gendreau, a senior staff physician at the Lahey Clinic in Burlington, Massachusetts, who has been studying germiness while traveling.

1. Sit toward the front of the airplane

According to Dr. Gendreau, there is better airflow from the ventilation system in the front of the aircraft. Of course first class is the best place to sit since there is less of the squish factor and more room there.

Although I no longer have elite status on Continental, which makes sitting closer to the front of the plane difficult at times, I have tried to sit closer to the front whenever possible. I will probably try a little harder in the future. I would LOVE to always fly first class, wouldn’t we all. I am still waiting on the big lottery win for that to come true.

2. Don't drink coffee or tea on an airplane

The EPA advises anyone with a suppressed immune system or anyone who's "concerned" about bacteria to refrain from drinking coffee or tea on an airplane.

My guess is that most people would be at least somewhat concerned about bacteria. I was aware about not drinking tap water, and even take bottled water in to the bathroom with me when I brush my teeth, but I was unaware that the boiled water for coffee and tea was not safe.

According to this article and the EPA’s Web site: "While boiling water for one minute will remove pathogens from drinking water, the water used to prepare coffee and tea aboard a plane is not generally brought to a sufficiently high temperature to guarantee that pathogens are killed,"

Even more scary, “According to the EPA, out of 7,812 water samples taken from 2,316 aircraft, 2.8 percent were positive for coliform bacteria.”

3. Sanitize your hands after leaving an airplane bathroom
Charles Gerba, an environmental microbiologist at the University of Arizona who's also known as "Dr. Germ” says a toilet on an airplane "is among the germiest that you will encounter almost anywhere."

One point for me! I have been well aware that airplane toilets are full of germs. Not only do I wash my hands, but I use my little bottle of hand sanitizer to sanitize my hands as double protection after returning to my seat.

Dr. Germ goes on to say, "You have 50 people per toilet, unless you are flying a discount airline; then it is 75. We always find E. coli on surfaces in airplane restrooms."

4. Wash or sanitize your hands after getting off an escalator

I never thought about the escalator as a germ breeding area before. Although this article is specifically about traveling, sanitizing your hands after touching all escalator handrails would be a good idea as a way of avoiding germs.

5. Wash or sanitize your hands after using an ATM

I sort of knew this one but have not been good about the hand sanitizer also in this situation. I also recently saw a news clip saying that germs can stay on money for up to 17 days! That sure makes avoiding germs more difficult.

Gendreau sums up how to keep healthy in six words: "hand hygiene, hand hygiene, hand hygiene."

Check out the full article, Five ways to avoid germs while traveling, for more information on the wonderful world of germs.

I joined the Slow Trav chat this morning. The topic was ~ Share your Homemade Gifts and Recipes for a Thrifty Christmas. I mentioned cheesecake bars (a recipe my mom used to make) and said I would post the recipe on my blog. They are very easy to make, even for someone who rarely bakes.

I don't have any photos, but if I make them again, I will add a photo later on.

I suppose you could use homemade chocolate bit cookie dough instead of using the rolls of refrigerated chocolate chip cookie dough to make this recipe a bit healthier.

The last time I made these, I tried using the new pre-cut refrigerated cookie dough mix that comes on sheets. They were easier to use than the rolls of cookie dough (the cookie dough starts melting very quickly here in Hawaii and can get quite messy) but I ended up having too much cream cheese mixture and not enough cookie dough mix because the pre-cut cookies are much smaller. I think they would work well though if you bought more pre-cut sheets of the cookie dough.

I have always received great feedback and requests for the recipe whenever I have made these. The only catch when giving them as gifts at work is that you need to make sure refrigeration will be available unless your friends plan to eat them all right away.

The news of the horrific terrorist attacks in Mumbai have been so disturbing. I don't understand how anyone can harbor so much hatred and kill so easily with absolutely no remorse. So many senseless deaths. My heart breaks for all those in Mumbai and all those who have lost a loved one in this horrible tragedy. It makes me wonder if there will ever be peace in the world.

For this week's theme, I decided on posting photos of the the sacred bell, also known as the peace bell. The peace bell is located on the grounds of the Byodo-in Temple in the Valley of the Temples in Kaneohe (Oahu, Hawaii). This five-foot, three-ton peace bell is customarily rung before entering the temple. It is said that ringing the bell will bring you happiness, blessings, and a long life. Ringing the bell is also said to send out a sound of calm and peace.

Continue reading ""metal"~ PhotoHunt" »

For the past two years, I had a little boy in my class who brought in all kinds of home baked goodies that his mom would bake for us throughout the year. My favorite treat was her pumpkin crunch. She gave us her recipe after we raved about how delicious it was.

When her son moved on to Kindergarten this year, I figured that was the end of the goodies. Instead, she has continued to spoil me with breads, mochi, and other delicious treats. This morning when I arrived at school, I was thrilled when my former student came up to me with a package in his hand. Two squares of his mom's famous pumpkin crunch. Lucky me!!

I have been thinking about either trying out the pumpkin crunch recipe or making my mom's pecan pie or pumpkin pie recipe for Thanksgiving this year. In the end, I decided against all three in order to try to stay on a good diet low in cholesterol, fearing I would eat the entire pan of pumpkin crunch or the entire pie! I also didn't want to bring any of these sweets over to my dad's house for Thanksgiving due to various diet and health concerns. Instead, I have decided to make cranberry nut muffins.

I have to admit though, that I was secretly hoping that she was planning to bake her pumpkin crunch again this year. Thanksgiving is not Thanksgiving without some type of pumpkin treat.

Below is a photo of the one pumpkin crunch square left. I already ate one square tonight (couldn't wait til tomorrow). The cranberry muffins will have to wait til this weekend. I have terrible lighting in my kitchen and am in need of better dishes for photography purposes, so just focus on the food.

In case you want to give it a try, here is the recipe. It looks pretty easy to make.

Pumpkin Crunch

Main ingredients:
1 can solid-pack pumpkin (29 oz)
1 can evaporated milk (13 oz)
1 cup sugar
3 eggs, slightly beaten
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1 box yellow pudding cake mix
1 cup walnuts, chopped
1 cup butter, melted

Frosting:
1 package cream cheese (8 oz)
1/2 cup powdered sugar, sifted
3/4 cup cool whip

Mix the pumpkin, milk, sugar, eggs, and cinnamon together. Pour into a 9X13 inch pan lined with wax paper. Pour 1 box of cake mix (dry) over pumpkin mixture and pat nuts on the cake mix. Spoon melted butter evenly over the nuts.

Bake at 350 degrees for 50-60 minutes. When done, invert onto tray and peel off the waxed paper. When slightly cooled, spread frosting on top.

To make the frosting, beat together cream cheese and powdered sugar. Fold in cool whip. Spread over the cake evenly. Refrigerate.