Pineapple in Haiti

The New Internationalist Food Book, Troth Wells, 1995

                                                                                                   

Avocado Pear and Pineapple Salad, a Haitian Recipe

Serves 2-4

Ingredients: 1 large ripe avocado; 4 slices fresh pineapple, or a medium can, drained; 2 tblspn olive oil; ½ - 1 tblspn lemon juice; a few lettuce leaves; a little chopped parsley; salt and pepper

NOTE: Add tuna, nuts or cottage cheese to make a more substantial meal

1. Start by slicing round the avocado to open it and taking out the stone. Then peel off the skin and cut the flesh into small pieces

2. Remove the skin from the fresh pineapple and cut the fruit into chunks. If using tuna, cottage cheese or nuts, place these in a bowl with the avocado

3. In a separate container whisk the olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper with a fork to make the dressing

4. Pour this over the salad and stir gently. Place the lettuce leaves on a flat dish and cover them with avocado and pineapple mixture, garnishing with parsley. Serve with hot bread, potatoes or cracked wheat

A week of pineapple curiosities, Sunday

As a young teenager I was an avid collector of souvenir envelopes. Why? You may ask. I still have them. Why? You may ask again, Anne.

A week of pineapple curiosities, Saturday

1960's brass wall plate spotted online by Les.

A week of pineapple curiosities, Friday

<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mezdeathhead/4373760981/">Mez Love</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/">cc</a>

http://www.tattoosclan.com/cute-pineapple-tattoo      

 <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/shannonarchuleta/4172637669/">Shannon Archuleta</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/">cc</a>

A week of pineapple curiosities, Thursday

Thanks for spotting these quirky earrings online Kylie.

And for some interesting facts about the supply of pineapples from Costa Rica and a great short video of a guy (possibly in Costa Rica) peeling a pineapple in less than 60 seconds check out this article:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/11549193/Why-the-humble-pineapple-could-once-again-become-a-luxury-item.html

Thanks for the link Vicki.

A week of pineapple curiosities, Wednesday

"Ananas geants de Cochinchine" a vintage postcard 

from Vietnam.

A week of pineapple curiosities, Tuesday

A gorgeous pincushion spotted by Ann in Bundanoon NSW

A week of pineapple curiosities, Monday

Thanks to Vicki for the photo of this magnificent (fit for a Princess) chair (throne) spotted at Woolloongabba Antique Centre in Brisbane.

Bananas and Pineapples Unite!

Artist, Stephan Brusche, from Rotterdam, Netherlands, has issued a challenge – get creative with a banana!

http://www.fruitdoodle.com/world-banana-day-2015

https://www.facebook.com/stephan.brusche?fref=ts

http://www.boredpanda.com/banana-art-stephan-brusche/

So, depending on what time zone you live in there still may be time to get fruitdoodling and participate in this inventive competition!!!

Here are some of my favourites of Stephan’s fabulous banana creations!

And here’s my speedily constructed but heartfelt contribution to the world of banana celebrities “The Banana who wanted to be a Pineapple Princess”! Anne.

Jesse's fruit salad in a pineapple shell

Kids Around the World: Cook! The best foods and recipes from many lands, by Arlette N. Braman, illustrations by Jo-Ellen Bosson, 2000 USA

Tropical Fruit Bowl: South Pacific Islands

“Here’s how to make your own South Pacific fruit bowl.”

Here’s what you need:                                                                                            

Servings : 4

                                                                                                                

Recipe requires adult help.

Ingredients: 2 kiwis; 10 large strawberries; 1 pineapple; 1 orange; 1 papaya; 25 grapes; flaked coconut

Equipment: knife; cutting board; medium-sized bowl; mixing spoon

Here’s what you do:

1. Cut the skins off the kiwis. Cut the kiwis into slices and place them in the bowl. Rinse the strawberries, cut off the green tops, cut the berries into big pieces, and place them in the bowl with the kiwis.

2. Ask an adult to cut the pineapple in half lengthwise. Have the adult cut the fruit out of the shell. Cut the fruit into chunks and place them in the bowl. Save the pineapple shells to use as serving bowls.

3. Peel the orange and then cut the fruit into chunks and place them in the bowl with the other fruits.

4. Cut the papaya in half and scoop out the seeds. Cut the halves into a few long slices, then peel off the skin. Cut the fruit into chunks and place them in the bowl.

5. Rinse the grapes and place them in the bowl. Use the spoon to mix the cut-up fruit together. Then divide the fruit between the two pineapple shells. Sprinkle on some flaked coconut. Though there are only two pineapple shells, this dish easily serves 4.

Top job Jesse! 

Friends and pineapples

A wonderful night with good friends starting with pineapple cocktails and ending with pineapple cheesecake (with a lovely dinner in between) subtly lit by a pineapple candle created by Donna.  Thanks Griffiths family! Anne.

Pineapple Breeze Cocktail 

Ice; 44ml Malibu Rum; 15mls Sprite lemonade; ¼ cup pineapple juice; ¼ cup orange juice.

Stir.

