Custard Mochi with Blueberries

Mochi is a lot more popular now than it was when I was growing up.

When I was a little girl, the kids in my class didn't know what mochi was.

When they did try it, they couldn't get around the chewy, sticky, dense texture.

I can't blame them, sometimes I'm like that myself.

Where I live now, just a few miles from where I grew up, it's different--there are frozen yogurt shops around just about every corner, and one of the favorite toppings there being mochi balls--plus, there are Asian shops and restaurants galore.

This recipe for Custard Mochi with Blueberries is adapted from Favorite Island Cookery Book III from Honpa Hongwanji Hawaii Betsuin.

Last night we took it to my mother-in-law's after dinner when we went to visit baby Isamu and everyone liked it!

Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter

1 3/4 cups sugar

4 eggs

4 cups milk

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

2 cups mochiko rice flour

3 teaspoons baking powder

2 cups fresh blueberries

Cream together butter and sugar.

Beat in one egg at a time into the sugar and butter mixture.

Add vanilla extract.

Add baking powder to mochiko, then mix well into butter, sugar and egg mixture along with the milk.

Remove the bowl from the mixer and stir in 2 cups fresh blueberries.

The batter will be runny, not thick like cake batter.

Pour into greased and floured 9 x 13-inch baking dish.

 Bake at 350 degrees F for 1 hour or until custard is set.

Custard should be firm but jiggly.

Remove from oven and let cool.

The mochiko settles to the bottom and forms a sweet, chewy base for the blueberries.

It's good refrigerated and served cold on a hot day.

Itadakimasu!

***

Over the weekend I attended Edgewood High School Alumni's 8th Annual All-Class Picnic.

What fun to see all the classes gathered together!

A big THANK YOU to Debi Roberts Elliott for all her hard work organizing this event!

Here she is with Kelly, and a plaque made by Steve Demke.

I didn't have a photo of Debi and Steve kindly let me use one of his.

Thanks, Steve, for the photo!

Here's some of the group from my class.

Lynn and hubby Gary did a lot of work for this picnic, too.

We are thankful for the cool, shady spot you staked out early for us!

Our class was represented well in the sign-in area, thanks to these two, who organized help in the booth all day!

Gary's got great stories. 

I especially liked the one about the speedo and the other one about how the Bob's Big Boy statue was stolen once--but not by his older brothers.

Here's Lynn and Laurie with Marvin, from an earlier class.

Laurie's still got the same sweet smile she had in high school.

Janet and hubby Lyle, both from our class.

I went to elementary school with Janet, so we've know one another for a long time.

She's still cute and spunky.

Janie, too.

I've always loved that dimple, Janie!

She brought pictures of her beautiful granddaughter and family.

When you go to a reunion, be sure to bring photos of your family because everyone will want to see them!

I was thrilled to see another friend from elementary school, Karen.

I haven't seen her since high school, and she's still the same zany girl with the big personality I knew back then.

This is Terry and Larry.

Terry told amusing stories of his work as a Pool Man--they were just like the stories you see in the movies!

With naked people!

Larry is a retired orthodontist.

I remember that was his dream in high school--to be an orthodontist, not a retired orthodontist--and now he's retired!

He's had his whole career between then and now!

I went to kindergarten with Sally and Elaine.

They were at my birthday party (the two on the right) when I turned 8.

Needless to say I was so happy to see them!

This is JayBea.

It turns out that JayBea and my friend Pam were reunited because of me!

They knew each other when they were young and lost touch--then reconnected because JayBea saw photos of Pam on Facebook.

I went to elementary school with John, Tracy, Marilyn and Karen too.

I first met John in 4th grade--there were two John's in that class so he was called by his middle name--Andy.

I have always thought of him as Andy, and probably always will.

Tracy, Marilyn & Karen were always together when we were kids.

They were always together at the picnic too.

Tracy's brother and my brother are good friends.

Jay looks the same as he did in high school.

Except now he doesn't have hair on his head, it's on his face.

This is Walter.

I didn't know it was your birthday, Walter.

Happy Birthday!

This is Vi.

It was her birthday, too.

Happy Birthday, Vi!

This is Joyce.

She and Sally used to toilet paper boy's houses on Friday nights.

Here's Larry with John & Kathy.

John and Kathy were high school sweethearts--chosen "Trojan Twosome".

John was our senior class president.

I love chatting with Kathy.

She knows about all our friends that grew up in her neighborhood.

Maybe Kathy can get Joy to come next year.

Sally and her sister Barbara lived right across the street.

Sally remembered everyone's cars--what they drove in high school--in detail!

Sally is so good at finding our classmates.

And she lives in South Dakota!

If you've got a reunion coming up, and are on the fence about going--I'd recommend you to go!

They are so much fun!

It doesn't matter if you feel like you've gained a few too many pounds, have a few too many wrinkles, or a few too many divorces.

We're all in the same boat--we're all EHS Trojans.

I said it so many times at the reunion picnic, and had it said several times to me--

You are just the same as you were in high school.

After all these years.

I grew up with these people.

It seems to me that they are very much the same as when we were kids, just older.

Same smiles, same spunk, same bright eyes, same funniness.

Of course, we're different--we're older.

We all remember different things, and that prompts other memories.

Part of the fun is catching up and listening to how the miles went by from then until now.

I appreciate my classmates a lot more than I did in high school.

I just love that when we see one another, we see the youth inside each other.

We all have a shared youth.

As I get older, I appreciate that more, too.

See you next year!

***

Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter

1 3/4 cups sugar

4 eggs

4 cups milk

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

2 cups mochiko rice flour

3 teaspoons baking powder

2 cups fresh blueberries

Cream butter and sugar. Beat in one egg at a time. Add remaining ingredients except blueberries and mix well. Fold in blueberries and pour into a greased and floured 9 x 13-inch baking dish.

Bake at 350 degrees F for 1 hour.