Cookbook offers nostalgic, new recipes

by Amy Leong | Nov. 20, 2021

When I was approached to design Hawaiian Electric’s latest fundraising cookbook, “Classic Eats and Modern Treats,” the theme made me think of the old English rhyme, “Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.” The phrase refers to a timeless tradition of items a bride is supposed to wear on her wedding day for a successful marriage. So I imagined this cookbook to be packed with timeless recipes from the past and present, including some classics recreated using modern technology like the popular air fryer.

In designing the cover, my inspiration came from an old vintage Hawaiian postcard. I incorporated both nostalgia and nouveau and selected pastel colors to evoke the gracious charm of Hawaii’s past while the script font helps add a modern twist to the overall design. This same concept was also carried throughout the pages of the cookbook. The prevailing look of the cookbook merges old and new — just like the recipes offered by employees, as well as those featured in vintage Hawaiian Electric publications from the 1930s to the 1960s.

Our cookbook, assembled and published by employees, is $15 and all proceeds will benefit United Way chapters serving our company’s five-island service territory. The soft cover, wire-bound edition features 150 pages of delicious recipes and useful tips for the home cook and is available on our website at hawaiianelectric.com/unitedwaycookbook, with no limit until supplies last.

Due to the pandemic, many of our friends and family on the mainland are unable to visit Hawaii to enjoy the diverse flavors of our island cultures and heritage. Now we can bring Hawaii to them by sharing kitchen-tested recipes from our homes while supporting our community in need. This is a gift that keeps on giving!

Amy Leong is a digital communications administrator at Hawaiian Electric Company.