Summery pineapples!

 Thanks for coming to play Rose and Isla!

Festive pineapply biscuits

Gluten Free Gingerbread Biscuits

60 grams butter; 100 grams golden syrup; 100 grams brown sugar; 1 ½ cups gluten free plain flour; 1 tsp Christmas spice mix ie cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger; ½ tsp bicarbonate soda; 25 grams finely diced dried pineapple; 25g finely diced crystallized ginger (optional)

In a small saucepan add the butter, golden syrup & brown sugar, & place over a low heat. Keep watch & give it a little stir every so often.

Once the ingredients are melted together give them a good stir then remove from the heat & let it completely cool down.

In a large bowl combine flour, Christmas spices. Mix & bicarbonate of soda.

Pour the golden sugary concoction into your flour, mix well. Add the diced pineapple & ginger.

Turn your dough out onto a piece of cling wrap & wrap tightly. Place into the fridge for 30 minutes to set.

Sprinkle a little extra flour onto a large piece of baking paper & roll out your dough with a well-floured rolling pin until it’s about 1/2cm thick. Cut out your biscuits using whatever shape you like. Leave the biscuits on the tray where they are & place straight back into the fridge to set for 1 hour.

Pre-heat your oven to 180ºC & once hot, pop those trays of biscuits straight from the fridge into the oven. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until the outside edge & tops of the cookies are just slightly starting to brown.

Remove from the oven & allow to cool for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool fully.

Fruity Nutty Christmas Biscuits

1 cup walnuts; ½ cup almonds; ½ cup pecans; 1 cup pitted dates; 1 cup candied cherries; 2 cups dried pineapple; 1 cup dried cranberries; ¾ cup all-purpose flour, divided ; ¼ cup butter, softened; 1/3 cup brown sugar; 1 whole egg; ½ teaspoon Christmas spice mix ie cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger; ¼ teaspoon baking soda; ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat the oven to 350°F.

Chop the fruit & nuts, mix together. Add ½ cup of the flour. Toss until well combined, then set aside.

In another bowl, cream the butter & brown sugar together until smooth. Add the egg to the butter mixture & mix until incorporated.                           

Stir in the remaining flour, Christmas spice mix, baking soda & vanilla extract. Pour the wet mixture over the fruit & nut blend. Combine everything by hand until evenly distributed.

Line four trays with parchment paper, divide the mixture into 48 drops & place 12 on each sheet.

Bake two sheets at a time in the top third of the oven for about 20 minutes. Rotate the sheets after 10 minutes & keep an eye on the bottoms to avoid over-browning.

Transfer the baked cookies to a rack to cool completely.

Store the cooled cookies in an airtight container.

Pineapple rum relish

Adapted from https://www.ainsley-harriott.com/recipe/tamarind-allspice-ginger-glazed-ham-with-pineapple-rum-relish/

3 cm root ginger, grated; 1 medium-hot red chilli, deseeded and finely chopped; 1 tsp mild curry powder; 2 star anise; ¼ tsp ground cloves; 125g light soft brown sugar; 100ml apple cider vinegar; 2 tbsp spiced rum (or orange juice); 1 medium-large pineapple, peeled, cored, and flesh chopped into 1 cm chunks, reserve any juice; 40g sultanas; zest of 1 orange; ½ tsp sea salt

Heat 1 tbsp oil in a saucepan over a low-medium heat and fry the ginger and chilli for 30 seconds until fragrant. Add the spices and cook for a minute. Add the sugar and stir, cooking until dissolved. Increase the heat and pour in the vinegar and rum and let it bubble for a minute. Add the pineapple and any of its juice, sultanas and orange zest. Season with the salt and bring up to a boil.

Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 40-50 minutes or until reduced and jammy but still with plenty of texture. Remove from the heat and allow to cool.

Ann's Pineapple Fruit Cake

Ann's been preparing for the festive season!!!

The Liberated Cook by the Reluctant Housewife to aid research into Muscular Dystrophy NSW                                        

A moist cake with canned pineapple.

1 cup sugar; 500g can crushed pineapple; 500g mixed fruit; 1 tspn bicarbonate soda; 1 tspn mixed spice; 125g butter or margarine; 1 cup plain flour; 1 cup self-raising flour; 2 eggs

Place sugar, whole contents of can of pineapple, chopped mixed fruit, bicarbonate soda, spice and butter in saucepan. Bring to the boil and boil 3 minutes. Remove from heat and cool completely.

