Laise, that’s what comes to mind when I think about Christmas comfort food. There were seven, and sometimes 10, of us kids at my grandparents’ house while our parents worked all day.
Most of the time Grandpa made laise (sweet rice), keke vai (Tongan pancake) and ma pakupaku (cabin crackers) with cocoa. He had a lot of mouths to feed so he always had to make a big pot of something. It didn’t matter what my grandpa made for us, it always tasted like the best meal I’d ever had in my life.
In addition to feeding us, my grandpa would help us get ready for each day. He would wake me up and tell me to get ready for school. After I was dressed, he would brush my hair and tie it up with a string. That little string never lasted with my bushy hair, but it was the best he had.
Grandpa would make us all breakfast and, when we were done, he would walk us to school. Then he’d stand and watch us all walk all the way through the school gate. He would wait and wave for us to go in.
I never could make laise like my grandpa. It never turned out as good as his. I’ve tried so many times and failed. I know now that the missing ingredient that made his meals so delicious was the love he put into them.
I imagine my grandpa making us food and stirring and mixing in love, thinking how happy he was to take care of all his grandchildren, while his children worked to put a roof over their heads.
Laise
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of white rice
- 4 cups of water
- ½ stick of butter
- 1 cup of milk
- 1/2 cup of sugar or sugar to taste
Instructions:
Step 1: Wash white rice, drain.
Step 2: Add 4 cups of water to the rice in the pot. Set heat to medium-high. The rice will be soft and a little watery when ready, it should fatten up a little bit and will have a porridge consistency.
Step 3: Take it off the heat. Then add butter, sugar, and milk. Stir with love and enjoy!
Mele Vakalahi Uaine has been married to Teisi for 22 years and is grateful for their children, Esther, Uaine, Lineni, Sifa, and Finau. She volunteers at La Sierra Academy with home and school, helps with the junior high girls’ basketball team, and is a huge college women’s basketball fan.