Posted on: Wednesday, March 9, 2005

FOOD FOR THOUGHT
A dessert that knows no bounds

By Wanda A. Adams
Advertiser Food Editor

From Washington state to Honolulu to Utah to Honolulu again — Kimo Ahia of Washington state asked for a recipe for a sweet and simple dessert called kooelepalau. Kimo Watanabe of West Bountiful, Utah, answered. This is his Aunty Hulu's recipe. You can cut the recipe in half if you're not serving a big family.

Kooelepalau — Boil 8 peeled, medium sweet potatoes until soft, but not mushy. Drain. Mash. Stir in 2 tablespoons honey and 1/2 cup coconut milk. Serve. If you can't find coconut milk, you can use skim milk blended with 2 capfuls coconut extract. If you like it more loose, add a bit more coconut milk. Makes 10 servings.

Per serving: 130 calories, 2.5 g fat, 2 g saturated fat, 0 cholesterol, 10 mg sodium, 26 g carbohydrate, 3 g fiber, 14 g sugar, 2 g protein.

Other readers' needs:

• Chocolate cake topped with chocolate syrup served at 'Ewa Elementary School in the 1970s — "so 'ono you'd ask your classmates for theirs but nobody would give it up!" — Andy Worthington

• Baked Lemon Chicken from Ka'ahumanu Elementary School or Washington Intermediate in the '70s or early '80s. "None of my friends seem to remember baked lemon chicken. If you are able to find it, I can enjoy baked lemon chicken again and prove to my friends that I didn't make it up." — Elaine Chang

• The Homestyle Chicken With Golden Sauce from Kamehameha Schools — Denise Vidinha

• The almond cookies from Ka'u High or Palama Elementary School — Anonymous

• Does anyone know how to prepare Job's tears to eat? — Anonymous

• Anybody know what kind of hot dog was used and how the dough was made for schooldays, "Pig-in-the-Blanket"? — Pat Maemori

• The date nut bars with light crumbly topping and shortbread crust from the Kamiloiki School A-Plus program in the early 1990s — Renee (no last name given)

• Mrs. Lau's double-crusted, fresh pineapple-coconut pie that the Waipahu High School cafeteria served in the '60s. "I don't know how the ladies did it but the coconut was also freshly shredded. — Ruby Sonomura

Send recipes to: Wanda Adams, Taste Section, The Honolulu Advertiser, P.O. Box 3110, Honolulu, HI 96802; wadams@honoluluadvertiser.com; or fax 525-8055.