Cooking Club: Aloha Hawaiian Luau by the Pool

Well, we can't close out the summer without a luau by the pool so we decided to make the theme for this month's Cooking Club a Hawaiian Luau Barbeque. We made an extra effort to pick out recipes that looked healthy or that we could give a healthy twist. Check out the menu below and recipes here.

Hawaiian Luau Menu:

Chips with Mango Salsa
Macaroni Salad with a Healthy Twist
Hawaiian Sweet Bread
Chinese Chicken Wings
Coconut Baked Fish
Sweet Potato (Piele) Casserole
Tropical Smoothies
Pineapple Haupia Cheesecake


The cooking crew for this Cooking Club included Corban Pusey. His job: eating the cheddar fishies. Very appropriate for a luau, right? Mommy Marcy was busy putting together our Baked Sweet Potato Casserole. Meanwhile, Mary and Cori worked on the Baked Coconut Fish. Allison and I did the Macaroni Salad with a Healthy Twist (part mayo & part yogurt). Surprisingly, the simple Macaroni Salad was the hit of the evening.

Meanwhile, out by the pool, Daddy Ericlee manned the tiki bar. He served up 5 different kinds of fruit smoothies. We skipped the pina coladas and mai tais since we had preggie and nursing mamas in the house.

The smoothies were delish! Meilani, as usual, was a big fan. If she can't go to Jamba Juice, Daddy's homemade smoothies are her fave!



We invited everyone to come in their favorite Hawaiian dresses or tackiest aloha shirts. Mia and Allison got the Best Dressed award. Cuties!


Meilani was thrilled her friend, Angel, came for the party too. They swam, painted and Angel even decided to feed her the coveted Macaroni Salad. Such a great older brother!


Dessert was a fabulous Pineapple Cheesecake with Coconut Haupia Sauce out of Sunset Magazine. We used this as an excuse to celebrate two birthdays: Allison's 30th and Cori's 31st.
Cori and Darrell are also celebrating their pregnancy. More Cooking Club babies!