Best RecipesNew Release: The Bone Bearer News Recipes

Okay, so I haven't dropped off the face of the earth, although I can understand how you might think that given my absence on the blog. What's happened is that I've landed in this hotbed of Samoan food. It's everywhere! In my relative's houses (down the road), in the shops (again, down the road). I don't ever have to make Samoan food again for myself because it's all around me, puligi, german buns, sapasui, taro...They sell coconuts, like honest-to-goodness hairy brown coconuts in the supermarket! And there's like, seven different kinds of coconut milk. They even sell barrels of povi masima in the butcher shops. I can get pisupo, elegi, koko samoa. Even size 2 pigs!

So there's my excuse for not having updated my blog in the last couple of weeks. I don't know when I'll get back into it, but yes, I have been receiving your requests and yes, I have been considering them, while thoughtfully munching on kale, fa'alifu fa'i and pagipopo...

But this post is about something more exciting that my Samoan feasting. Lani Wendt Young has released the last of her Telesa trilogy: The Bone Bearer. If you're lucky, you can nab a digital copy for $5.99 in the next 48 hours, after which the price will rise to $7.99 (hey, a girl's gotta eat! I'm talking about Lani, not me!)

Print book will be available in August.

Check it out!

Best RecipesCoconut Cream Pie Filling News Recipes

Did you guys get what you wanted for Christmas? 

I did. 

Well, I didn't get the peace on earth, love for all mankind or an end to world hunger, but I did get a Kindle Paperwhite e-reader with sleek black leather cover.

Unlike my previous Kindle, this one has a built-in light and it's just the perfect device for gazing at the latest Telesa cover-art. 

What I mean, is that it's the perfect device for reading the latest release from the talented Lani Wendt Young.

That's if you can tear your eyes away from the awfully distracting cover-art. I mean, really. Those biceps. That chest. The tattoo. Oh, right, the book.

Just before Christmas, Lani released a special edition of her Telesa novel. Along with Telesa: The Covenant Keeper, this special edition is packed with lots of reader extras such as: 'I am Daniel Tahi' - A novella that speaks from Daniel's perspective; Leila's Love Poem; Character Interviews; and articles about Samoa and Samoan culture.

AND also included in the special edition are five recipes from yours truly, including the one below.

Coconut Cream Pie Filling

(for a 9 inch (23 cm) round or 8 inch (20 cm) square pie)

½ cup flour

¾ cup sugar

¼ teaspoon salt

1 cup + 2 cups milk

4 large egg yolks

1½ teaspoons vanilla essence

1¼ cup flaked coconut

Meringue Topping:

4 egg whites

¼ cup sugar

¼ cup flaked coconut

In a saucepan, whisk together the flour, sugar, salt and 1 cup of milk until smooth. Stirring constantly, heat it until bubbles form around the edges, then gradually whisk in the remaining 2 cups of milk. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring constantly, until it’s like a thick, white sauce. Turn the heat off.

In a small bowl, beat the egg yolks with a fork. Add a quarter cup of the sauce and mix well. Add another quarter cup and mix again. Pour the warmed egg yolks into the saucepan and heat, whisking constantly, until the mixture has thickened. Cook for two minutes more while stirring. Remove from the heat and keep warm, stirring occasionally so that a  film doesn’t form on the top.

Preheat the oven to 190°C (375°F).

Meringue Topping: Beat the egg whites and sugar until stiff, but not dry.

Assemble the pie by pouring the warm filling into the baked pie crust. Top with the meringue (you may not need all of it), sealing to the edges of the crust. Sprinkle with flaked coconut. Bake for 10-15 minutes until the meringue is light golden brown. Cool on a wire rack for an hour and then chill for several hours or overnight before serving.

Enjoy the pie, and don't forget to purchase your special edition of Telesa for an entertaining holiday read. 

And enjoy the cover-art. Did someone say that Leila was on there? I didn't notice. she must be standing in the shadows of Daniel's awesomeness. I mean, just look at those arms, that chest, the tattoos...

Best RecipesWhen Water Burns News Recipes

This post is not about how I got steam burns from checking to see if my  puligi was cooked. Although that did happen two days ago.


No, this is much more exciting. Received an email just this morning that Lani Wendt Young has completed her sequel to Telesa: The Covenant Keeper and it is now available for pre-order. 

Go to Lani's site today to see how you can pre-order a copy and ensure that you don't miss out!