Sift flours together. Mix into cold fruits mixture with well-beaten eggs. Place mixture in greased and lined 20cm tin. Bake in a moderate oven 180°C for approximately 1 ½ hours, reduce heat to 150°C and bake further 20-30 minutes or until skewer comes out clean. Cool in tin.

Ann's tips: When heating the mixture, stir it to dissolve the sugar. When it is cold add the eggs and the sifted flours, mix well, put into a greased and lined tin and bake in a lowish oven 1 ½ to 2 hours.  I use 150 degrees fan forced. When done, I add a tablespoon of dark rum over the top of the cake and cool it in the tin.

Lemon Ginger Chicken with Pineapple Mango Salsa

Thanks for another great link Leila!

Lemon Ginger Chicken with Pineapple Mango Salsa, from Mary Laslo on Facebook.

Lemon Ginger Chicken: 1 lb chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces; 1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated; Zest of 1 lemon; 1/4 cup lemon juice; 2 tbsp honey; 1 tbsp soy sauce; 1 tbsp olive oil; Salt & pepper to taste

Coconut Rice: 1 cup jasmine or basmati rice; 1 cup coconut milk; 1/2 cup water; 1/2 tsp salt

Pineapple Mango Salsa: 1/2 cup diced pineapple; 1/2 cup diced mango; 1/4 cup diced red onion; 1 tbsp lime juice; Fresh cilantro, chopped (optional); Salt & pepper to taste

Spicy Mayo: 1/4 cup mayonnaise; 1-2 tsp sriracha (adjust for spice); 1 tsp lime juice

Optional Additions: Sliced avocado for creaminess, A sprinkle of toasted coconut flakes for added texture, Chopped jalapeños for extra heat, A drizzle of honey on the salsa for a sweet touch

Prepare the Coconut Rice - Rinse the rice under cold water. In a saucepan, combine the rice, coconut milk, water, and salt. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to low, and cover. Simmer for 15 minutes until the rice is tender and the coconut milk has absorbed.

Make the Lemon Ginger Glaze - In a small bowl, mix together the grated ginger, lemon zest, lemon juice, honey, and soy sauce. Set aside.

Cook the Chicken - Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Season the chicken with salt and pepper, then add it to the skillet. Cook for 4-5 minutes, searing the chicken until golden brown on all sides. Once cooked through, pour the lemon-ginger glaze over the chicken and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens and coats the chicken.

Prepare the Pineapple Mango Salsa - In a bowl, combine the diced pineapple, mango, red onion, lime juice, and cilantro. Season with salt and pepper to taste, then gently toss to combine.

Make the Spicy Mayo - In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sriracha, and lime juice. Adjust the amount of sriracha to suit your preferred spice level.

Assemble the Dish - To serve, spoon the coconut rice into bowls. Top with the lemon-ginger chicken and a generous spoonful of pineapple mango salsa. Drizzle the spicy mayo over the top, garnish with fresh cilantro, and add lime wedges on the side for extra zest.

Puff Pastry Pineapple Delight

Feeling festive? Try these from Sweet Recipes facebook page, thanks for the link Leila they were easy to make and delicious! Anne

Ingredients:

500 g puff pastry; 500 g canned pineapple (sliced or chunks); 3 tablespoons sugar; 1 teaspoon cinnamon; 1 egg (separated into yolk and white); pomegranate berries (for garnish);

Instructions:

Prepare the Pineapple Mixture: Drain the canned pineapple slices and pat them dry. In a bowl, mix the sugar and cinnamon. Coat the pineapple pieces in this mixture.

Prepare the Puff Pastry: Roll out the puff pastry slightly on a floured surface. Cut into desired shapes (squares, rectangles, or circles).

Place a pineapple slice or a few chunks on each piece of pastry. Fold or shape the pastry to enclose the pineapple partially or fully, depending on your design.

Egg Wash: Beat the egg yolk and brush it over the top of the pastry for a golden finish.

Bake: Preheat the oven to 180°C (356°F). Place the prepared pastries on a lined baking tray.

Bake for 35 minutes or until golden and puffed.

