"ToL" Original Recipe: Haupia

Gini Mayehara
Dec 14
2 min read

Highlights of Today's Post:

Resonated challenges.
A moment of reflection.
"ToL" Original Recipe: Haupia.

Learning to Be Vulnerable

If I had to choose one challenge I’ve faced recently, it’s a balance of trying to juggle work, personal life, errands, and still finding time to care for myself. Some days, it all feels like too much. I’ve learned that sometimes balance means letting things go — skipping errands, eating out instead of cooking, or taking a break from the blog. Self-care has always been important to me, ever since it was stressed so many times in graduate school and in conversations amongst social work practitioners.

And then there are the emotions I don’t always talk about — guilt, resentment, or bitterness. They’re not pretty, and they’re not easy to admit. But they’re real. They remind me I’m human, doing my best, sometimes falling short, and still showing up anyway. Those days where I encounter those feelings, I remind myself to give myself patience, grace, self-love, and forgiveness. I'm still growing.

A Taste to Ponder

What are some resonated challenges you've been dealing with? Feel free to leave a comment.

Haupia Recipe

Yields: 4 servings

Ingredients

4 tablespoons cornstarch
1 teaspoon organic coconut sugar
1/4 cup organic raw cane sugar
1 can organic coconut milk (13.5 oz or 400 ml)

Kitchen Equipment

Mixing bowls/cups/spoons for mise en place ("everything in its place") ingredients
Measuring bowls/cups/spoons
Whisk
Medium saucepan
Rubber spatula
Small baking dish or pan (8"x8")
Knife
Plates
Forks

Cooking Instructions

Sanitize the kitchen (sink, faucets, countertops, stovetop, cupboard handles, smart devices, computer, etc.).
Mise en place ingredients.
In a mixing bowl, combine cornstarch, coconut sugar, and raw cane sugar.
Gradually whisk in the coconut milk until the mixture is smooth and no lumps remain.
Pour the mixture into a medium saucepan.
Cook over medium heat, stirring continuously with a rubber spatula to prevent sticking.
Continue stirring until the mixture thickens to a pudding-like consistency (about 8–10 minutes).
Once thickened, immediately pour the haupia mixture into a small baking dish.
Smooth the top evenly with a spatula.
Allow to cool at room temperature, then refrigerate for at least 2 hours until firm.
Cut into squares and serve chilled.

Cheers!

Gini x

14 December 2025