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Cut and Core Pineapple in a Flash

Susannah Chen — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 08:33:30 PDT

Pineapple is a delicious treat, but if you don't know how to remove the prickly skin, how are you going to eat it? Don't worry: that's why we're here to educate you on the easiest way to get to your beloved tropical fruit. Rest assured: the fruit looks far more daunting to prep than it actually is. Watch the video now and learn how to quickly peel, slice, and core a pineapple.

Fast and Easy: Tropical Fruit With Arugula and Pickled Shallots

Lauren Hendrickson — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 15:40:42 PDT

Looking for a new fruit salad recipe? I've found one! This scrumptious salad combines the sweetness of tropical fruits with creamy avocados, peppery arugula, crunchy pistachios, and tart shallots. Once all of the fruit has been prepped, this salad is easy to make. If you have never cut a pineapple, don't fret it, just follow these simple steps. The vinaigrette is wonderfully complex. It's a blend of champagne vinegar infused with shallots, red wine vinegar, and olive oil. Ready to try a new take on an old classic? Keep reading for the recipe.

Happy Hour: Pineapple Mojito

Katie Sweeney — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 14:05:51 PDT

National Rum Day isn't until next Tuesday, but why not get the party started now? After all, it's the end of a work week, and there is no better time for a rum drink than Friday afternoon. There are tons of mojito variations out there, but the one I've been sipping lately is this refreshing and potent pineapple version. It's like a mojito that's decided to go on a tropical vacation!

The pineapple provides a nice sweetness, so no extra sugar is necessary. There's four ounces of alcohol in this drink, but thanks to the pineapple juice, it doesn't taste too strong! If you prefer a mojito with a little effervescence, top it off with sparkling water or soda. You've got to make this beverage: here's the recipe.

A Reader Recipe: Vegan Pineapple Pancakes With Citrus Cream

Fit Community — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 02:00:11 PDT

Need a sweet but healthy treat to start off your weekend? This recipe for vegan pineapple pancakes that reader onthevedge posted in the Healthy Recipe community group may be just what you need.

Nothing transports you to the islands faster than this instant sandy beach breakfast recipe for pineapple upside-down pancakes. They're unbelievably airy and blonde, but bring something special to your day . . . kind of like Brittany from Glee. This tropical spin on pancakes is miles away from your ordinary chocolate chip or blueberry stacks. Reach for these sunny vitamin C cakes instead, boosted with a "choose your own citrus" cream. I chose lime because I know it pairs so well with pineapple. I am obsessed with this lime cream and you will be, too. All of your spoons will disappear, it's that good.

See the recipe when you

You could even pour the lime cream over a pie crust and let chill until firm for vegan lime cream pie. Orange, grapefruit, or lemon cream would be fantastic with these pancakes, too. Try passion fruit or mango juice to flavor your cream. One to two tablespoons of juice is all you need. I've made the lemon cream for dessert, topped with blackberries, and it is ridiculously rich and light at the same time.

Pineapple Upside-Down Pancakes with Luscious Island Cream

1 1/4 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp sea salt
1 cup coconut milk
1 tbsp maple syrup
1 tsp vanilla
rum extract, optional
1/4 of large pineapple, cut into thin 1/4 inch rings or slices
Vegan margarine for cooking

Combine dry ingredients. Mix wet ingredients and add to dry. Spoon 1/4 cup of pancake batter onto sizzling pan, top with two pineapple rings. Cook over medium high heat until bubbles appear, then flip. Serve upside down, of course, with Luscious Island Cream, recipe below.

Juice of 2 limes
1 12 oz package of silken tofu*
1/4 cup agave syrup
1 tsp of lime zest

For cream, blend lime juice, lime zest, tofu, and agave syrup until very smooth. Refrigerate leftover cream, it makes a lovely creamy pudding or pie filling as mentioned above. Try dipping fruit in it, topping shortcakes or scones, layering with granola for a parfait, and so on.

*Allergic to soy? Try blending a cup of soaked cashews with 1/4 cup of water, 1/4 cup agave nectar, and citrus. Add more water if needed.

Makes 6 pancakes.

