Eggplant Parmesan, Pasta w/ Marinara, and Beet n' Goat Cheese Salad

Harvesting Thai basil in Kilauea, good people, amazing farm! Thanks Mama J for letting me help out and learn from the best! We made many bundles for the CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) Program. This farm provides over 50 families a week with fresh organic veggies!

Shepard's Pie- Local Purple Sweet Potato, Red Lentils, topped with White Cheddar and Hawaiian Chili Pepper 'n' Papaya Salsa

Mac Nut crusted Aioli Ahi w/ Pear Salsa, Grilled Asparagus, and Wild Rice

mmm...island fish, corn, and crab legs

Stuffed bell pepper w/bulgar pilaf, marinara sauce, and island greens!
So Much Abundance!! Check out www.kauaiabundance.com an amazing idea!

Local Treats-

I was going down to Salt Pond Beach one day when I saw this uncle working in his salt pond. I had always seen the salt ponds, but never felt comfortable approaching them. On this day, I decided to approach the uncle and ask him about the ponds and salt harvesting. He told me that "the ponds are one of a kind and there are no mo' like dis' in the world!" He had been working in these ponds since he was a kid and his father before him.Each pond is watched over by a family and is passed down from generation to generation preserving the hawaiian culture. The salt patch is made out of 17 different families. Season begins when summer starts and ends when the rains come. During a good season you can start around May and finish in September. The amount of salt you can harvest from one season really depends on everything nature provides sun, clay, ocean salt, brine shrimp, and ocean tides.
Hawaiian Salt or Paa Kai is used for seasoning, preserving food and often used as a gift from one family or friend to another.

I watched as the uncle collected salt and washed it in the loi. I was fascinated at how much salt he had in his pond! He told me that the brine shrimp, found in the salt, added nutritional value and made the salt special. I felt honored to learn about these ponds and participate in the harvesting. I thanked the uncle for sharing his knowledge and in turn he gave me a giant basket of salt! Enough to last years!

The Start-