Pineapple Tips

I just finished cutting up a fresh pineapple. After our trips to Hawai'i, I really became a fan of this fruit; whereas before that, I could take it or leave it. It's true that the pineapple on the island is amazingly sweet, but sometimes on the mainland we find it more tart.

So, I've been buying fresh pineapple since our trips and every time they are absolutely delicious. I think $2.99 is a good price, however I've gotten them for $.99 when they are really ripe and the store is trying to get rid of them.

Here are some tips that I use when selecting a pineapple. I'm no expert, but this is what has worked for me.

1. Don't buy canned pineapple. Ick. Uck. Doesn't even taste like pineapple.

2. Select a fruit that is yellow towards the base. It may still have green & brown pigments too, but it needs to have yellow showing through. If it doesn't have yellow, it isn't ripe and it will be more firm and less sweet.

3. The fruit should have a slight scent. Not too much. The yellow is more important than the scent.

4. Do not cut into the pineapple right when you get home. Don't put it in the fridge either.As tempting as it may be, it isn't ready.

5. Turn the pineapple upside down for a few days on the counter. This allows gravity to pull the juice/nectar/sweetness towards the top. You will notice the color of the pineapple will lighten, becoming more yellow.

6. As the pineapple ripens, the scent will grow stronger. Use your best guess as to when to cut the pineapple. I like to see that the yellow has spread and the scent is strong. Cut the pineapple carefully, so as to save all the fruit. I'm not a fan of the pineapple-cutter-gadgets because no two pineapples are alike, so you may be discarding good fruit.

Click here for great instructions on cutting it up. I actually do it a little different, but you'll get the point.

We use pineapples in smoothies, in fruit salads, in quesadillas, on kabobs, and on grilled chicken sandwiches even! And if it looks like we aren't going to eat all the fruit, I put it in a baggy and freeze it for smoothies later.

Oh how I love summer fruit!

Friends, Corn, Etc.

Friends.

Time. 

       

Homemade.

Scary.

Short.

Corn.

Love.

Harvest

You may have believed that we have 2 peach trees; but nobody could have expected the amount of fruit that would be harvested from these trees.

Saturday I had high hopes of freezing lots and lots of peaches. I got one batch done. It is a simple process; yet exhausting. No wonder people usually get together to do this. Chit-chat would have been welcome; but the US Open in the background was just not enough to keep me going. I put it off until today; which will get put off for a few more days.

I went out and picked again today.

Aren't they pretty?

Yesterday I had just as many, if not more. The wonderful thing about tree-ripened fruit is that it is delish. The hard thing is that they aren't good for very long!

I'm serious. If you would like some fresh white peaches; come over and get some! Although I still hope to freeze more and am taking some to my parents, we will still have leftovers; and I know we will probably be able to pick more for at least 1-2 more days.

While I was busy in the kitchen Saturday, Hubs snapped some pictures of the process:

The peaches needed to be skinned. Luckily I had a friend give me a few tips on that task.

My goal was 5 cups of peaches. It took longer than I estimated.

I made it though. And now I have one package in the freezer waiting to be made into a yummy cobbler or pie!

Our Family Orchards

In our rented yard we have trees. This is one of them:

On closer examination, you will notice it has fruit. Lots of fruit.

For a while, the fruit was small and hard and Hubs and I used them to thrown at the bunnies and for our own make-shift game of horseshoes. Then I started paying attention to the fruit and I thought they may be some sort of peach.

We have had it verified by a long-time gardener. We have cut open the fruit and see the peach-like pit. They are fuzzy on the outside. They are  more white on the inside than the peaches that you buy in the store and they are a little smaller than the peaches we normally get.

Hubs and I finally ate one this week that felt ripe. They were super sweet and very good!

But wait, we don't just have one peach tree. We have two!

Our peach trees have not been treated with any pesticides or growth agents - they are organic! Unfortunately that also means that the bugs are starting to feast on these sweet little pleasures.

So, I am convicted that I can't just let these peaches go to waste. They are ready to be picked and I am going to be busy this weekend figuring out just what to do with them. My method will probably be freezing - I am just searching for the best ways.

Side note - this is just one of the great reasons to get up early and walk the dog. It promotes praise for our great God in seeing the sun rise each morning!

