Just in from Hawaii - Part 5: A living paint by number piece of artwork.

While this blog focuses mainly on foods, today's post is actually about a tree that grows in Hawaii.  I wanted to share this tree with you because I have never seen anything like it.  Those of you who travel extensively may not be in as much awe as I was over this tree...but considering I've been to South America, Italy, France, Austria, England and many islands yet haven't had the feeling I felt when I saw this tree, I decided to share.

According to Chris this beautiful plant is called a paper tree, and its appearance is incredibly unique, like something off a paint by number set.  After a little internet research, I think this is actually a Rainbow Eucalptus tree.  It gets its painted effect by the aging of the bark, which is "exfoliated" to reveal new colors beneath it.  The young bark is green, and as it ages it turns to darker green, bluish, purplish, pink-orange and finally a dark brown maroon before it is exfoliated and begins the process again.  

Isn't nature just amazing?  

Locavore Valentine's Dinner - Feb. 12th, 6:30 p.m.

Image from Prairie Harvest's page on facebook.

I wanted to take a break from the Hawaii posts to tell you about this local opportunity:

Prairie Harvest in Newton, one of my favorite detours on the drive to visit my parent's farm, is helping us celebrate Valentine's Day!  This fun, locally owned food store is one place people living in the area can find locally sourced foods.  It's also a place you could enjoy live cello music and a "Locavore" Valentine's Dinner with your special someone (or a good friend, or your mother, or anyone that deserves a yummy local meal on Valentine's Day.)  Reservations need to be made by February 10th and the cost is $25.00 per person.

Here's what they're serving on Feb. 12th at 6:30 p.m.:

Farm Fresh Appetizer Plate:

Cream-filled eggs, raw cheeses, home-made crackers
Sweet Potato Soup with Spicy Crumbles

Entree Options:

Rosemary-garlic Lamb
Moroccan Glazed Chicken Breast
Glazed Veggie Burger (vegan)

Sides:

Oven Roasted Beets and Potatoes
Steamed Winter Greens with Cider Vinaigrette
Herbed Focaccia from local wheat

Dessert:

Blackberry Torte with Toasted Pecan Crust

All menu items feature locally produced or locally grown foods.
Call 316-283-6623 for reservations.

Just in from Hawaii - Part 4: You mean pineapples don't grow on trees?

 Really?  They grow on bushes?

On a trip to the north shore of Ohau, Chris and I stopped at the Dole Plantation.  As we traveled there, I asked what kind of a tree pineapples grown on.  Yes, this Kansas farm girl really thought pineapples grew on trees - and I laugh when people don't understand where wheat comes from.  I'm beginning to understand why the woman from Chicago at the Newman University Fresh Movie showing didn't realize what a real potato was until she was twenty, but thought mashed potatoes came in a box.

It turns out pineapple production is much like wheat production, with large fields growing the fruit that is harvested when it is ripe.  Driving through the countryside of Hawaii, I felt that I was back at home in the Kansas farm land, but the crop was different and there were beautiful mountains surrounding the valley.

We purchased a couple of sweet, juicy, succulent pineapples at the farmers' market and loved them.  I find it interesting that while pineapples grow wonderfully in Hawaii, apparently they can be grown just about anywhere in the world.  Because they do not grow on trees, they can be grown indoors in a pot.  Maybe this is the new plant we'll try this season...imagine, growing a pineapple in Kansas?!  Or, maybe I can talk a local farmers' market vendor into growing pineapples...now that would be a market niche (and one that makes my mouth water!), but it can take up to two years to grow just one pineapple.  I'm doubting those odds would be profitable enough for the farmers' in our area.

Just in from Hawaii - Part 3: Local Food Promotion in the Islands

With increased consumer interest in local eating, advertising foods that are locally produced sells more product.  If it didn't, I'm sure none of the following pictures would have been captured on our recent trip to Hawaii.  As a person who is passionate about local eating, and someone who blogs to inspire you (and me!) to choose more locally produced foods, I am constantly snapping pics of products local to the area we are vacationing.  Here are a few from our recent trip to Ohau that I found interesting.

Chris and I visited Chinatown, where the local fish in a small fish market was identified as fresh and local.  It's like picking a tomato from your garden vs. getting one shipped from California...in this case it's the "garden" of the ocean...imagine the freshness!

Here's a product that can also be found in Kansas, but was one of many local items this Chinatown Farmers' Market vendor was selling.

We even found local products in the grocery store.  Apparently the "Hawaii Food Manufacturers Association" label is much like the "Simply Kansas" label that many products in our own state carry.

Oh Hawaii, after shoveling snow four times today, I miss you.