Pineapples in the UK

Katrina and Tom’s London pineapple experience: “In the afternoon we went to Kew gardens. They had pineapples aplenty in amongst a food themed display with a large model pineapple in the middle of the boating pond. They call it ‘giant’ but I think Queensland would have trouble with their definition of big!  The glass houses, lilyponds and giant avenues where a good place to wander for the afternoon.” Thanks Kat!

 

And thanks Colleen, for these wonderful photos of pineapplesque sculptures at the 17th century Hatfield House in Hertfordshire,

 

and more modern pieces at Oxford.

Caramelised Pineapple (Afloat)

Barbecue Cooking by Babette Hayes  1970  Australia

Caramelised Pineapple

Remove the tail, stalk and peel of the pineapple. Cut lengthways into 8 wedges. Brush with melted butter and sprinkle with white or brown sugar. Cook over medium coals for 5-8 minutes on each side until both sides are a rich golden brown.

No one had to walk the plank ('though I suspect they would have all enjoyed that!) for not eating the caramelised pineapple!

Yes, Ella was there too! Anne.

"Cook-itself Chicken"

The Terrace Times Cook Book, Balmain Edition by Helen Arbib and Pauline Clements, Australia 1977 

“Cook-itself Chicken is exotic enough for any party meal.”

Just before baking time, lay skin-side up in a shallow casserole -

1 or 2 roasting chickens – not touching.

Sprinkle each one with 1 tsp salt.

Combine in bowl for each chicken 1 450g can crushed pineapple; ½ cup fruit chutney; 1 cup sliced blanched almonds; ¼ cup prepared English mustard.

Spoon over chicken/s and bake in 350° oven for approximately 1 ½ hours or until tender and well glazed. If you can, it’s a good idea to do a little basting half-way through cooking time.

A friend stayed with me for a few days between Christmas and New Year and I inflicted the Cook-itself Chicken on him.  It was OK but I wouldn’t bother cooking it again. I used marylands instead of a whole chicken, the photos are one before the oven and the other on the plate. Instead of fruit chutney I used my home made lemon chutney which is quite lively and gave a good tang to the dish, Ann.

Pineapple, the Semak Vitamizer Way, last one!

Over 400 tested recipes for your Semak Vitamizer, Australia 1948

Salad Dressings – Pineapple Mayonnaise – 1 tblspn white vinegar; 1 tsp salt; 2 eggs; 1 tsp sugar; 1 tsp water; 1 tsp dry mustard; 1 slice pineapple; 1 cup salad or olive oil

Place all ingredients in Vitamiser (except the olive oil), run the Vitamiser & gently add the olive oil. Run until smooth.    

Cold Soups – Pineapple Soup – 1 tsp gelatine dissolved in ½ cup hot water; 8 mint leaves; 1 cup pineapple juice; salt; 2 cups diced pineapple

Soak the gelatine in hot water, then place all ingredients in Vitamiser, cover, Vitamise for 20 seconds. Thoroughly chill in refrigerator & Vitamise a further 20 seconds before serving.

Pineapple, the Semak Vitamizer Way 6

Over 400 tested recipes for your Semak Vitamizer, Australia 1948

Milk Drinks                                                                                                                                                        

Pineapple Malted Milk – 1 cup milk; 2 tspns malted milk powder; 1 scoop ice cream; ¼ diced pineapple.

Place all ingredients in Vitamiser & Vitamise for 30 seconds.     

Pineapple Mint – 1 ½ cups milk; 4 drops peppermint extract; 1 cup crushed pineapple; 1 cup crushed ice.

Place all ingredients in Vitamiser & Vitamise for 20 seconds.                                                

                                                                                                    

Pineapple Fluff – 1 cup milk; 4 drops raspberry vinegar; 3 tblspns sugar; 3 marshmallows; ½ cup chopped pineapple; 1 cup crushed ice.

Place all ingredients in Vitamiser (except marshmallows) and Vitamise for 20 seconds, then drop marshmallows in one by one at about 5 second intervals

This was my favourite – could have something to do with the marshmallows! I wasn’t able to buy raspberry vinegar and didn’t fancy the idea anyway so I used raspberry cordial instead, Anne.

Adult Party Drinks

Blue Sky – 1 cup milk; 1 tblspn sugar; 1 banana; 4 measures of Brandy; 1 peeled orange; 1 cup crushed ice; 2 pieces of pineapple.

Place all ingredients in Vitamiser except ice, cover, run for 20 seconds. Add ice & run for further 10 seconds. Serve in a tumbler.

Pineapple, the Semak Vitamizer Way 5

Over 400 tested recipes for your Semak Vitamizer, Australia 1948

Milk and Ice Blocks       

Pineapple Delight
1 cup milk; 1 cup diced pineapple; 1 tblspn sugar
Vitamise all ingredients for approx. 15 seconds. Pour into ice block tray and freeze.

