Luau Birthday Party

Looking for a fun way to celebrate your spouses’ birthday or a friend’s birthday? It doesn’t have to be a milestone birthday year (you know – the 30th, 40th, 50th, etc.) to organize a fun event. So, where do you start? Does the birthday person have an overwhelming passion, interest or hobby? If so, you could consider a theme party based on their interest. Or, consider some popular theme parties, such as a Luau birthday party. Think Hawaiian. Send birthday invitations specifying the dress code – Hawaiian shirts, hula skirts, etc. Buy some island music from a party store for some Hula dancing or the Limbo. For decorations, consider bamboo tiki torches, inflatable parrots or palm trees. Don’t forget the flower leis, tropical straws, cocktail umbrellas and coconut cups! Need a few Hawaiian food and drink recipes? Try the following:

Kalua Pig

Ingredients

5 pound pork butt
2 tbsp liquid smoke
2 1/2 tbsp Hawaiian or sea salt
1 banana leaf or aluminum foil

Preparation

Score the fat of the pork butt into 1 inch squares or make several shallow long cuts along the roast. This allows the salt and liquid smoke to penetrate the meat. Rub with salt and liquid smoke over all sides of the meat and in the fat as well. Wrap the roast securely with banana leaf (or aluminum foil). Roast in a 325-350 preheated oven for about 45 minutes per pound. When meat is done, shred pork as is traditional for the luau pig.

Hawaiian Chicken with Pineapple Salsa

Ingredients

4 chicken breasts, halved, skinned and boned
1/2 cup brown onion, diced
1/3 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
2 Tbsp lemon juice
2 cloves fresh garlic, minced
1 Tbsp soy sauce
1 Tbsp honey
1 Tbsp fresh cilantro, minced
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes, crushed
1 8 ounce can of Dole crushed unsweetened pineapple (reserve juice)

Preparation

Strain the juice from the pineapple, reserving the juice. Place pineapple in a covered bowl and chill.
Put the pineapple juice in a small bowl and whisk in the soy sauce, garlic and honey. Pour over the chicken halves in a shallow dish, coating all sides. Cover and let marinate for up to 6 hours or more in the refrigerator, basting occasionally. When you're ready to cook the chicken, take the pineapple from the refrigerator and add the onions, lemon juice, brown sugar and cilantro. Mix together well.

Remove the chicken from the marinade and grill or broil. Check doneness by making sure that the chicken is no longer pink in the center. Pour the marinade into a small saucepan and boil for a few minutes until reduced by half. Top the chicken with the reduced salsa and serve.

Banana-Yam Casserole

Ingredients

4 yams or sweet potatoes
4 ripe but not overly ripe bananas
1/4 to 1/3 cup brown sugar
2-3 Tbsp butter
Dash of salt
1/2 cup water

Preparation

Preheat over to 350. Parboil the sweet potatoes. Cool and peel. Slice into 1/4 inch slices. Slice the bananas into 1/4 inch slices. Prepare a casserole dish by buttering the inside. Place a layer of sweet potatoes in the casserole dish. Add a dash of salt and small pieces of butter. Sprinkle with the brown sugar. Add a layer of the banana slices, small pieces of butter and brown sugar. Alternate layers until the casserole is nearly full, ending with the bananas, brown sugar and butter on top. Add a dash of salt. Add the water and bake in a 350 oven 30-40 minutes or until golden brown on top.

Coconut Fruit Salad

Ingredients

1 fresh pineapple
3 oranges
3 pears
1 cup red seedless grapes
5 bananas
4 crisp apples
3 peaches
25 large marshmallows
1 cup of walnuts
1 cup shredded coconut (may substitute melon, kiwi, mango, papaya, guava, nectarines, grapefruit if necessary)

Preparation

All of the fruit should be cut or sliced into bite-size pieces. Combine all the ingredients except the bananas, walnuts, and coconut. Cover and chill. Just before serving, mix in the bananas and walnuts. Sprinkle the shredded coconut over the top. This is a delicious tropical fruit salad with a Hawaiian twist. Serves 25.

Mai Tai

Ingredients

1 oz (2 tablespoons) dark rum
1 oz (2 tablespoons) amber rum
2 tablespoons fresh orange juice
1/2 oz (1 tablespoon) Cointreau or triple sec
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
1 teaspoon superfine granulated sugar
Dash of grenadineGarnish with an orange slice

Preparation

Shake all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with 1 cup ice cubes, then strain into a glass filled with ice cubes. Makes one drink.

Blue Hawaiian

Ingredients

1 oz light rum
1 cherry
2 oz pineapple juice
1 oz Blue Curacao liqueur
1 oz cream of coconut
1 slice pineapple

Preparation

Blend light rum, blue Curacao, pineapple juice, and cream of coconut with one cup ice in an electric blender at high speed. Pour contents into a highball glass. Decorate with the slice of pineapple and a cherry. Makes one drink.

NOTE: Recipes were compiled from a variety of sources, such as DrinksMixer.com and PartyAmerica.com.