Pineapple Mocktail 

118ml pineapple juice; 1/4 cup mint leaves; 30ml coconut cream; ½ cup crushed ice

A Piece of (Cheese) Cake! Luscious cheesecakes by Cookery Editor Jan Oldham, Woman’s Day/Woman’s World 1981

“They’re not hard to make – just impossible to resist!”

Pineapple Icebox Cheesecake

“A refrigerator cheesecake with a smooth, creamy texture and a tangy flavour.”

Serves 8

Crumb crust: 1 ¾ cups crushed plain sweet biscuits; 3 tblspns butter or margarine, melted; 1 tspn cinnamon

Filling: 2 tblspn gelatin; 1 cup hot water; 3 egg yolks; ½ cup sugar; 500g cream cheese; grated rind and juice of 1 lemon; 1 medium can crushed pineapple; 4 egg whites; 1 cup cream

To decorate: wedges of canned pineapple

Lightly grease a 20cm springform pan with butter or margarine. Tip the biscuits crumbs into a bowl, add the melted butter or margarine and cinnamon and mix till well combined.

Tip crumb mixture into the prepared pan. Press evenly and firmly over the base of the pan using a spoon and a flat-bottomed glass. Chill in the fridge while you make the filling.

Filling: Sprinkle gelatin over ½ cup hot water and stir till dissolved. Mix together egg yolks, sugar and remaining hot water. Stir over simmering water until lightly thickened, about 3 minutes. Add the gelatin mixture and stir till thoroughly combined.

Beat the cream cheese till smooth. Gradually add the egg yolk mixture and lemon rind and juice. Drain pineapple well and fold into the cheese mixture.

Whisk the egg whites till they just form stiff peaks. Whisk cream till thickened. Fold through the cheese mixture, then add the egg whites and fold through the mixture. Pour the filling into the prepared pan. Place in the fridge till set.

Decorate with wedges of pineapple and serve.

Pineapple Bread Pudding

The Joy of Cooking by Irma S. Rombauer  1946 Edition USA  Illustrations by Marion Rombauer Becker

Pineapple Bread Pudding  

5 servings. 

Cook and stir for 2 minutes: 1 ½ cups soft breadcrumbs; 1 cup milk. Cool these ingredients slightly.

Beat in: 1 egg yolk; 2 tblsp soft butter; 1 tblsp brandy or 1 tsp vanilla; ¼ cup blanched, shredded almonds or raisins; ½ cup sugar; ½ tsp cinnamon; ¼ tsp ginger or cloves; a grating of nutmeg; 1 ½ tsp grated lemon rind.

Add: 1 cup crushed, drained pineapple; 1 ½ tblsp lemon juice.

Whip until stiff: 1 egg white; 1/8 tsp salt.

Fold it lightly into the other ingredients. Place the pudding in a greased baking dish. Bake it in a moderate oven 190°C for about 35 minutes. 

Serve it with: Cream or some kind of hard sauce, foamy sauce, etc.

Pineapple teacake

Australian Women’s Weekly Cookbook Sydney 1970, Ellen Sinclair Food Editor

Pineapple Teacake

1 ½ cups self-raising flour; ½ cup sugar; pinch salt; 1 egg; ½ cup milk; 100g butter; 1/3 cup honey; 425g can crushed pineapple; ¼ cup coconut

Drain pineapple (the juice is not needed for this recipe). Melt 50g butter and allow it to cool.

Sift flour and salt, add sugar. Combine neaten egg, milk and melted butter, add to dry ingredients; mix well. 

Pour into a greased 20cm round cake tin, spread pineapple over the batter. Cream remaining butter and honey well, spoon over pineapple; sprinkle with coconut. Bake in moderately hot oven 35 to 40 minutes.

When cool, sprinkle top with sifted icing sugar.

Pineapple and Quince Jam

Laurel Recipe Book and Household Guide, 5^th Edition 1951,Vacuum Oil Company Pty Ltd, Melbourne

Jams, Jellies, Pickles, Sauces: Quince Honey

6 quinces; 1 pineapple; 2 kg sugar; 3 3/4 cups water

Boil sugar and water to a syrup; add grated quinces and pineapple. Boil 1 hour.

Household Hints:

In this guide Laurel Kerosene is suggested for household tasks including killing ants, cleaning windows, polishing aluminium, quietening squeaky hinges, enlivening your linoleum flooring, relieving chilblains, removing bloodstains and more. 

But my favourite – considering kerosene's toxicity “When washing the hair, add a teaspoon of Laurel Kerosene to the last rinsing water. This gives the hair a good shine, and cleans the scalp of dandruff.” I don’t think I’ll be recommending that one! 

But this one could be useful one day “Your worn-out hot water bottle; Fill it with bran or sawdust, and use as a kneeling mat when polishing floors or working in the garden.”

Happy Pineapples !!!

I recently celebrated a birthday for an undisclosed number of years!!!

Thanks very much to Amy Linsell for this lovely watercolour!!!

And thanks Colleen for this delicious and beautifully decorated carrot cake!!!

(I think I can see Max zoning in!!!) Anne