by Shanelle Kaul

It’s the summer! And although you may not be able to travel to an island with beautiful beaches and exotic food, make the most of the season by spicing up your menu.

As the weather heats up, so should your food. So entertain with style, and make the most of the summer by using your imagination to pave the way for a Luau in your backyard!

The Invitations: Keep it clean, simple, and cheap – three of my favourite words. Since Luaus are all about casual fun, try being creative by using a permanent black marker to hand-write them onto plantain leaves. Make sure, however, to either have them mailed in a large enough envelope or hand-delivered.

Remember, invitations tend to set the mood of the party – so you want to make sure you’re getting the message across (do your guests need to bring swimsuits/towels, dress up in funky attire, etc?)

The Decor: Keep the night alive with Tiki torches, and the bugs away with a giant citronella candle. You could even re-vamp your backyard by putting up a straw hut for the bar.

The Food: Start with a spinach salad. Add color by throwing in diced pineapple, onions, and dried coconut flakes. Lightly drizzle an oriental dressing to finish.

For the main course, go with a honey chicken stir fry with roasted almonds, asparagus, onions, and/or other vegetables of your choice.

End with a delicious haupia coconut pudding.

Ingredients:

1 3/4 cups of frozen coconut milk

5 tablespoons of sugar

5 tablespoons of cornstarch

3/4 cup of water
Instructions:
Warm coconut milk enough to thaw it. Mix sugar and cornstarch, and stir in water. Stir that mixture into the thawed coconut milk, and cook over low heat until it thickens. Pour into an 8 inch square pan and cook until firm. Cut into six squares to serve.

The Drink: Piña Colada – blend 4 oz. fresh pineapple juice, 3 oz. Rum, 2 oz. coconut cream, and 2 cups crushed ice until you have a smooth consistency. Pour into a tall glass, and garnish with a fresh slice of pineapple and a cherry. Then throw a fancy little umbrella on top of it, and you’re good to go!