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By Request
Betty Shimabukuro
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Wanted: Your holiday food story
The positive element of the holidays is represented by the three Fs: family, food, fellowship. (The downside is represented by the three Rs: running out of time, running out of cash, running around).
Here in the land of food and recipes, we like to focus on the positive and the tasty, thus this invitation: Share your stories.
What I'm after here are your family holiday traditions -- any holiday from Halloween through New Years -- as long as they involve food.
For example, in the family into which I married, there is a tradition of Pepsi Ham. Ingredients: Pepsi and ham. Pour one over the other, cover with foil, bake and baste until done. It's the best way to make ham, honest.
In the family into which I was born, the tradition is my mother's Chinese barley stuffing. Ingredients and procedure too complicated to get into here.
But you see what I mean: These are the dishes that appear on the table every Thanksgiving. Your family has some. Time to share.
Is it Dad's custard pie, Popo's roast duck, Aunty's Christmas sugar cookies, bagged up for everyone in the family every year? Your cream puffs, maybe, or your cousin's peanut butter mochi?
How to enter
» Tell you story in up to 100 words. Describe the dish, who makes it and what it means to your family. Details are important. Include the recipe if you have it, but if you don't, we'll take care of that later. (The recipe doesn't count as part of the 100 words.)
» Send your story by e-mail or snail mail (addresses are listed at the end of this column). No faxes, please.
» Include your name, telephone number and e-mail address.
» Deadline is Nov. 1, but if yours is a Halloween story, get it in right away.
What's in it for you
The best stories will be selected for sharing on these Food pages as each holiday approaches, with recipes for the dishes. We'll take photos of your family, too, and you'll get a copy.
Winners will receive a copy of "What Hawaii Likes to Eat," my cookbook written with Muriel Miura. (If you prefer a different book, I have a wide selection of slick national releases also available.)
The fine print
» Entries from outside Hawaii are welcome, but if you win, you'll need to provide a family photograph.
» Excerpts from entries that do not win may be printed in the newspaper, without compensation to the writer.
Send queries along with name and phone number to: "By Request," Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana, No. 7-210, Honolulu 96813. Or send e-mail to
bshimabukuro@starbulletin.com