Pineapple Malt Block

1 cup milk; 2 tspn malt; 1 tblspn ice cream; ½ cup diced pineapple

Vitamise all ingredients for approx. 15 seconds. Pour into ice block tray and freeze.

Moonbeam Blocks

1 cup water; 1 cup (diced) cantaloupe; 1 passion fruit; 2 tblspns sugar; 1 slice pineapple

Vitamise all ingredients except passionfruit for 1 minute. Pour into ice block tray. Add passionfruit and freeze.

Pineapple, the Semak Vitamizer Way 4

Over 400 tested recipes for your Semak Vitamizer, Australia 1948

So many components! What a fancy gadget to make such simple dishes! 

Fruit Jellies - Pineapple-Lemon Mould

1 pkt pineapple jelly crystals; 1 ½ cup hot pineapple juice; 1 cup diced pineapple; 1 tblspn honey; 2 tspn lemon juice

Heat fruit juice and stir in jelly crystals. Allow to cool. Place all ingredients in Vitamiser in the order indicated, cover, switch on and Vitamise for approx. 45 seconds. Chill and serve with whipped cream or custard.

Peach and Pineapple Jam 

675g peaches; 675g sugar; 225g pineapple

Place all ingredients in Vitamiser except sugar and Vitamise for 1 minute. Gradually add sugar whilst the Vitamiser is still running, and Vitamise for a further minute, Cook over a low heat until thickening, Pour into preserving jars whilst hot, and seal. Store in a cool place.

I googled Semak Vitamizers and discovered an amazing contemporary Vitacrush range of heavyduty commercial bar blenders "Powerful, efficient and built to last", Anne

Pineapple, the Semak Vitamizer Way 3

Over 400 tested recipes for your Semak Vitamizer, Australia 1948

Fruit and Vegetable Drinks
                                                                                                                   

Pineapple Delight -1 ½ cups pineapple juice; few cashews; ½ cup chopped celery with leaves

Put the juice into your Vitamiser, drop in the celery & nuts, cover, Vitamise for 20 seconds. Add ice & Vitamise further 10 seconds.   

Pineapple Honey -  2 cups pineapple juice; few cashews; 1 ½ tblspns honey; 2 cups crushed ice; 1 small banana.

Place pineapple juice into your Vitamiser, then add the other ingredients, cover. Vitamise for approximately  30 seconds. To this basic recipe can be added celery, cucumber, tomatoes, spinach or any other fruit or vegetable which suits your  taste.                                                                                           

“This is a marvellous health drink, and a glass a day will supply most of the vitamins required for the average person.”

Pineapple, the Semak Vitamizer Way 2

Over 400 tested recipes for your Semak Vitamizer, Australia 1948

“The Semak Vitamiser has proved itself so efficient in extremely fine, even blending of meat and vegetables and other combinations, that many doctors make no distinction between a blended and pureed food.”

Nourishing Appetizers – Place all ingredients in Vitamiser in the order indicated, switch on & run for approximately 1 to 2 minutes.

Cabbage-Pineapple – 1 cup pineapple juice; 2 cups shredded green cabbage; 3 dstspns lemon juice; 1 cup chipped ice.

Cucumber-Pineapple - 1 cup pineapple juice; 1 ½ dstspns lemon juice; 2 sprigs parsley; 1 cup unpeeled, diced cucumber; 1 cup chipped ice.                                                                                                                                          

Pineapple-Parsley -1 cup pineapple juice; 1 cup tightly packed parsley; 2 dstspns lemon juice; 1 cup chipped ice.                                                                                                                                                                                        

Pineapple-Watercress -1 ½ cups pineapple juice; ½ bunch watercress, chopped; 2 dstspns lemon juice; 1 cup chipped ice. 
                                                                                                                                                                        

Pineapple-Spinach -1 cup pineapple juice; ½ cup tightly packed spinach leaves; 3 dstspns lemon juice; 1 cup chipped ice.   

Pineapple, the Semak Vitamizer Way 1

The next few posts will be devoted to the Semak Vitamizer designed in Australia in 1948.

Pineapple was included in the Sodium foods as being wonderful for Indigestion, Bad Temper, Rheumatism, Stiff Joints, Anti-Acid

Health Tonics:
Nerve Tonic – 2 cups chopped celery; 1 cup pineapple juice. Vitamise all ingredients for approximately one minute.   

Nursing Mothers – 1 cup pineapple juice; 2 cups raw carrots (diced). Vitamise all ingredients for approximately one minute.                                                                                                                         

Obesity &  Acidosis – 1 cup pineapple juice; 2 cups cucumber; ½ banana. Vitamise all ingredients for approximately one minute.           

Invigorator – 1 cup pineapple juice; 1 lemon (diced & peeled); 1 orange (diced & peeled); 1 dstspn honey. Vitamise all ingredients for approximately one minute.

                                                 

Increased Virility and Anti-Putrefactive – 1 cup pineapple juice; 1 cup lettuce; ¾ banana. Vitamise all ingredients for approximately one minute.