I”ve lived in California for 7 years now.  Even though it has become a good second home to me (despite allergies), I miss Hawaii sometimes.  I miss my three F”s: family, friends, and FOOD!!  I”ve been trying to cook like my mom, but it rarely turns out the same.  I”ve also been trying to cook and bake other things that brings back wonderful memories for me.

Chi chi dango is a popular treat in Hawaii.  It”s like mochi, but there”s no filling.  It”s just plain, soft, chewy, sweetness!  I remember the first time I had it.  I was in kindergarten and my teacher made it to celebrate Girl”s Day (Hinamatsuri in Japanese).  It was pink and white.  I always looked forward to Girl”s Day when I was little because either my teacher or one of my classmates parents would bring in chi chi dango to share.  Even my parents (Mr. and Mrs. Chinese-food-only) learned how to make it!

I decided to make it for the first time this New Year”s and brought it over to the Watanabe New Year Celebration-Eat-All-Day-Fest.  I had no idea that it was pretty easy to make.  When Halley started to make plans for this birthday party, I told him I wanted to make his cake.  He didn”t want cake, but one of the things he requested was chi chi dango.

Chi chi dango is usually cut into rectangles.  This is a 3 layer one I made for New Years. Continue reading «Chi Chi Dango»