Garnish and Serve:

Let the pastries cool slightly and garnish with pomegranate berries for a festive touch.

Just pineapple juice

 

Pine lime curd

https://myfoodbook.com.au/recipes/show/pine-lime-curd

This curd was delicious as a dessert with coconut yoghurt and a scattering of flaked almonds. It's also great as a spread on toast or English muffins, Anne

Ingredients

1 x 432g tinned pineapple rings in juice; 3 egg yolks; 1 whole egg; ½ cup (110g) caster sugar; Juice and zest of a lime; 125g chilled butter, diced

Method

Place pineapple rings and juice into the bowl of a food processor. Process until smooth. Strain through a fine sieve and discard pulp (I didn’t discard the pulp, I used it as a base for a fruit smoothie, with the leftover juice as well). Measure out ⅔ cup of the pineapple juice.

Place egg yolks, egg and sugar into a saucepan and whisk until combined. Stir in ⅔ cup pineapple juice and 1 tbsp lime juice. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring for 2-3 minutes until sugar has dissolved and mixture begins to thicken.

Reduce heat to low and gradually add butter, 3-4 pieces at a time, whisking continuously until melted. Continue until mixture thickens and all the butter has been added. Curd is ready when it coats the back of a spoon. Pour into a clean bowl and stir through lime zest.

Cover the curd surface with plastic wrap to prevent it from forming a skin. Let cool to room temperature then refrigerate until cold.

Pineapple & Cranberry Jell-O Salad

Adapted from Evelyn Lang’s recipe in 2015 “Joys of the Table: An anthology of culinary verse” edited by Sally Zakariya

1 pk raspberry jelly; ½ cup sugar; 2 cups boiling water; 1 small can crushed pineapple; juice 2 oranges; 1 chopped apple; 1 cup chopped cranberries

Mix sugar, jelly crystals & dissolve in boiling water. Add remaining ingredients & mix. Pour into jelly mould or serving dishes. Refrigerate & serve. 

Pineapple tarts

This book was in Ruby Borrowdale's own cookbook collection, 

now at the Queensland Library, Brisbane

Pineapple tarts

18 slices white bread; ½ cup sweetened condensed milk; ¼ cup chopped pecans; 1 cup pineapple filling – jam or crushed; whipped cream

Heat oven to moderately hot. Cut 18 rounds from the bread slices with a large cookie cutter. Place 6 of the rounds on a greased baking sheet and brush with condensed milk.

Cut centres from the remaining rounds with a smaller cookie cutter. Use rings of bread for sides of tarts.

Place a ring of bread on each base round of bread and brush with condensed milk. Top with a second ring and brush again with condensed milk. Sprinkle with pecans. 

Bake 10 minutes and cool. At serving spoon pineapple filling into tarts and garnish with cream. Serves 6.

(Leftover bread pieces may be used for bread pudding or breadcrumbs)

I used this delicious German jam that friends Catherine and Vic found 

at a grocer in Sydney, thank you!

It's also delicious on toast! Anne

Pineapple, Chicken and Rice

Adapted from “Cooking n Baking” facebook page. Thanks for the link Leila.

Ingredients:

1 pound chicken breast, cubed; 1 cup pineapple, cubed; 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1 red bell pepper, diced; 1 cup jasmine rice; 2 cups chicken broth; 1 tablespoon soy sauce; 1 teaspoon ginger, grated; salt and pepper to taste; 1/4 cup parsley, chopped; ¾ cup raw cashews; 1 tablespoon sesame seeds

Directions:

In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the chicken cubes and cook until golden brown and cooked through. Remove the chicken and set aside.

In the same skillet, add the red bell pepper. Cook until soft.

Add the pineapple and cook for an additional 2 minutes.

Stir in the jasmine rice, chicken broth, soy sauce, ginger, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil.

Reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 18-20 minutes, or until the rice is cooked through.

Return the chicken to the skillet, mix well, and heat through.

Serve garnished with cashews, parsely and sesame seeds.

Fruit loaf

“Everything I know about cooking I learned from the Country Women’s Association of NSW” Sydney 2018

1 cup cold tea; 1 cup sugar (brown or white); 1 cup mixed dried fruit (I used my favourite dried fruits - pineapple, dates, cranberries & sultanas, chopped) ; 2 cups self-raising flour, sifted

Soak together tea, sugar and fruit for 2 hours. Fold in sifted flour. Bake in a greased and lined cake tin in a moderate oven for 40-50 minutes.