Faves & Day 1

A few of my favorites sites.

www.picnik.com: For photo editing - read post.

www.mpix.com: For photo printing (I just ordered my first prints today but am excited after talking with a friend about her experience.)

www.retailmenot.com: Living in a smaller town means more online shopping. Before I place an order, I always check this website to see if there are any coupon codes to use. A few months ago, I got a coupon code for an extra $10 off of my GAP purchase and today I got an extra 15% off my mpix.com purchase. It is definitely worth a quick search to see if you can save a little moolah!

www.tastykitchen.com: I have had great results using recipes from here and it is always the first place I look.

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OPERATION HOT-BOD

Today was Day One of Operation Hot-Bod, which is what I have affectionately nicknamed my goal of getting in shape and healthy, again. Have you ever noticed that when your life is chaotic, it trickles down into all areas? To me, this is more than even just getting in shape. It is about getting back into a routine in all areas of my life.

So, I stepped on that scale for the first time in 9 months. I told Hubs my current weight of ###, and I know my goal of ###. Today I headed to the gym for my first real workout in weeks. I spent 45 minutes on the elliptical and felt so refreshed.

My plan for exercising is to head to the gym each day, straight from work, not even passing by our home - no need to tempt myself to sit on the couch or cuddle with the pups.

My plan for eating is simple. A good breakfast, a light snack, a good lunch, a light snack, and a good dinner. Portion sizes will be average, and most foods will be real, not packaged. Less fats, more good stuff.

I am excited to get back into this routine of exercising; I am even more excited about the prospect of my pooch shrinking and my thighs not touching. I'm counting on you to keep me accountable!

Baked goods...worth it or worthless?

I don't bake, make, or whip up desserts very often. I don't remember having an abundance of sweets for each meal. There was definitely dessert on birthdays and for holidays, but not every night after supper. Instead, I remember having a slice of watermelon or a bowl of ice cream.

At this point in our lives, making desserts for the two of us seems pointless. First, we like different kinds of desserts. I like frozen and light treats; Hubs likes Coconut Cream or Lemon Meringue pies. Second, when I make a dessert it seems to go to waste.

A few weekends ago, I felt guilty for not ever baking desserts. To compensate, I went overboard. I made a blueberry/raspberry pie:

This was my very first attempt at homemade pie crust. I got it to work on the second try and I think the pie turned out very well. I thought it was yummy. I also found out Hubs is not a fan of berry pie.

Only 2 pieces were eaten and I had to throw the rest of the pie away. I HATE throwing away food.

I also made a trifle:

What's a trifle? It is a layered dessert in a pretty glass dish. This one had lemon pound cake, blueberries, white chocolate and a lemon pudding mixture. I took this dessert to a party, so it disappeared. Hubs liked it despite the blueberries.

And, I made my uncle's famous Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies:

They turned out very yummy, but I threw out half the batch because we just didn't eat them fast enough. I HATE throwing out food!

So, maybe I got carried away by making so many desserts in the course of one weekend. But, from now on dessert making is officially reserved for when we have people over or are going to someone's house.

What a day.

It is stormy outside; overcast and dreary. I've got some coffee made and chick flicks on the TV. Now it's time to bake some cookies.

Did I tell you that I am coordinating getting about 600 cookies baked and bagged up for the women's conference next week? I recruited volunteers for baking some of them.

One batch down...many more to come!

Chocolatiers

This weekend, we used 5lbs of this:

and this:

Then we did this:

so we could put it into these:

and make these:

Then, we packaged them like this:

And that's not even the cutest part!

My Hy-Vee Man

My Hy-Vee is right across the street which is extremely convenient on nights when the planned dinner meal doesn't sound very good. To say we frequent the grocery store during the week is an understatement. I went there 3 times this past Sunday alone.

But, I love my Hy-Vee. It's the largest one around, but I know the layout and where everything is located. They have a good selection and, of course, there is a "helpful smile in every aisle." But more than a helpful smile, there is my helpful Hy-Vee man.

Months ago, back when the store was relatively new, I was shopping and an older gentleman who was handing out samples asked if I wanted to try his roast. I did and started to walk away, but he called me back and asked how it was. It was good. Before I understood what was happening I had a pot roast in my hands, instructions on how to cook it, and was off to buy potatoes, carrots, and onions to cook with it. My trip to "just pick up some milk" turned into Saturday's meal.

The next time I went in, he taught me how to cook a cornish hen. This time I carried it around with me, but put it back when he wasn't looking. I didn't have the heart to tell him I wasn't interested.

For a while, I tried to sneak by him on my trips to the grocery store. Sometimes it would work, other times he would call me over, Well hello young lady! How are you doing today?, to teach me a new recipe. Just this past Sunday, I cooked the pork roast he showed me how to make. After each lesson, he tells me, And remember, if I can cook it, you can cook it.

