Aunty Jean Mochi Queen: Part 1 of AACP's Comfort Food Series

By Jamie Miracle

Top words that describe my Aunty Jean (Watanabe Hee): giving, patient, kind, humble, and loving.

Before becoming a famous cookbook author, she was an elementary school teacher for 34 years in Hawai'i which emphasizes what a patient person she is and how impressive given it's more years than I have been alive.

Growing up, I remember going over to her house in Kane'ohe to sleep over, hang out with family, and eat lots of yummy food. Their extensive backyard had and still has many fruit bearing trees and other cool plants. I have wonderful memories of my Uncle Donald, her husband, expertly picking huge avocados from their trees and insisting whoever was over to take some home, which has always been an easy and enthusiastic "yes!"

Before I go on a big tangent on how delicious, fresh picked, huge Hawai'i avocados are (since I do not think the world needs any convincing), I am remembering to mention that Aunty Jean was especially known for her mochi desserts. In fact, her first cookbook was Hawai'i's Best Mochi Recipes that was published in the year 2000.

For someone who has not eaten mochi before, I would describe it as a chewy, pillowy soft to dense dessert full of love.

I highly recommend everyone try some mochi and make some at home at least once. Most mochi recipes are easier and more forgiving than people think. My Aunty even included a bunch of 10 minute microwave recipes in her first book!

Don't believe me that making mochi at home is easy? Let me prove it to you. Follow our Instagram page to see me make one of my favorite mochis of all time from my Aunty's Best of the Best Hawai'i Recipes cookbook - blueberry mochi. I even made a mistake at one point and was able to easily cover it up!

Dedicating this mochi post to my Aunty Jean and Uncle Donald - thank you both for teaching me about generosity and that food doesn't have to be perfect to be delicious.