Perfectly Peeled and Pared Pineapple

Well, I bought another pineapple, and as promised, I’m going to show you how to prep it. I’ll be honest, I used to be pretty intimidated by whole pineapples. So much so, that I refused to buy pineapple that wasn’t already processed for me. I know they make tools that are supposed to make it “super simple”, but I just don’t have room for something like that. A few months back, I had some incredible pineapple on a buffet. Then, I came across some pineapples at the store that smelled amazing, so I just decided it was time to get over my fear and dive it. Turns out, it couldn’t be easier!

To pick a good pineapple, try to find one that has a fair bit of yellow on it, but even more importantly, smell the bottom of it. If it’s ripe, it will have a wonderful pineapple aroma. Lay your pineapple on its side and cut off the top.

Turn it around and cut off the bottom.

Now you have a flat surface for it to stand on.

You should be able to see a line of eyes around the edge. Place your knife behind one of those and slice all the way down.

If there are still eyes or seeds, make another thin cut in the exact same place until it looks like this.

Now place the knife behind the next row of eyes and slice all the way down again.

Repeat until you’ve gone all the way around the pineapple.

Now, cut vertically, straight through the middle of the core.

Two perfect halves.

Now take each piece and cut it in half.

Nothing too difficult yet, huh?

Place your knife just above the core and cut at a 45° angle to the board.

Don’t throw the core away though. Pineapple Sweet Tea is to die for!

I like to just cut each quarter in half lengthwise and then slice pieces that are something like ½ inch thick.

I have discovered that fresh pineapple is fabulous with vanilla yogurt. Seriously, if you haven’t tried it, do. The yogurt really mellows the acidity and the whole things just becomes sweet, fruity, creamy deliciousness. For yogurt, I prefer smaller pieces, so I cut each piece into the quarters and then slice.

So there you have it. It literally takes about 5 minutes and you have pineapple for snacking, for yogurt, and a core for making pineapple water, or even better, Pineapple Sweet Tea. As a bonus, I’ve been finding pineapples consistently for around $3, which makes it way cheaper than the already processed stuff.

What kind of produce are you intimidated by?

7 For 7!!

Authors Kitchen is 7 years old today! To celebrate, I decided to choose the seven recipes I go back to most. Sounds like an easy enough task, right? Turns out it’s anything but! There are so many recipes that I’ve posted over the years that I continue to refer to time and time again. I did my best to whittle it down to just the very best, though. Here they are: 

Toffee Popcorn

This is the probably the recipe I have made more of than anything else. It is also the one people rave about and beg for. This year I made countless batches and gave it as gifts for the holidays. It is fantastic for that!

Braised Pork and Creamy Polenta

This is my go to dish when I’m shooting to impress guests. It’s a super easy, long cooking meal, and yet it’s incredibly delicious! As a bonus, you can almost guarantee it’s something they haven’t had before.

Chocolate Fudge Oatmeal Cake

When I want a fabulous, rich, chocolate cake, this is what I make. I have yet to find a chocolate cake, including at my favorite bakeries, that is even in the same realm as this cake. Its simplicity belies its amazing, rich chocolate flavor and perfect crumb and texture, all topped off with a fudgy frosting that is to die for!

Lasagna Rolls

I’m not sure what it is about making individual rolls of lasagna rather than just laying it out flat in a pan, but it completely changes it… for the better! It’s less sloppy and holds together so much better. It definitely takes a bit more time, but it’s totally worth it. This is another great dish to make if you’re having company. I mean, who doesn’t love lasagna?

Dinner Rolls

It sounds like such a boring and basic thing, but the truth is, there’s not much better than really good, homemade rolls. They can even make a regular ol’ sandwich amazing! If you’ve never made them, definitely give them a try. In fact, give them several tries. Bread is one of those things that you just get better and better at with practice. At this point, I know exactly what the dough should feel like for perfect rolls.

Zucchini Bread with a Twist

This is one of those recipes that just sort of came together by accident. I love zucchini bread, but I wanted something different. Well, this time, I hit a homerun! Everyone who tastes this recipe is stunned by how good it is. Somehow, the tang of the lime glaze and cranberries, along with the sweetness of the white chocolate and the crunchy nuttiness of the pecans, come together to form an incredible whirlwind for your taste buds.

Sloppy Joses

These aren’t your run of the mill sloppy joes. Salsa gives them a wonderful Mexican flare! I would gladly eat these any night of the week, and often do.

Because I had such a hard time narrowing it down to just 7, here are a few of the runners up.

Basic Buttercream

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Broccoli Soup

Cinnamon Pecans

Cinnamon Roll Cookies

What are your favorite go to recipes you find yourself going back to over and over again?