I don't avoid my Hy-Vee man anymore, but I have also learned to say, maybe next time, when he places random meat in my hands. I enjoy tasting his food and chatting when I go in.

I will miss my Hy-Vee man when we move. I will also miss the Caribou Coffee shop located inside my Hy-Vee. And, the cracked pepper linguine that I can't find anywhere else. And the redbox that gives out free movies. And the $.15 I earn each time I bring my reusable bags in.

Can I take Hy-Vee with me?

Tasty Tuesday - Raspberry Pinwheels

Raspberry Pinwheels

I made these and gave them out as gifts this year. I put them in mason jars with a red and white striped ribbon around the mouth of the jar to play-up the red and white theme of the cookies. Then I put an adhesive bow on the lid. (I totally stole this idea from a magazine because I am not that creatively smart). Luckily, the cookies actually tasted yummy, too, and weren't too much work. It would have been smart of me to take a picture, because I think they actually turned out kinda cute! Instead, I am showcasing the photo from the magazine.

Ingredients
1 1/2 sticks of butter (at room temperature)
1 8oz. block of cream cheese (at room temperature)
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla
2 cups flour (plus extra for workspace)
1/2 cup seedless raspberry jam
1 large egg
Turbinado sugar (sugar in the raw)

Directions
Mix the butter, cream cheese, and sugar until fluffy. Add the vanilla and mix. Gradually add the flour until just combined. Turn the dough on a lightly floured surface and knead 3 or 4 times. Form dough into 2 1-inch thick squares. Wrap in plastic wrap and place in the fridge for an hour or so.

Take one of the squares from the fridge and lay out on a floured piece of parchment paper. Roll or form dough into a 9 x 12 inch rectangle. Hint: the dough works better if it remains somewhat chilled so don't work it a lot). Take half of the jam and spread it over the dough (don't use too much jam). Cut the rectangle 2 times so that you end up with 3 9x4 inch rectangles. Starting with the long end, roll each rectangle into a log. Cover each log with waxed paper and put back into the fridge for at least 30 minutes; OR, you can put these logs into the freezer for up to 2 months.

Heat oven to 350 degrees and line cookie sheets with parchment paper. Take the logs from the fridge and cut into 1 inch slices; place on the parchment-lined cookie sheets. Whip the egg and brush onto the tops of each roll; sprinkle the raw sugar on top. Bake for 20-25 minutes.

Check out more Christmas recipes here:

Brace yourself

Life with braces is quickly coming to an end. A date has been set for the removal and I can't say that I will miss these things. They capture food in very hard places to reach. They change colors depending on what I eat. They poke and rub. And, they give me the appearance of a teenager, instead of a mid-20s adult. The end result, however, should be well worth the past 19 months. I'll be sure to post before and after pictures.

Here are eight things I learned this weekend:

1. Hubs does not eat recipes with any sort of vinaigrette as an ingredient.
2. When making a new recipe for Christmas gifts, bake a trial batch first, to make sure you don't end up with unrecognizable treats. (The second batch turned out beautiful.)
3. Cold wind comes right through our sliding glass door, condenses, and make frost on the INSIDE of our apartment. The result: heater runs nearly non-stop.
4. My allotted Christmas budget is getting slim - and I still have 7 people to buy for.
5. Hubs is sick of studying.
6. I am sick of Hubs studying.
7. I only like changes when I control them.
8. Somewhere along the past week I have lost my Christmas spirit, but hopefully a fun time with friends tonight will bring it back.

Tips for healthy living this holiday season

These tips are not for you, they are for me. If I write down what I plan to do, I am more likely to go through with it. Plus, if I write it down for you all to see, maybe we all can help each other.

How many of us decide we are going to eat all the yummy holiday food for the next 6 weeks and worry about our health later? I found myself contemplating what I was going to do next week at Thanksgiving dinner. Do I just forget about how much I love the food because I am being "health concious?" Or, do I forget about my health and stuff as much good food down my throat as possible? What about all the parties and get-togethers coming up - how do we handle resisting all those delicious baked goodies?

Well, my overall suggestion would be to not resist them all (enjoy the food), but not eat them all either (don't stuff yourself). Easier said than done, right? Here are 10 tips for doing just that. Some came from a couple of articles I read, and some are just from me. I don't believe in setting goals you can't reach, so hopefully this are practical enough.

1. We seem to hang out around the table on Thanksgiving day, even after the meal. As soon as everyone is done eating, take the food off the table and put the dirty plates away. I find myself eating more simply because my plate is in front of me - not because I am hungry.

