[LaLo1103]

Hi Guys!

I am very excited to be hosting our first annual "Louie Luau" tomorrow night! It all started because I wanted to try making Mai Tai's, but felt I needed to build a "theme" around it (otherwise we look like a bunch of boozers sitting around in my kitchen!). I also thought that "Louie Luau" sounded cool. These are the key factors that have influenced my decision!

Apparently, the correct Mai Tai recipe is one very hotly debated issue (who knew?), so I cannot even guarantee they will even be made! But from what I'm really looking for is some good, easy snack ideas too! I was thinking maybe min-pineapple pizzas? A dish of macadamia nuts? Let me know what you think!

I've got the grass skirts and faux leis all ready to go! I even have the little umbrellas for drinks! But mostly I am excited just to have a night with some good friends to laugh and take some bad photos!

Let me know your ideas and thanks everybody!!!!

[teecee]

Sounds like great fun Laura! I Love the "Louie Luau" title - it's perfect! You've got some great snack ideas too - sorry I can't think of anything to add right now, but if I do, I'll be back.

[diannecp]

Mmm, sounds like fun. Fruit kebabs - fresh fruit on skewers maybe? You could stick them into half watermelon turned upside down or something.

[LaLo1103]

diannecp, on 30 March 2012 - 07:19 AM, said:

Mmm, sounds like fun. Fruit kebabs - fresh fruit on skewers maybe? You could stick them into half watermelon turned upside down or something.

I like that idea! That would be cute, easy and low cal!

[AggieB]

Don't know how Hawaiian it would be, but I had little things with kielbasi, cheese, pineapple, and a cherry on toothpicks. To be easier for the hostess, you could probably just put the ingredients in dishes. They were very tasty, though & the pineapple seems kind of tropical to me.

[jode2771]

I was thinking pineapple too... but mine was dipped in chocolate fondue... yum! Super easy - half dark chocolate, half cream... but I am pretty sure the fruit content cancels out the chocolate and the cream is dairy - so it is very healthy! melt in microwave then keep melted over the weeny candle flame... enjoy your night!!

[LaLo1103]

jode2771, on 30 March 2012 - 07:55 AM, said:

I was thinking pineapple too... but mine was dipped in chocolate fondue... yum! Super easy - half dark chocolate, half cream... but I am pretty sure the fruit content cancels out the chocolate and the cream is dairy - so it is very healthy! melt in microwave then keep melted over the weeny candle flame... enjoy your night!!

I was definitely thinking chocolate fondue too!

I knew you guys would be full of great ideas!!!

[scrappinchar]

I googled it. lol
I saw this suggestion:

Put out snacks in small bowls for munching like:
Milk and White Chocolate in the shape of fish and various shell shapes
Gold fish crackers
Pirate booty
Swedish Fish and other Gummy candy in the shape of shells, stars, etc.
Limbo Pretzel Sticks (Straight Pretzel sticks)
Macadamia Nuts (check for allergies first of guests attending)
Cut up chunks of cold pineapple. Serve using Flower toothpicks.
Serve grille Pork Kabobs with fresh veggies on a skewer. These are always a hit with kids and teens since it’s festive looking and easy to eat.

That sounds like for a kids party, I guess.

Here's some other things I saw...

Tropical Fruit Salad

This sounds yummy:
Luau Ham and Glazed Pineapple Snacks
These delicious skewers of ham and marmalade-glazed fruit are perfect for your luau party. Easy to make and looks great with a decorated toothpick (silk flowers or Luau Umbrella Parasol Picks ). Just poke them into a pineapple and this snack can double as a centerpiece and be eaten too! (Makes about 36 servings).
Recipe:
1 can of 15 1/4 ounce of pineapple chunks
1/4 cup orange marmalade
6 ounces thinly sliced cooked ham, cut into 4×1/2 inch strips
Wooden toothpicks that have decorated ends like flowers or umbrellas, or other festive theme
1 jar of 10 ounce maraschino cherries
Instructions:
In a medium bowl, toss the pineapple chunks (drained) in the orange marmalade and coat.
Thread a cherry (drained) through a toothpick or skewer.
Wrap a ham string around each pineapple chunk.
Then thread each wrapped pineapple on the toothpick.
Take a pineapple to use as a base. If the pineapple is unsteady, you may need to cut 1/4 of the bottom off to create a stable base.
Place pineapple onto a festive plate. Poke all skewers into the pineapple.
Cover and chill for up to 2 hours. Served chilled.
Another option: If you prefer to serve this as a warm snack, warm the skewers instead of chilling them in the oven on 325 degrees for about 30 minutes and serve immediately.


