AT LEAST I CAN PRETEND TO BE IN HAWAII PUDDING

It's June and it feels like August... how depressing!!!

I need a vacation. How about you?

It's hot, humid, sticky, and I am fighting huge mosquitoes. Am I in the

Amazon? NO! This is Georgia. Good old Southern heat you all...!!! I don't

feel like cooling off with iced tea or watermelon like the folks do down

here. Heck no! I have had enough of that already. I have had enough of

the mosquitoes too!

OH, how I would love to be somewhere else...far away... in the Hawaiian

Islands, I said to myself. Well, I can't go but...I can cook something

that will transport me far away from Auburn, Georgia to a beautiful,

relaxing beach in Hawaii!!! Yeah, that I can do.

So, I got off my sofa where I was daydreaming with Waikiki, and headed

to my kitchen. I always keep a couple of cans of coconut milk for those

times when I need to "escape" to Hawaii. The ingredients for Haupia,

the favorite Hawaiian dessert, are definitely cheaper that an

airplane fare.

It's this easy:

2 cups coconut milk

1 cup Moo Moo milk. (cow milk)

3/4 cups sugar

1/2 cup cornstarch

2 tsp vanilla extract

a pinch of salt

I mix the cornstarch with the Moo Moo milk, making sure there are no lumps.

Then I mix the rest of the ingredients in a pan. I will stir, stir, stir in medium

high heat until it thickens, making sure to lower the heat if necessary. Oh, that

coconut aroma....Ummmmm!!!

When it has thickened and looks like this it is time to remove itfrom the heat.

It's done.....Now, it's time for me to lick that spoon!!!

Then...just pour that thick pudding in a greased mold and let it cool for a couple

of hours. Meantime, I will go to my garden and look for a pretty flower to decorate

it with...

Time to take a nap now and dream with the surfers...

I mean dream with the surf!

2 hours later....

and some very, very nice dreams...

I will flip it onto a plate and it's ready to be served.

Now don't do like me, I actually was talking to my husband on the phone when I

flipped it and it cracked...but doesn't the flower do a good job at hiding it?

Don't worry ...be happy, I say to myself, I can start daydreaming now, and leave

Georgia...But first I will click on this video! You do the same and keep reading!

Yes, I am almost dipping my toes in the Pacific Ocean!!!

So, I cut a slice, and poured some strawberry sauce, that I had prepared in

minute, by adding a couple of tablespoons of water to 1/4 cup seedless

strawberry jam, heated in the microwave, and stirred it well.Then I decorated

my Haupia with lots of whipped cream, and topped it all off with delicious, salty,

crunchy, Hawaiian Macadamia nuts...Oh, my...oh, my!!

I can't wait for that first bite!!!

As I sit in front of my TV watching Lilo and Stitch eating this

Hawaiian delight... I say...

AT LEAST I CAN PRETEND TO BE IN HAWAII,

and forget this southern heat, ALOHA y'all!!