Looking for Luau Recipes

Hi D.! Congrats on your first year as a mommy!!! and to twins!! Heroic work!!! :)

The only thing I can think of is Hawaiian pizza with ham and pineapple. Have a good party!

i just did a brunch and made ham and pineapple skewers. they were a big hit. i used the 8' skewers. cut up a cooked ham and cut up a fresh pineapple (fresh works best) and soak the skewers. i alternated ham and pineapple on the skewers. then, heat up some maple syrup in the microwave (heat it in glass) and i basted all the skewers- it gives it a nice light flavor-not too sweet and then grill the skewers or you can broil them.

how about fruit kabobs?? I love making them (so simple) and you can use any fruit you want...

Fruit kabobs! Just take your favorite fruits and place them on wooden skewers or popsicle sticks. I've used strawberries, honeydew, watermelon and pineapple on wooden skeweres and served them in a hollowed out watermelon. I also served them with this dip:

8oz cream cheese
1/4c frozen limeade, partially thawed
2tbsp orange juice
1/2c cool whip

Mix all ingredients together and refrigerate for 1 hour before serving.

D.,

I came across this website one day while I was trying to find new ways to cook a pinapple. It is http://mauipineapple.com. I've tried the stir-fry which was very good. You should also check out my website. I have my own business creating personalized party favors for children's parties. I can certainly incorporate the Luau theme in something if you'd like. www.littleshopoffavors.com. I also give 10% discount to Mamasource members. Good luck and I hope your twins have a great b'day!
S.

A quick and easy thing for the luau could be grilled fruit. Pineapple is the easiest and tastes great. Just sprinkle the pineapple with a little brown sugar and place it on a med/low flame for a few minutes. You can also grill some peach halves. Cut them in half, place in foil with a cinnamon stick and some sugar/low cal sweetner and grill till soft. YUMMO!!
You can also make some fruit kabobs, and chicken or beef of a stick. Take some of your favorite seasoning and marinate the meat for at least an hour. I like some adobo and sason mixed with a small bottle of ITALIAN dressing. This is great for fish, pork, beef or chicken and the longer it sits, the better it tastes. Make sure you soak the wooden skewers before you grill so they do not burn. ENJOY!!

I am a stay at home mom of 2 little girls, 5 & 2. They keep me quite busy with sports and whatnot. Today my hubby & I are celebrating our 7 yr anniversary of marriage and 11yrs together.
We love our kids and cooking is how we met. I hope the things above may have helped. Enjoy and feel free to stop by and visit my web sites:

www.pamperedchef.biz/jennamato
http://www.stayinhomeandlovinit.com/jennmatt97

For dessert you can make cupcakes or a bundt cake with regular box cake mix. Then use vanilla frosting and take shredded cocconut and gentle press it into the frosting. You can also use a couple of drop of food coloring to change the color of the frosting to be more vibrant for a luau.
In HI they always serve their dishes with flowers on the plates, so that could alawys make a dish look more Hawaiian!

Get a fish bowl and fill it with blue colored jello (usually blue raspberry) and when it gets done firming stick little gummie fish in it with like a skewer stick and it makes a little edable aquarium! It's really cute!! Have a great time!!!

I made both these recipes for my luau party, and people ate it all, and were asking if I had any more. It's not necessarily "toddler" food, but the adults will love it. The first recipe is "Waikiki Meatballs" ( this recipe serves 12) It's basically a sweet n sour meatball with an island twist. The second is for "Party Pinwheels" a cream cheese and veggie stuffed and rolled flour tortilla cut into slices. It's great finger food for the adults.

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Waikiki-Meatballs/Detail.aspx

Waikiki Meatballs

You can make the meatballs ahead of time and chill or freeze. At the time of the party, just make the sauce and reheat the meatballs.

INGREDIENTS

* 3 pounds ground beef
* 1-1/3 cups crushed saltine cracker crumbs
* 2/3 cup minced onion
* 2 egg
* 1/2 cup milk
* 1 tablespoon ground ginger
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 2 tablespoons olive oil
*
* 1/4 cup cornstarch
* 1 cup packed brown sugar
* 2 (15 ounce) cans pineapple chunks - drained, with juice reserved
* 2/3 cup white vinegar
* 2 tablespoons soy sauce
* 2/3 cup chopped green bell pepper

DIRECTIONS

1. In a large bowl, combine ground beef, cracker crumbs, onion, egg, milk, ginger and salt. Shape mixture by rounded tablespoonfuls into meatballs.
2. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Place meatballs in skillet and cook until evenly brown, and meat is no longer pink. Drain excess fat.
3. In a small bowl, combine the cornstarch, brown sugar, reserved pineapple juice, vinegar and soy sauce. Mix until smooth, then pour into the skillet with meatballs. Cook, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens and boils, about 5 minutes. Stir in the green pepper and pineapple chunks. Heat through.

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Party-Pinwheels/Detail.aspx

Party Pinwheels

These can also be made a day or two ahead of time, just slice the day of the party.

INGREDIENTS

* 2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
* 1 (1 ounce) package ranch dressing mix
* 2 green onions, minced
* 4 (12 inch) flour tortillas
* 1/2 cup red bell pepper, diced
* 1/2 cup diced celery
* 1 (2 ounce) can sliced black olives
* 1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

DIRECTIONS

1. In a medium-size mixing bowl, combine cream cheese, ranch dressing mix, and green onions. Spread this mixture on each tortilla. Sprinkle red pepper, celery, black olives, and cheese (if you'd like) over the cream cheese mixture. Roll up the tortillas, then wrap them tightly in aluminum foil.
2. Chill 2 hours or overnight. Cut off ends of the rolls, and slice the chilled rolls into 1 inch slices.

Hey, D.,
I don't have any recipes but I just had to respond because we did a luau for our twins' first birthday party, too, last year. It wasn't a very big gathering, and we got most of the food from the L&L Hawaiian Barbecue outpost in Manhattan (http://www.hawaiianbarbecue.com/new_york.html).
Have fun,
A.

I cater. I make either chicken or ham cubes Hawaiian
Cashews(cheap cut pieces)
Pineapple chunks
ham or boneless chicken cut into pieces.(Chicken gets sauteed to cook, first, ham does not)
Scallions
Teryaki and duck sauce and OJ

Prep meat. Put into half tray (aluminum type).
(2lbs meat)
Combine Teryaki and duck sauce and oj: 3/4 cup first two, 1/4 cup oj. Pour and mix in full can of pineapple tidbits or chunks. Add tjhis to meat.
Cuts scallion to taste
mince 1 garlic clove
Add all to meat. Mix.
Bake or BBQ until bubbly
Top with chopped cashews and a little coconut.

I serve with a white rice to which I add (after cooked), Green peas(frozen small box, cooked slighly), and cashews which i have sauteed in little oil and minced garlic. i use fork to mix thru. Big hit at weddings!
you can actually use wings, but need to bake first and drain off liquid, then add the rest.