Lu'au Oil.
For a couple of years now, Ka'anela Inc. has been bottling Hawaiian Lu'au Savored Taro Oil, using the less-than-perfect leaves of the taro plant.
The company is now flavoring its oils and has introduced Italian Herb and Hawaiian Chili oils. Like the original oil, the flavored oils mix luau leaves with sunflower oil to produce an oil so high in monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats (the "good" fats), that it outscores even olive oil, the company says.
The oil is sold in 12.5-ounce bottles for $5-$6. It also comes in 1- and 5-gallon jugs.
It can be used in salad dressings, marinades and pasta dishes -- or for just about any other cooking purpose. For example, mix 3 tablespoons of any flavor taro oil with 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar or lemon juice and 1 tablespoon crumbled feta cheese. Mix, add salt and pepper to taste and pour over salads, vegetables or tofu.
For more ideas, stop by one of these demonstrations:
Saturday: Native Books and Beautiful Things, Ward Warehouse, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Oct. 11: Longs Drug Store, Wahiawa, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Oct. 16: Koko Crater Coffee Roasters, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Oct. 23: Executive Chef, Ward Warehouse, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
The free program runs from 9:30 to 11 a.m., featuring Dr. James McKoy, chief of rheumatology at Kaiser Permanente Hawaii. An estimated 131,000 in Hawaii have some form of the more than 100 types of diseases known as arthritis.
Seating is limited and reservations are recommended. Call 942-3636.
For more information about Arthritis Foundation programs visit Web site http://www.arthritis.org.
