432292 Fri Aug 17 10:20:36 -0700 2007 12 31 Home Cooking 0 2855141 My little girl is turning 2 in September and I want to have a Lilo & Stitch theme party for her. She missed out on a 1st birthday bash because she was very sick so I want to do it up this year. I have a nice room reserved for the event and wanted to stick to the Lilo&Stitch Hawaiian type theme. While I've got the decorations down I am having trouble with a menu that will be satisfying for 2-10 year olds as well as adults while sticking to my theme. I've come up with chicken on skewers with various dipping sauces, marinated pork on skewers with various dipping sauces, pineapple boats, a Disney theme cake, and possible hawaiian pizza. But like I said I want this to be stupendous to make up for last year...any ideas?? Help! Fri Aug 17 10:20:37 -0700 2007 119506 sheronda295 1 2855329 My niece had her birthday party last year at Waikikki Wally's in Manhattan, which has a Hawaiian/Luau theme. If you look at the menu on their website, maybe that will help you get some ideas. http://www.waikikiwallys.com/ Fri Aug 17 11:07:31 -0700 2007 2855141 10205 valerie 1 2855631 A very nice choice for theme--it can't help but be especially pretty. I would search for tropical fruit drinks, colorful/fancy/juicy. Bubble tea? Also, mini hamburger buns filled with tuna salad, or teriyaki burgers. Mini fish tacos. I envy your planning! Fri Aug 17 12:29:55 -0700 2007 2855141 42470 blue room 2 2857891 I would avoid bubble tea for little ones...those tapioca balls can be a choking hazard for small kids. Sat Aug 18 11:22:42 -0700 2007 2855631 13700 ricepad 1 2856752 Just remember to file down the skewers - sorry to be a pill but... - because 2 year olds are really little for things on pokey skewers. It sounds awesome though. I'll think about more ideas. Fri Aug 17 18:37:46 -0700 2007 2855141 99136 AMFM 1 2857200 How about... huli huli chicken wings span musubi (it's hawaii right?) mango bread sweet potatoes dried fruit or poi rice paper rolls macadamia nut pie be careful w/ allergies though esp for the kidlets... i'd consult w/ parents particularly with nut allergies... Fri Aug 17 23:57:06 -0700 2007 2855141 15572 Emme 1 2857239 Kalua pork - Very easy to make in the oven. Mochiko chicken Loco moco Saimin Manapua Haupia - Similar to a coconut jello Shave ice - A sure winner Hawaiian Sun drinks Not sure where you live, so some of these may be hard to come by. Sat Aug 18 01:13:12 -0700 2007 2855141 90814 Vegasbuff 2 2857578 I live in nyc. Emme and Vegasbuff where can i find some of these recipes? Sat Aug 18 08:21:54 -0700 2007 2857239 119506 sheronda295 3 2857681 If anyone is interested in some other good hawaiian recipes i found some on this site that i am considering for the party: http://www.hawaiian-music.com/recipes/ Sat Aug 18 09:26:32 -0700 2007 2857578 119506 sheronda295 3 2857766 Kalua Pork: 1 5- to 51/4-pound boneless pork butt roast 2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons Hawaiian alaea sea salt or coarse sea salt 3 frozen banana leaves, thawed 6 cups water, divided 1/2 teaspoon liquid smoke Preheat oven to 350°F. Using small sharp knife, cut 1/4-inch-deep slits 1 inch apart all over pork roast. Rub 2 tablespoons sea salt all over pork. Unfold 1 banana leaf on work surface and place pork roast atop leaf. Fold up leaf around pork, enclosing completely. Repeat wrapping pork in remaining 2 banana leaves, 1 at a time. Tie with kitchen string to secure, then wrap roast in foil. Place pork in roasting pan; pour 4 cups water into pan. Roast pork in oven until very tender when pierced with fork, about 5 hours. Unwrap pork and cool slightly. Shred pork and place in large bowl. Bring remaining 2 cups water and remaining 2 teaspoons salt to boil in small saucepan. Add liquid smoke; pour over pork and stir to blend. Let stand 10 minutes to allow liquid to flavor pork. I prefer the mesquite liquid smoke over the hickory, but you can use whatever kind you like. Mochiko Chicken: 2 lbs. chicken (thighs or breasts) cut into bite sized morsels 4 Tbsp. mochiko flour 4 Tbsp. cornstarch 4 Tbsp. sugar 5 Tbsp. soy sauce 1/2 Tsp. salt 1/4 cup chopped green onions 2 beaten eggs 2 cloves minced garlic oil for frying Mix all the ingredients in a large bowl (except for the oil) and add in chicken. Mix well and marinate chicken overnight. Fry marinated chicken in oil until golden-brown. Drain oil form chiken on paper towels and newspaper. Loco moco is simply rice with hamburger patties on top covered in brown gravy. Both saimin and haupia will be pre-packaged. Saimin may be hard to come by unless you have an Asian grocery store that carries Hawaiian ingredients as well. Haupia comes in a powdered mix; the easiest brand to find is probably NOH. Or you can do a recipe search on the internet and find recipes there. Shave ice is somewhat similar to a snow cone, but the ice is much, much finer, almost like snow. You then top it with different flavored syrups. Many places will also serve it with a scoop of ice cream on the bottom, then top with condensed milk and azuki beans (sweet red beans) which you can buy in a can. Here's a link as to what shave ice looks like: http://www.matsumotoshaveice.com/ Sat Aug 18 10:11:40 -0700 2007 2857578 90814 Vegasbuff 3 2858569 http://www.hawaii.edu/recipes/ scroll down http://gohawaii.about.com/cs/luaurecipes/l/aa041902a.htm Sat Aug 18 18:48:48 -0700 2007 2857578 15572 Emme 1 2857954 I'm doing a luau for adults and have been picking up themed items at the Dollar type stores. Things like leis and dishes. You might also check http://www.orientaltrading.com There are a lot of places on the internet to check of Hawaiian food. They thing to remember is that they are kids. Children like Cherries and canned pineapple. You can do a Hawaiian punch and if there are adults you can spice up your own. LIMBO! I'm assuming the party will be enjoyed mostly by the adults! Sat Aug 18 11:57:17 -0700 2007 2855141 12418 mar52 1 2858684 I think the inclusion of finger food is brilliant - and not just for beginning eaters, believe it or not. Here's the thing - most children are so excited at birthday parties that food is very, very far down on their list. Unless forced, most will not willingly ingest anything but cake. Even if your food is the bestest kid food in the whole world, they will just be too busy carousing to bother with eating it. Finger foods will also be appreciated by the parents, who will want to eat (especially if you're serving grownup beverages, which I always do). Many parents will not be able to actually sit to eat like civilized people because they will be so busy charging around after their progeny in that half-crouch that the parents of toddlers bent on self-destruction do. Being aware of possible allergies, like Emme says, is damned good advice. At my son's last party we had a few things that were FOR SURE gluten-free and casein-free. At his christening we had absolutely nothing with peanut in it. And... it will be fun no matter what. Don't give yourself grief about last year... it's only fun if it's fun! No one-year-old gives a damn about a birthday party, it's really for the parents (who deserve it!). Two-year-olds, on the other hand, dig a party. Have a blast - it sounds wonderful! Sat Aug 18 20:09:28 -0700 2007 2855141 42513 Mawrter