Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Pineapples/ Jelly/Over The Rainbow

Photo: “I cook with wine, sometimes I even add it to the food.” 
― W.C. Fields

Not only is our son talented at music but somehow, even with his mother's bad influence, he has become a good cook!  The photo above is of a meal that he made a few months ago.  Do you notice that the sauce on the fries is in the shape of a heart?  And he must be my son, I love the big portion of fries (chips) that he has given himself!  In our house, we say "chips' instead of "fries", it can sometimes cause confusion, but welcome to my world!

Hey! Did you know that you can grow a pineapple yourself?  Just cut the top of a fresh pineapple and put it into water and once the roots have grown out, you may plant it into a pot!  Bring it inside during the winter.  My brother has a greenhouse but we just keep ours in our garage.  We think our winters have been just a bit too cold, so we have had this nice spiky plant but no pineapples.   This year, for the first time, we have a pineapple.  It is small, but it is a real pineapple and we are very excited!  The photo below is my brother's pineapple, the one that we have is much smaller!  Kay from Hawaii just had a post recently about the best way to cut a fresh pineapple.  I love it when I see something on a blog that is such useful information. Thanks, Kay!  



Our summer hasn't been too hot this year but it is still nice to have cool dessert, don't you think?
I made something this week that Richard and I both really liked.  It was so simple and easy you won't believe it.   One large strawberry jello- follow the package directions but instead of mixing it with 2 cups cold water, use 2 cups Just Juice 100% cranberry juice!  Serve it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.  Delicious!  By the way, did you know they say "jelly" instead of gelatin or Jello in England?
This dessert would be strawberry Jelly in England.  I told you things can get confusing at my house!

I spoke with Christopher this evening and he is getting very excited about his band playing at Smith's Olde Bar on Thursday night.  He said that I should be able to have a link to his band's Facebook page very soon and all of you will be able to hear him and his band!  Oh dear, can you tell I am getting excited.  Think I'll go have some strawberry "jelly" with some ice cream to calm my nerves!


Pineapple, music...it reminds me of Iz from Hawaii . Sadly, he is no longer with us but we still have his music...enjoy!



30 comments:

  1. In Canada, we use "fries" and "chips" as interchangeable synonyms. Imagine my surprise when I went to the US and discovered in a restaurant that ordering chips doesn't result in getting fries! Crazy Yanks.

    I love Iz too and especially that song. Good luck with your pineapple harvest!

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    1. Ha, I am thinking of you getting a plate of chips instead of fries at a restaurant! Good thing you are such a nice Canadian!!
      Glad you like Iz too! Can't wait for my pineapple to ripen!!

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  2. You have so many things to be excited about - love hearing the difference in the way we use common words. I think it's great that you grew your very own pineapple!! Just think, one son can feed you and the other can entertain you - you're set!!

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    1. Hey, Thanks so much for your comment! I like the idea of our son cooking for us and then entertaining us afterwards! (We only have the one son.) He is so smart and sweet, he could do it!
      By the way, your little granddaughter is such a pretty baby and you all have her dressed so cute!

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  3. A real pineapple? That's so cool!!! I am stoked for Thursday night ~ you know we'll all be waiting to hear.....

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    1. Audrey, You must try to grow your own pineapple! I know you could do it!
      I am getting excited to see C. play in his band. Can't wait, you know you will hear about it! xx

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  4. Must give pineapple growing a go in the next house. Hope Christopher goes well.

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    1. I hope you will grow a pineapple, I love the idea of pineapples growing all around the world from this little post on my blog!
      Thanks for your well wishes for Christopher! :-)

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  5. Thank you very much for the sweet mention, Kay! You'll remember that the first pineapple I spoke of in my post was smaller than yours.

    And WHAT a coincidence! Art just planted the crown of the pineapple that Morris gave us today. I'm wondering how big it will grow. Most of our pineapples have been medium size, but very sweet.

    This post will be very popular with people from Hawaii because jello or jelly is often the dessert of choice here. In fact, I'm planning to make a rainbow jello on Thursday for a neighbor who is returning from a long trip.

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    1. We are on the same wavelength, Kay, with Art planting the pineapple that just proves it!
      I love the sound of the rainbow jello, you must tell me how you make it!
      My brother's pineapples are also small but golden and deliciously sweet!

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    2. OK... I shall be preparing a post about it once I get myself organized over here.

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  6. ANNNND.... I forgot to mention that your talented son is a very, very creative epicurean.

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    1. I hope that C. will see this post and will give him more confidence in the kitchen! Thanks!

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  7. A few years ago we visited the Jello museum in upstate New York and the lady guide pointed out that In England we have solid cubes of jelly and in the US you have granules. She was delighted when I confirmed that you never add as much water as it says on the packet as some of the cubes will have gone straight in your mouth first! xx

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    1. Hey Julie!
      Richard said that he did the same thing, that he would eat some of the cubes before the jelly was made!
      Richard's Aunt Marjorie used to make us raspberry jelly in England and she put this in the prettiest light blue bowls...that red against the pale blue...I have such a love of color!! I know you do too!

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  8. It looks like your son is a 'chip' off the old block...(wink)...
    That is very exciting about your son's band. I bet you're both looking forward to it.

    A few years ago, I grew a pineapple plant from a pineapple top. I never saw any pineapples, but it was a fun project.

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    1. A chip off the old block...hee, hee, I am giggling at that.
      We are excited! You know you will hear about it soon!!!

      You will have to keep your pineapple plant fairly warm during the winter I think for it to have a pineapple the following summer. This is what Richard says anyway, you know that he is the gardener at our house!!!

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  9. Hi there! I love your blog and I am an unabashed angliophile! Your comment on my blog about not wanting to look in the mirror....did you notice....there was no mirror in that bathroom! LOL! Actually, I haven't put it back up but need to as my son came to visit and had to use my bathroom to shave! LOL! So, I guess I'll have to put a mirror in there. I had one once in a house where it was a wall of mirrors when you stepped out of the shower/tub enclosure! That one was really bad! LOL!
    I'll have to try the pineapple planting again....it rotted before it rooted last time. That's amazing that you can get a real pineapple to grow. I just thought it was a pretty plant. I have lots of English blogs on my sidebar on my blog. I'll be back! Oh, and I have to try that dessert....I love ice cream! Here's an easy one for you....butter pecan ice cream with saltines crushed on top...the salt and sweet together are over the moon yummy! Toodles!

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    1. To keep the pineapple from rotting, just cut the fruit part completely off...only have the crown of the pineapple and put that in water to root. Good luck if you try it!
      That salt and sweet sounds good, thanks!
      Now, if you like your English blogs so much, you should follow me, Honey, you know you want to! xx
      Thanks very much for your comment!!

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  10. P.S. I love the IZ video and have loved that version of the song but never knew who sang it.....thank you so much, it was a beautiful tribute to him and the gift he shared with all of us.

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    1. First heard this song from the movie, Fifty First Dates.
      Those who can create such love from music have my utmost respect.

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  11. Iz is one of my favorite Hawaiian musicians. Too bad he died too young. Yes, I miss his voice. Congrats on growing such a cute pineapple.

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    1. Thanks so much for your comment from Hawaii! You will see another post when we cut the pineapple. I lead such an exciting life!!! LOL

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  12. Good luck to your boy, he is talented and i hope my boy turns out to be a good chef, too!

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    1. If MY son can learn to cook, anybody can!!! xx

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  13. Love the music! Thanks for sharing.

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    1. Thanks, Sylvia! Good porch sitting music!!

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