Welcome Kanani, American Girl of the Year, Luau: A Prep Ahead Party

Graphics and party supplies by Love the Day!!

http://www.love-the-day.com

http://lovetheday.etsy.com

Saying my girls love American Girl Dolls would be an understatement.  It all started a couple of years ago when they got their hot little hands on one of the catalogs.  They dove right in, pens in hand, and got right to circling...everything on every page.  Our girls are young and Mike and I debated about whether or not to indulge in what we knew would be the start of an extraordinary collection.  I knew that this needed to be more than the purchase of $100 dolls times three.  It was up to us to bring these dolls to life by sharing with our girls their stories of compassion, courage, loyalty and leadership.  These stories feed their imaginations.  Our playroom quickly transforms into Kirsten's new home on the American frontier as the girls set up a honey stand to help support her new life in Minnesota.  Most recently, our kitchen became a rescue operation, as the girls helped their newest doll, Kanani, save the life of an endangered monk seal on the island of Kauai.

When Kanani, the 2011 American Girl of the year was released in January, I new she would be the next addition to the girls' collection.  We purchased the book, Aloha Kanani, by Lisa Yee and read it in its entirety with the promise of a celebratory Luau in Kanani's honor upon its completion.  In preparation, I frequented Love the Day's Etsy Shop where graphic designer/stylist, Lindi Hawes, offers AMAZING party supplies.  I purchased her luau party kit and requested additional custom items which she quickly emailed me in a digital file.  Love the Day is my new one stop shop for party supplies.  Thank you Lindi!!!

Of course our Hawaiian theme went beyond, the decor, wall mural, maps of Hawaii, flower leis and grass skirts!  The exact menu Kanani ate while attending a luau in the story was recreated for our guests, all of which was prepared ahead of time!  

We share with you our "Welcome Kanani, American Girl of the Year, Luau!"

     

http://lovetheday.etsy.com

Kanani Akina's sweet shop was replicated in our living room.  At the end of the post you will see many of the recipes from our Hawaiian dinner!  I did however, call in reinforcements from the fabulous local bakery, Scrumptions.  The cupcakes, macaroons and palm tree cookie favors all came from there!

Water bottle labels and ALL graphics from Love the Day!

  I seemed to have missed getting a picture of the adorable "Drinks" bucket with a sign created by Love the Day!  Check it out in her Etsy store!!!

Kanani's Shaved Ice Stand!

And the dinner menu...

Banana Bread

Portuguese Sweet Bread

Hawaiian Sweet Potatoes

Chicken Long Rice

Kalua Pork

"Poi"

This staple of a hawaiian luau, chicken long rice, actually originated in China!

 Okinowan sweet potatoes are actually purple in color and grow all over the islands of Hawaii!  This recipe was made with orange sweet potatoes, coconut milk and pineapple bringing out some of the traditional flavors of Hawaii!

Kalua Pork is always the main dish at a traditional Hawaiian Luau!  Kalua means to bake in an open pit under ground!  Ours was baked in the slow cooker but the flavor rivals the traditional version we had in Kauai!

Although ordering real poi made from taro root was an option, I opted for vanilla pudding with purple food coloring.

"Kapu" meaning forbidden in Hawaii

 The mai tais were a hit!

The recipes....

All of the recipes were prepared ahead of time and were heated before serving!

Kalua Pork

adapted from a recipe found on allrecipes

Ingredients

• 1 (6-7 pound) pork butt roast* 
• 1 tablespoon liquid smoke flavoring
• 1 teaspoon (use more or less to taste-I tend to use less!) hawaiian sea salt (or Kosher salt)
• *I used a fully cooked bone in pork butt (shoulder)
• Directions:

1. Pierce pork all over with a carving fork. Rub liquid smoke over meat. Place roast in a slow cooker.
2. Cover, and cook on Low for 16 to 20 hours, turning once during cooking time.
3. Remove meat from slow cooker, and shred, adding drippings as needed to moisten.

Chicken Long Rice

adapted from several different recipes found online!

Ingredients

8 ounces rice noodles, soaked for 15 minutes according to package directions

1 T olive oil

1 rotisserie chicken, cut up

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 onion, chopped

4 carrots, chopped

2 stalks celery, chopped

ginger root, an inch and a half, peeled and chopped or grated

salt and pepper

1 bunch of scallions, chopped

chicken broth, 4- 32 oz cartons

Directions: 

1.  Saute carrots, onion, garlic, and celery until veggies are soft.

2.  Add broth, chicken, ginger and salt and pepper, bring to a boil, then simmer for about an hour.

3.  Stir in scallions and noodles and simmer for an additional 10 minutes!*

Prep Ahead Plan:  Do steps 1 and 2 the night before.  Stir in scallions but NOT the noodles.  An hour before serving, heat on low in a crockpot.  After an hour, stir in noodles and leave on low to serve!

Hawaiian Sweet Potatoes

Ingredients

8 medium sized sweet potatoes or less if they are large

1/2 cup of brown sugar
1 stick of butter (sliced into thin pieces)
1 16 ounce can of drained crushed pineapple
1/2-3/4 cup of coconut milk

Directions:

1.  Wash sweet potatoes and pierce them with a fork.  Roast for 45 minutes at 400 degrees until soft.

2.  After they have cooled a little, scoop the sweet potatoes out into a 2 1/2 quart baking dish.

3.  Mix in remaining ingredients and mash with a potato masher.

4.  Cover and refrigerate until ready to bake.  Bake, covered, at 250 degrees for about 45 minutes until heated though. (Microwaving them is also an option!)

Portuguese Sweet Bread (bread machine recipe)

Recipe from Allrecipes
Ingredients
1 cup milk
1 egg
2 tablespoons butter
1/3 cup white sugar
3/4 teaspoon salt
3 cups bread flour
2 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast
Directions:

1. Add ingredients in order suggested by your manufacturer.
2. Select "sweet bread" setting.

Banana Bread
recipe from food network kitchens
Ingredients
1 cup sugar

8 T butter
2 large eggs
3 bananas
1 T milk
1 t cinnamon
2 cups flour
1 t baking soda
1 t baking powder
1 t salt

Directions:

1.  Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Butter a 9 x 5 x 3 inch loaf pan.

2.  Cream the sugar and butter in a large mixing bowl until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.

3.  In a small bowl, mash the bananas with a fork. Mix in the milk and cinnamon. In another bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.

4.  Add the banana mixture to the creamed mixture and stir until combined. Add dry ingredients, mixing just until flour disappears.

5.  Pour batter into prepared pan and bake 1 hour to 1 hour 10 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Set aside to cool  for 15 minutes. Remove bread from pan, invert onto rack and cool completely before slicing.

My favorite recipe of the afternoon...

Mai Tais (makes 1 gallon)

recipe adapted from Allrecipes

Ingredients

• 2 cups light rum
• 1 cup dark rum
• 1 cup 151 proof rum
• 1 cup orange curacao (orange flavored liqueur)
• 1 cup simple syrup flavored with 1 t almond extract 
• 1 cup simple syrup
• 10 limes, juiced
• 1/2 gallon fresh orange juice
• Directions:

1. In a large jar or drink cooler, combine the light rum, dark rum, 151 rum, orange liqueur, almond flavored syrup, simple syrup, and lime juice. Stir and top off with orange juice. Do not use grenadine if you want the true Mai Tai!