Tag Archives: pineapple

Creamy, Dreamy Tropical Smoothie

I got back from a work trip on Saturday morning and after flying all night and enduring a three hour layover in Atlanta on no sleep, I finally made it home only to be sick the entire weekend with food poisoning. For someone who likes to cook and eat, food poisoning is brutal. I already had no food in my fridge because I was gone all week which is just as well because the only thing I’ve been willing to get down is water. I still haven’t been able to get to the store or think about food yet and am going on my third day of little to no food. But as I’m starting to feel a little bit better, I’m considering (maybe) a smoothie. This is reminding me of this Creamy, Dreamy Tropical Smoothie I made before I left on my work trip. When I was feeling 100%, this was a perfectly cool summertime treat for these dog days of summer.

Frozen pineapple, Greek yogurt, coconut milk, and honey are blended together until smooth and creamy. A little topping of toasted unsweetened coconut finishes off this smoothie which really is like a drinking a sip of the tropics. Since I used frozen pineapple, I didn’t use ice but if using fresh pineapple, you’ll need the ice to thicken it up. Thinking about this smoothie, I’m dreaming of the days when I will be lakeside next week listening to the waves instead of home laying in my bed under the weather.

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Place pineapple, yogurt, coconut milk, ice, and honey in a blender. Process on high speed for 60 seconds or until smooth or desired consistency.

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Pour into tall glasses. Garnish each serving with 1 teaspoon toasted shredded coconut, if desired. Serve smoothies immediately.

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Additions: None

Omissions: None

Substitutions: None

Overall Rating: Love it

Source: Cooking Light magazine

Seaside Sunrise

I spent all of last week in Chicago and, despite battling an allergic eye infection that forced me to wear my glasses all week, I used the opportunity to rest, relax, and read. I took long walks along the water and spent the warm (and warm-ish) days at the beach on the lake. I slept in a lot which was different from my last trip to Chicago in May where I was awoken every morning at 6am by a happy dog named Abigail eager to go outside. Watching the sun come up over Lake Michigan is enchanting and I was able to get up early enough once last week to catch it. The way the sun glistens over the water, making the lake look silver and glossy, is a sight that I never tire of. This Seaside Sunrise seems appropriate.

Pineapple, orange-mango, and cranberry juices are mixed with passion fruit rum, a little grenadine (which I left out) and topped with sparkling wine and fruit slices. Any of your favorite rum could be added here but the flavor of the passion fruit combined with the different fruit juices really makes this a perfect little summer cocktail. Whether you are seaside or landlocked, make a batch of this and enjoy our last days of summer.

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Combine pineapple juice, mango-orange juice, passion fruit rum, cranberry juice, and grenadine in a large pitcher.

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Pour into ice-filled glasses, and top with sparkling wine, if desired.

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Garnish, if desired.

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Additions: None

Omissions:

  • Grenadine

Substitutions: None

Overall Rating: Love It

Source: Coastal Living magazine

Slow-Cooker Chicken with Cashews

I had a long and amazing weekend in Mississippi for a wedding and my diet was out the window.  I’m not easily tempted by southern food because most of it can be fried and I really try not to eat fried food (with the exception of French fries of course, which would be one food I would want on a deserted island).  So considering nearly every meal outside of the wedding was eaten in a restaurant or delivered from a pizza place, I have to get back on track.  And that means chicken and vegetables like usual.  This Slow-Cooker Chicken with Cashews is an easy way to get both while I rest and recover from a crazy weekend.

Chunks of boneless, skinless chicken breast and baby carrots cook for a little over three hours on high in a slow-cooker with soy sauce and chicken broth until soft and tender.  Red pepper and pineapple tidbits are added with a little more soy sauce, pineapple juice and cornstarch and cook another twenty minutes until warm.  Cashews are added for the last ten minutes of cooking while the sauce thickens.  My chicken was fork tender and fell apart (in a good way) while cooking and the veggies were all fresh and crisp.  I’m not the biggest lover (at all) of cooked carrots but I really loved the color they added to this dish.  I didn’t eat this with rice and just enjoyed the chicken and veggies by themselves which was a fantastic, hearty dish.  Thank goodness for the slow-cooker because I still need more horizontal time while I recover from Mississippi.

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Stir together chicken, carrots, broth and 2 tablespoons soy sauce in slow cooker bowl. Cover and cook for 3 hours on HIGH or 5 hours on LOW.

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Remove cover and stir in snow peas, pineapple and red pepper and cook an additional 20 minutes.

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In small bowl, stir together remaining 2 tablespoons soy sauce, 2 tablespoons pineapple juice and cornstarch. Stir into liquid in slow cooker bowl. Stir in cashews and cook an additional 10 minutes or until liquid has thickened. Serve over rice, if desired.

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Additions:  None

Omissions:  None

Substitutions:  None

Overall Rating:  Like It

Source:  Family Circle magazine

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