As the rain pours down endlessly, I can’t help but want to switch on the stove and pull out some of my favorite baking recipes. The cold and damp weather makes for a comforting and cozy weekend inside. Perhaps we will venture out around the island and try to find some sun. It has been so cold here that it even snowed on Haleakalā, the 10k ft crater, nearly 6 inches!

A sweet treat for this Valentine’s — fresh Hawaiian coconut macaroons with dark chocolate. I adore anything coconut and topped with dark chocolate, these are hard to resist! For something so simple and small, they are truly rewarding.

Winter in Hawaii can be a bit wet and damp. We have had endless rain for the past two weeks and finally the sun is back out again. It’s amazing how the lifestyle truly revolves around the ocean and sun. Given the outdoor lifestyle, it’s hard to find things to do when it’s so wet and gray outside.

We are blessed with an abundance of fresh honey from our bees in the backyard. We have a few bee boxes and they produce year round given the temperate climate. Paired with citrus and olive oil, this honey cake is absolutely delicious for an afternoon treat or outdoor gathering. Sprinkle with almonds and powdered sugar, it’s delight for any weeknight impromptu dinner.

This cake heralds the Christmas season at our house. The nutty, sweet, and citrusy crumb is enhanced by the subtle hint of rum. It is also a wonderful accompaniment to a morning cup of coffee while watching the snow quietly fall outside.

This hearty winter chili won’t disappoint. It hits the spot on a cold winter’s day. Something hearty, simple, and filling are just what a cold winter outing calls for. Feel free to make this vegetarian too for a wholesome veggie option. I hope you make time for a wintery outing this week!

It’s that time of year! I pulled together a few of my favorite pieces for the homecook and outdoor entertainer in your life. They are simply beautiful and practical…and maybe they will inspire you to take your next gathering outside! Hope you are having a wonderful December.

Turnovers and hand pies are the ideal picnic food. They are easy to make, transport, and with little need for extra dishes or serveware. Wrap them in a tea towel in small basket and your good to go. Not only are they practical, they are just enough of a serving for one person which helps when planning for a larger or even smaller gathering.

The past few months, I’ve been working on developing a short ebook of visual stories and recipes. It’s a compilation of three stories around food from growing up in Vermont and moving to Maui. Each story has a seasonal and complementary recipe. Quite frankly, it’s the start of something bigger I’m developing. I find that cooking and picnicking has much for nostalgic meaning for me than I realized. I bet it does for you too.

As Thanksgiving approaches, I’ve been thinking of new and old traditions. Given that I am away from my family back in Vermont for the holiday, it’s even more important to me to carry on the family traditions and favorite recipes. Even if it’s just the two of us, I’m still planning to cook the whole meal! Traditions are important to me and I feel disconnected without them.

One of the beautiful things about living in Hawaii is the diversity of landscape and food. Maui has over seven different climate zones believe it or not! From the lush jungles to the dry and Mediterrean climate upcountry, there is an endless amount inspiration. Maui is a shape shifter of sorts. Some areas look like the grassy savannah of Africa or the white washed stone beaches of Greece.

It was a gorgeous afternoon and no one was about since it was mid week. Luckily even in Maui, you can find little stretches of beaches all to yourself. The water was a brilliant turquoise and there was gentle breeze. There were a few small waves to be had even as the seasons change. Even though it’s November, it still feels like summer in my mind!

At this time of year, I have been yearning for those warm autumnal flavors. When the cooler temperatures come around, I find myself baking more often especially comforting goodies. Back home, cider donuts are real treat in the fall.

I was craving a cozy warm soup the other day and remembered this classic from home. It’s perfect for an autumn outing and easy to transport in a hot thermos on a fall hike. My boyfriend made this grainy whole wheat bread which was a tasty compliment to soak up the soup. Feel free to improvise adding sweet potatoes or pumpkin.

In the late afternoon I took a quick visit to the local pumpkin patch at Kula Country Farm. The farm overlooks the South Side and the West Maui Mountains. Nestled in a small valley, the field was overflowing with so many beautiful autumn colors.

Every season has it’s color story — summer with its vibrant green hues, spring and it’s soft and muted tones, winter with crisp whites and blues. Autumn is no exception and perhaps the most vibrant of them all.

With summer coming to a close as Autumn creeps in with a slight chill and crisp air, I love to be outside as long as I can in these days. You feel a change coming and see it in the garden and the apple that dot the trees in the orchard.

I needed some space the other evening to creatively step back as I continue on my new creative endeavor. The cliffs of the North Shore coast of Maui resemble Ireland or Scotland in my mind.

As much as I love the ocean and island life, my trip back home to Vermont was deeply restorative. It was exactly what I needed to recharge and fill myself up again. One paradise to another in my eyes.