Some of my favourite tea towels

This wonderful pineapple inspired tea towel was decorated by my clever great nieces Matilda and Xanthe, I think it might be far too special to use drying dishes!!! Anne

You just can't go wrong with a pineapple motif!

Tropical pineapple, mango and avocado salad

Thanks for the loan of this quirky 80's cookbook Barbara!

“The Complete Avocado Cookbook” Christine Heaslip, Australia 1988

2 avocados, cut into slices lengthways; 2 mangoes, cut same as avocados

Pineapple dressing: 100g fresh pineapple, chopped; 20ml salad vinegar; 1 tsp honey; oil

Garnish: pineapple slices; curly endive or mignonette lettuce; julienne strips of carrot, celery, capsicum, zucchini & cucumber; cherry tomatoes

To make dressing: blend all ingredients until smooth, adding only enough oil to make a reasonably thick dressing. Taste for seasonings.

To serve: place avocado and mango slices in a fan shape in a plate. Pour over prepared dressing. Garnish plate with pineapple slices, curly endive or mignonette lettuce leaves and decorate with tropical flowers, julienne vegetables and cherry tomatoes.

Alternatively, chop mangoes and avocados into chunks, toss with dressing and serve in a hollowed out fresh pineapple half, as a centrepiece.

Pineapple macadamia yoghurt ice cream

Ingredients: 500g natural yoghurt; 100g macadamia nuts (extra chopped for garnish); 100g dried pineapple (extra chopped for garnish); 1/2 tablespoon honey

Method: Mix all ingredients in a blender. Pour into the cups of a silicon muffin tray. Put into  the freezer until frozen. Pop out as needed and decorate with extra chopped macadamias and pineapple.

Pineapple impossible pies

Thanks for the link Leila

https://www.taste.com.au/recipes/pineapple-impossible-pies-recipe/

                              

Ingredients

4 eggs, separated; 125g butter, melted, cooled, plus extra for brushing; 200g (1 1/3 cups) plain flour, plus extra for dusting; 395g can sweetened condensed milk; 250ml (1 cup) milk; 227g can crushed pineapple in juice; icing sugar, to dust

Method

Preheat oven to 180⁰C/160⁰C fan-forced. Brush twelve, 160ml (2/3 cup) muffin pans with butter and lightly dust with flour.

Use electric beaters to beat egg yolks in a large bowl for 3 to 4 minutes or until very pale and thick. Add the butter and beat until combined. Add flour, beating until just combined. With the beaters on low speed, gradually beat in the condensed milk and milk until well combined. Fold in the pineapple.

Use clean beaters to whisk the egg whites in a bowl until soft peaks form. Fold one-third of the egg whites into the flour mixture. Fold in the remaining egg white, in two batches, until just combined.

Spoon the mixture evenly into the muffin pans. Bake for 20- 22 minutes or until the tops are firm but mixture is slightly wobbly. Set aside in the pan to cool completely.

Serve the pies dusted with icing sugar.

Pineapple and feta rolls

Adapted from a cooking clip on Instagram (adrian.ghervan) – feta rolls - with the Pineapple Princesses’ addition of pineapple (I think banana could also work!)

12 slices bread; 12 slices of feta; 12 slices of fresh pineapple; ¼ cup olive oil; 1 tsp dried mixed herbs/oregano; ½ tsp chili flakes; 1 lightly beaten egg; 1 tblsp sesame seeds

Roll each of the bread slices very flat                                                                     Lay a slice of feta at the bottom edge of the bread slice                                                                

Drizzle or brush the feta and bread with olive oil                                                                                               

Sprinkle the feta with a pinch of dried mixed herbs/oregano                                   Place a slice of fresh pineapple on top of the feta                                                                                              

Brush the top edge of the bread slice with some lightly beaten egg          

                 

Roll the bread and brush the outside with more of the egg                        Sprinkle with sesame seeds                                                                                          

Bake in an air fryer 10mins, or an oven 20 mins 180˚⁰C                                                                                         

Remove from the oven when a crispy brown, trickle with honey and enjoy.                                                         

We also enjoyed these served with natural home made yoghurt, Anne