I love pineapple. I love its sunshine colored, juicy flesh. I love the sweet aroma and the Hawaiian vacation it takes my mind to when I have it. Check out the recipe below… a tropical elixir that is like a vacation in a cup.
Fresh pineapple is available year round, but its peak season is from March to July. It can be used in smoothies, juiced (juice the core, too!), eaten fresh, used in desserts, salads, salsas, and more. Pineapple has vitamin C, vitamin B6, manganese, copper, and digestive enzymes known as bromelain (a power house on many fronts). Cornell University showed that pineapple can reduce the formation of nitrosamines (potential carcinogens). But that’s not all! It’s a great refresher for your skin. If I don’t juice the core, I take it and rub it over my face and neck since it’s great for removing dead skin cells and exfoliating.
Pineapple selecting tips: It’s important to select a ripe pineapple when you’re in the store because it’s a fruit whose starch will not convert to sugar once it’s off the plant.
~ Choose a pineapple that is slightly soft to the touch, with leaves that are green and crisp (no brown or yellow tips). Being able to gently pull out one of the leaves is usually a good indication of a juicy ripe pineapple. So, next time you’re buying one, gently try to pick up the pineapple by pulling it off the display case by one leaf. If it doesn’t come out, try a different leaf. If after a couple of tries a leaf doesn’t come out… move on to another pineapple. Avoid pineapples with soft spots or bruises.
Pineapple Mango Colada
Yield 3-4 servings
1/2 pineapple, peeled and chopped
1 mango, peeled, pitted, and chopped (or 1 heaping cup frozen mango)
1 young Thai coconut, meat and water
1/2 teaspoon rum extract (more to taste!)
2 tablespoons raw agave nectar
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
1 cup ice cubes
Blend all of the ingredients together, except the ice. Add the ice and blend until desired texture achieved.
Daily Conversation Question:
If you could do something dangerous just once with no risk what would you do?