pineapple upside-down cake

volcano cake - easy bake a chocolate bundt cake from packaged mix, then carefully placing a small piece of dry ice in the middle hole for an instant "smokin' " volcano


This sounds yummy, too:
Tropical Coconut Shrimp Hawaiian Appetizer
Ingredients:
20 large shrimp, peeled and deveined
2 cups shredded coconut
3 eggs, beaten
2 tablespoons coconut milk
1 cup flour
3 tablespoons garlic powder
Directions:
1. Blend garlic powder with flour. In a separate bowl, beat eggs with coconut milk.
2. Preheat grill to medium high heat.
3. Dredge shrimp in flour mixture and shake off excess flour. Next, dip shrimp in egg mixture and then coconut and lay on a sheet pan.
4. Grill shrimp until they are golden brown and serve immediately. Be careful that the coconut does not burn. Serve these Hawaiian appetizers hot with a spicy dipping sauce, like sriacha.
The islands of Hawaii can inspire great food with simple preparation. If you do not have a grill, don't despair! You can also broil most meats and other Hawaiian appetizer recipes in a hot oven instead

[tiza126]

Sounds like fun! Can I come?

We had a luau in 4th grade...but I can't quite remember the details.

You could do some marinated/grilled chicken (or ham) on skewers, with some kind of pineapple dipping sauce? Or shrimp?
Fruit always makes a good snack. How about getting a whole coconut? Those are always entertaining to crack open and sample.

You need to talk to Ang Campbell for ideas/recipes!!!

[tiza126]

Charlene, I just saw that exact same list & recipes... we must have stumbled across the same website

[Jenna]

I was thinking about those little mini sausages & pineapple chunks with cherries grilled on skewers - sound yummy.

[alsoarty]

Here's a link with a bunch of 'pineapple' recipes... I wanted to add a photo but the link will do. Enjoy! (I also have cool table decorating ideas....that's my specialty).

http://www.tasteofho...luffy-Fruit-Dip

[lorac]

You certainly got a lot of good ideas from fellow SGer's. I had a luau years ago and I bought a book on Hawaiian Food and it had plenty of great recipes for shrimp. Unfortunately the book is gone or in storage in LA. I bought tons of Hawaiian decorations like palm fronds, fish netting (placed colored lights in them), lots of flowers, leis, hula skirts, and I even had little stuffed monkeys hanging from the palm fronds. Wish I had taken photos of that.

Anyway, have fun.

[teecee]

Sounds like it's going to be an awesome luau Laura! Remember to take lots of pics!

[jorunswithscissors]

I too was going to suggest Fruit Kabobs. A tiny bit time consuming - but if you got extra hands ...assembly line! I'm sure whatever you provide it will be appreciated by all! have Fun!

[LaLo1103]

alsoarty, on 30 March 2012 - 09:29 AM, said:

Here's a link with a bunch of 'pineapple' recipes... I wanted to add a photo but the link will do. Enjoy! (I also have cool table decorating ideas....that's my specialty).

http://www.tasteofho...luffy-Fruit-Dip

Oh My Gosh - How much do I love the fruit salad in the pineapple boat?! I am definitely going to do that - it will make a nice holder for the fruit to dip in chocolate fondue!
Thanks so much for the idea!!!

[AngRoCamp]

Spam, baby!! Hehehehe. Seriously, though, spam is THE food here There are entire cookbooks devoted to cooking with spam LOL. Spam musubi is the most popular way of eating spam (block of rice, slice of spam, sometimes some teriyaki sauce, wrapped with a strip of nori (seaweed)).

If you simply want appetizer type foods (appetizers are referred to as "pupus" here by the way! You should *definitely* incorporate that somehow LOL) you can't go wrong with macadamia nuts (chocolate covered!), pineapple/mango/papaya/banana. Teriyaki chicken and teriyaki beef and rice are very popular at luaus. HERE is a yummy sounding macadamia nut hummus recipe that I'm interested in trying now that I've found it and that you could use for veggie and cracker dip. And here's one for coconut shrimp. Lomi salmon is served at pretty much all luaus here.

Have fun!! Don't forget to download some great Hawaiian tunes (Makaha Sons of Ni'ihau, Keali'i Reichel, Israel Kamakawiwo'ole are all beautiful, traditional sounding Hawaiian music - Kolohe Kai, Anuhea and Nesian Nine have some great current tunes) and enjoy!!.