For more recipes, visit my blog at www.livingonthevedge.net

Got a similarly delicious recipe? Head on over to the Healthy Recipe community group and share one of your own.

Savory Sight: Pineapple Flowers

Yum Community — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 04:20:14 PST

We aren't the only ones who've discovered this fruity cupcake garnish - so has reader kpolacek.
These flowers are actually pineapple slices dehydrated in the oven. They made adorably delicious cupcake toppers for a tropical-themed bridal shower.

For a chance to be featured on YumSugar, become a part of our community, and upload recipes, tips, questions, and, of course, photos of your favorite dishes!

Missing the Tropics? Hawaiian Ceviche Will Help

YumSugar — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 16:00:29 PDT

I'm fresh off the plane from Maui, and my first visit was so fantastic that I'm already plotting my return. There, the fruits of the sea were so abundant that I had fish at virtually every single meal, in fresh preparations from spicy tuna poke to seared, sesame-encrusted steaks. One of my favorite ways to enjoy local catch like ono was in a Hawaiian-style ceviche with a tropical coconut marinade. I missed the dish so much that when my sunburned self returned to overcast San Francisco, it was the first meal I prepared for myself at home.

Incidentally, this recipe is from The Ritz-Carlton Kapalua, the resort that I called home for an all-too-brief period of time. It's been the best stand-in for a beachside vacation - that is, until I find my way back to the island. For the recipe, read more.

Come Party With Me: Canning and Pickling Party - Drinks

partysugar — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 15:00:14 PDT

A preserving party is an event where you and your guests will acquire new skills. You'll learn how to make pickles and jam, and the proper technique for sealing the jars, so why not take it one step further and have everyone make their own cocktail? Designate a special space to be the bar and set out all of the ingredients for this beautifully hued drink, a hibiscus punch. Write out the recipe on cardstock, place the necessary measuring tools and mixers on the table, and stack glasses nearby. Fill buckets with other drinks - water, soda, wine, beer - and ice, and slide under the drink table. Then, invite everyone to make their own concoction. To get the recipe I recommend, keep reading.

Happy Hour: Piña Colada

partysugar — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 16:00:41 PDT

Get excited: tomorrow is National Piña Colada day! Since the piña colada is the only blended drink I enjoy, I wanted to share my favorite recipe. I first made these coladas back in 2005 when I lived in Spain. After a long day at the pool, I craved the tropical combination of pineapple, coconut, and rum. Since I couldn't order it in a bar, I found a recipe that calls for fresh pineapple. It's a simple concoction that results in a sublime cocktail. It's thick, frothy, fruity, and potent. Leave out the rum and you've got a special treat for the kiddies. While you make the drink, I highly recommend listening to "Escape/The Piña Colada Song" - it will get you in the mood! (I may have listened to it while writing this story . . .)

This way for the recipe! Happy weekend.

Grilled Pineapple Skewers Two Ways - Sweet and Savory

YumSugar — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 05:50:55 PDT

Fancy flame-broiled flavor? Then throw some skewers on the grill for dinner, and soak up a little evening sunshine while you're at it. Enjoy the fruits of your labor by topping those grates with chunks of tropical pineapple. Naturally sweet pineapple caramelizes when exposed to high heat, making it a prime candidate for a grilled dessert with other sweet tropical fruits such as banana. But don't stop at dessert; the fruit also lends sweetness to a supper of sweet-and-hot Caribbean seafood skewers. Make the most of your pineapple on the barbie when you keep reading.

Sunday Dinner: Fresh Tuna Salad With Pineapple

YumSugar — Sun, 30 May 2010 06:30:46 PDT

If you're anticipating a Memorial Day cookout, save stomach room for the burgers, hot dogs, and barbecued chicken that you'll be eating tomorrow. For dinner tonight, opt for something light to whet your holiday appetite, like a tuna salad.

This version certainly isn't your mom's lunchbox tuna salad. Its fresh approach calls for just-cut pineapple, sunflower sprouts, and oven-broiled yellowfin steaks.

The salad's oil free, but chunks of avocado supply creaminess. For a healthy break, read on.