2. Make lower-fat substitutions when it comes to oil (canola or olive) and butter. Do mashed potatoes really need butter? If so, let each individual put it on their serving themselves so they can determine how much is right for them. Oh, and use non-fat evaporated milk for your pumpkin pie. Nobody has ever said anything bad about my pies and I've never used the real stuff.

3. Continue your normal eating habits each day. Skipping meals or snacks will just make you hungrier and mess with your body's schedule.

4. Take smaller helpings. If you are still hungry, I am sure more will be available. But, don't just get seconds because you feel like you have to. Have leftovers the next day instead.

5. Don't stand and talk next to the food at parties and dinners. Make a point to stand farther away so that you have to make a concious effort to get more treats.

6. Get moving! Instead of sitting around all day, go for a walk or play football or some other game outside. Even go to the mall and walk around. Don't stop your normal work-out schedule either. Continue to make time to take care of yourself throughout the busy season. You might find that you have more energy.

7. Drink iced tea and water instead of drinks with sugar.

8. If your office is anything like mine, you'll start to receive Christmas gifts from various vendors and clients. Which for us, means 20+ boxes of Godiva chocolates - oh my, sweet goodness - sittin on MY desk. Don't even tell yourself you aren't going to have ANY this year - let's be realistic, people! Instead, bring your own snacks to work and eat those so that you don't fill up on the sweets. Eat 1 a day at the most; and don't just take one because they are there. Actually, be hungry for it and enjoy it more. (Like I said, I'm telling myself these tips too!)

9. Don't keep a lot of baked items and sweets around the house. Make them for others, or for get-togethers. You will eat enough treats at parties that you don't need to have them around you all the time. Take leftovers to the office so you can get rid of them.

10. Don't plan on losing weight. Just plan on being healthy and maintaining your current weight. Eat moderately, don't gorge. Enjoy the time with family and friends MORE than enjoying the food.

Do you have any tips for staying healthy throughout the holidays while still enjoying them? What works for you?

PS - Can you tell this is what I want to do with my life someday?

Tasty Tuesday - Halloween Theme

Anything with pumpkin has to be good, right? Well, I sure think so. This recipe was introduced to me years ago by a friend's mom. Ever since, my mom has made it every October for me. You'll love it.

Pumpkin Sheet Cake

Ingredients
1 can (15 oz) pumpkin
2 cups sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs (lightly beaten)
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt

3 oz cream cheese (i like to add more than this)
5 Tbsp butter
1 tsp vanilla
1 3/4 cup confectioner's sugar (i add less of this)
3-4 tsp milk

Directions
Beat pumpkin, sugar & oil until blended. Beat in eggs. Combine flour, soda, cinnamon, & salt; gradually add to pumpkin mixture until well blended.

Pour into greased 15x10x1 inch pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes (until a toothpick comes out clean). Cool on a wire rack.

For frosting, beat cream cheese, butter, & vanilla. Gradually beat in sugar until smooth. Add milk until frosting is the consistency that you want. Frost cake.

Not my Night

I'm getting ready to leave work and go home for the evening. Earlier in the afternoon I saw my keys underneath the mound of work on my desk and thought, I should put those in a safe place so I don't have to search for them later. And, I did. The problem came when I couldn't remember where that safe place was. I searched for 15 minutes and could not find them. All I could think was that they were in one of the 20 boxes I packed up for UPS. I just knew that next week a client would call wondering why they received a set of keys.

Finally, as a last resort before calling the Hubs, I checked my purse for the 8th time. There they were - in the safe place.

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I decided to make pumpkin cookies for our flock outing tonight. So, we went to the grocery store to pick up some pumpkin. Hubs says, "Do you need anything else?" To which, I confidently say that I don't. We get home, and I have no butter.

I went back to the grocery store.

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After I used 4 cups of flour for these cookies (we will have cookies for months), the canister was getting low. Recalling that I had some leftover flour in a ziploc bag, I decide to replenish the current supply. As I am pouring the flour in, I realize something is not right.

The ziploc bag I picked up was powdered sugar.

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As I'm measuring out ingredients, I need to add cinnamon. I add one teaspoon and run out. So I crawl onto the counters, digging through the cabinet looking furiously for more cinnamon, while knocking over ever other spice onto the count. Under no circumstance was I going to go back to the grocery store for a 3rd time! After breaking a sweat, there was no cinnamon to be found.

I shook every tiny bit of cinnamon out of the empty container and called it good.