Yummy Pink Stuff

   This is so yummy! Hence, the name "Yummy Pink Stuff"! My brother-in-law's mother brought this to Easter dinner today, and it was a huge hit. I'm a pineapple lover, so you know I had to love it! It is a family favorite at her house. (Thanks, Margie, for sharing the recipe!)

Yummy Pink Stuff
Ingredients:
   1 small package strawberry Jell-O
   8 ounces sour cream
   12 ounces Cool Whip
   1 can (20 ounce) crushed pineapple, drained

Place crushed pineapple in strainer and allow to sit and drain.
Whisk together Jell-O and sour cream until well blended. Add Cool Whip and whisk until blended. Fold in drained pineapple.
Chill until ready to serve.

Notes:
You can use any flavor Jell-O.
Sugar-free Jell-O works, too.

Pineapple Orange Cake

   I love pineapple and orange together, so when I saw this cake, I had to give it a try. It is so easy to make and even more delicious! An added bonus is that it is lighter than most cake recipes.

Pineapple Orange Cake
Ingredients:
   1 package (18.25 oz.) yellow cake mix
   1 (11 oz.) can mandarin oranges, undrained
   4 egg whites
   ½ cup unsweetened applesauce
   1 (20 oz.) can crushed pineapple, undrained
   1 (1 oz.) pkg. sugar-free instant vanilla pudding mix
   1 (8 oz.) reduced-fat whipped topping
In a large bowl, beat the cake mix, oranges, egg whites, and applesauce on low speed for 2 minutes. Pour into a 13"x9" baking dish coated with cooking spray.
Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack.
In a bowl, combine the pineapple and pudding mix. Fold in whipped topping just until blended. Spread over the cake. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving.
   This is also really beautiful when made in a bundt pan. Baking time will need to be adjusted for bundt pan. See the baking instructions on your cake mix to determine bake time for bundt pans.

How to Cut a Pineapple

   I love pineapple! The only problem was that I never was quite sure how to cut the pineapple. Until one day... I bought a pineapple and on it's tag were instructions for cutting a pineapple. I can't tell you how excited I was to learn this small thing!
   I was recently talking with one of my sisters (I have 8 of them... no brothers!)... about pineapple and she asked, "How do you cut a pineapple?" I realized there were more people like me in the world without this important tidbit of knowledge. So for those that need enlightenment... here it is!

Step 1:
   Cut the top and bottom off the pineapple.

Step 2:
   Cut the pineapple in half lengthwise.

Step 3:
   Cut each half into half lengthwise.

Step 4:
   Stand one of the quarters up lengthwise, and cut off the tip (which is the core) part of the pineapple.

Step 5:
   Score pineapple lengthwise. Be sure not to cut all the way through, but do cut all the way down to the hard skin layer.

Step 6:
   Score pineapple widthwise. Again, be sure not to cut all the way through, but do cut all the way down to the hard skin layer.

Step 7:
   Use a knife to cut close to skin, but not the actual skin. Pineapple chunks should fall right off into your bowl.


Repeat steps 4 - 7 for each of the quarters.

   Now sit back and enjoy the fruits of your labors!

   Extra tips... I've learned to smell the bottom of the pineapple. If it smells sweet... the pineapple is sweet and ready to eat! A little brown on the outside is fine, but too much brown usually means the fruit is too ripe. So go first by smell and then by sight when buying a pineapple!