pineapple Archives -

We were walking the streets of Hong Kong, heading towards a restaurant for lunch, when the kids noticed a little cart selling adorable pineapple pops. They begged me to stop. It was unbearably hot and the thought of a cool treat was tempting, but I knew even one pineapple pop would take away their appetites for lunch. (Apparently I was not being much fun that day.) We reluctantly moved on and I promised we would make our own version once we returned home. So here they are- the frozen pineapple pops we never had in Hong Kong. I realize this is an idea rather than a recipe, but sometimes inspiration is best when kept simple. Finding a perfectly ripe and sweet pineapple is key, so search out the best you can find. My kids loved these best after being frozen for 4-5 hours when the pineapple is firm yet still soft enough to bite.

Smoothies are always a welcome treat at breakfast and I like them because they are quick and a great way to load up on nutrients to begin the day. Once in a while I also like to surprise my kids with a smoothie for their afternoon snack while we chat about their school days. When it comes to smoothies, my style is more the “throw random fruits and vegetables into the blender” method rather than the “read and follow a recipe” method. I even have a beautiful smoothie cookbook, but it always seems so much easier to improvise. Despite the lack of measuring, the smoothies somehow always end up tasting fine. This is one combination that we enjoy so much however that I measured everything out just so that I could share it with you. Its flavor is similar to a pina colada minus the rum (since I’m usually making these for the kids) and it’s fun to dream about being at the beach on a sunny tropical island whenever we have these. The chia seeds thicken up the smoothie into more of a “shake” consistency while adding a healthy dose of Omega-3s. Just note that the chia seeds need at least a few hours to soak so this is probably best made the evening before if you’re planning for breakfast.

Pinapple Coconut Chia Shakes

Serves: 2-3

Ingredients

2½- 3 cups fresh pineapple chunks
½ banana
1 13.5-ounce can light coconut milk, about 1½ cups
2 tablespoons chia seeds

Instructions

Place the pineapple chunks, banana, and coconut milk into the blender and blend on high until completely smooth and creamy.
Pour half of mixture into a quart size mason jar along with the chia seeds. Close lid and shake until chia seeds are well distributed. Add the rest of the pineapple mixture and shake again. Refrigerate for at least a 3 hours until thoroughly chilled and chia seeds thicken.

Notes

inspired by Amy Chapin's Peach Chia Shake from At Home in the Whole Foods Kitchen

Frozen Pineapple Pops

Pineapple Coconut Chia Shakes