How to Cut and Open a Pomegranate in under 30 seconds!!!!

Chocolate covered pineapple

Long time no blog :).   I have been sooooo.... very busy on the Vietnamese blogs that I almost forgot I still own this blog :).  Anyway, if you see anything you like on amthucchay.blogspot.com, please ask for the recipe, I will be very happy to do my best to translate for you. 

Chocolate covered pineapple is one of my favorites.  I finally learned how to make it looks smooth.  Here is the recipe, it is so easy.  I am sure you can do it without any problems. 

1/2 bag of Hershey chocolate chips

 

 

1 tablespoon vegetable shortening


1/4 pineapple, peepled, cored, sliced

1. Use a double boiler to melt the chocolate that has been mixed with shortening
2. Pat dry the pineapple slice with a paper towel
3. Dip the pineapple slice into the chocolate sauce
4. Use the toothpick to pick it up and lay it on the plate lined with plastic wrap
5. Repeat the dipping for all of the pineapple slices
6. If the sauce gets thicken because of the acid from the pineapple, it's time to chop up the pineapple and pour it in the chocolate sauce then pour the mixture into to a mold that has been lined with plastic wrap

 

 

Refigerate until the chocolate gets harden.
Then it's time to enjoy!

Have fun.

Cutting a cantaloupe

I buy it 2 days ahead of time and let it sit on the kitchen counter to let it ripen. Pick one that has a yellow skin and a lot of fragrance.

Cut the cantaloupe in half.
Use a spoon to scoop out the seeds.

Place the cut side down to the cutting board.
Cut into 8 sections.

Peel the skin for each section.

Put 4 sections together and slice.

Save the rind and seeds to make broth, it makes a very flavorful soup.

Cutting a pineapple

Pick a pineapple that has a yellow skin and firm to the touch. Buy it 2 days ahead of time, place it on the kitchen counter top to let it ripen. Use a big bowl to save the skin and core, it makes a very flavorful broth.

Cut it in half.
Cut each half in 8 sections, leave the bottom in tact.

Cut the bottom.
Core, and peel each section.

Place 4 sections together and slice.

Fruit salad, don't under estimate its natural sweetness

Making fruit salad is my specialty, everyone keeps requesting it for every occasion. To make the best fruit salad, it has to start with selecting the best fruits. You need a sharp knife, to handle the fruits very gently and after all a lot patience. It takes about 2 hours to put together a beautiful, delicious fruit salad like this.

Makes 20 servings

• 1 pineapple, pick one with a yellow skin but not soft to the touch, I bought it 2 days ahead of time to let it ripen on the kitchen counter top.
• 1 honey dew or melon from Brazil, pick one that is firm, with a lot of fragrance, buy it 2 days ahead of time and let it ripen on the kitchen counter top.
• 1 cantaloupe, find one with a yellow skin, a lot fragrance, buy it 2 days ahead of time and let it ripen on the kitchen counter top.
• 1 small water melon or you can buy 1 quarter of a big one.
• 2 Asian pears.
• 5 clementines.
• 1 pound red grapes, make sure they are firm to the touch. Red grapes are healthier than green ones.
• 1 pound cherries, choose the deep dark ones, firm to the touch.
• 1 pound strawberries.

Steps:

I wash everything 3 times and put them in the colander, strainer, basket to let them dry.
Slice the pineapple, set aside.
Slice half of the cantaloupe, set aside.
Slice half of the honey dew, set aside.
Slice half of the water melon, set aside.
Cube the Asian pears, set aside.
Peel and section the clementines, set aside.

In a big bowl, gently fill a little bit of different pieces of fruits up to about 7/8 of the bowl.


Stem and cut the strawberries in half, arrange them to side of the bowl.

Use the melon baller to make honey dew balls and arrange them next to the strawberries.

Make the cantaloupe balls and arrange them next to the honey dew.
Make the water melon balls and arrange them next to the cantaloupe.
Fill the middle with cherries.
Here you have it, a very healthy, attractive and wonderful fruit salad.

Exotic fruits, a gift from friends to Mom

Burro Bananas from Mexico
Asian Pear from Chile
Strawberry Papaya from Brazil
Baby Pineapple from Africa
Kiwano from New Zealand
Mango from Mexico

A big fruit salad for a party

Guess which one was a bigger hit?
Surprisingly, it was the fruit salad!

Makes 20 servings

1 honey dew, cubed
1 pineapple, cubed
2 mangoes, cubed
1/4 water melon, cubed
1 1/2 pounds grapes
2 pounds strawberries, sliced
9 ounces blueberries

Gently arrange the honey dew, pineapple, watermelon, mangoes, and grapes in layers in a large bowl. Top with strawberries and blueberries.

Avocado

According to the SuperFoods Health Style book by STEVEN G. PRATT, M.D., and KATHY MATTHEWS, avocado is a SuperFood.

A source of:

• Monounsaturated fatty acids: lower cholesterol
• Fiber
• Magnesium: healthy bones, cardiovascular system, prevention of migraines and type II diabetes
• Folate: reduce risk of cardiovascular disease
• Vitamin E
• Carotenoids
• Glutathione
• Beta-sitosterol
• Chlorophyll
• Pholyphenols: lower cholesterol, reduce risk of cancer, improve the body's ability to obsorb nutrients
• Lutein

SIDEKICKS: asparagus, artichokes, extra virgin olive oil

TRY TO EAT: 1/3 to 1/2 of an avocado multiple times weekly

Haas Avocado has more healthy monounsaturated fat than Florida Avocado

Ready to eat when it is soft to the touch or it can be ripen on the counter top in a few days

Oranges

From Super Foods Health Style by STEVEN G. PRATT, M.D., and KATHY MATTHEWS

Oranges are SuperFoods: support heart health, prevent cancer, stroke, diabetes, a host of chronic ailments

A source of:

• Vitamin C
• Fiber
• Folate
• Limonene
• Potassium
• Polyphenols
• Pectin

SIDEKICKS: lemons, white and pink grapefruit, kumquats, tangerines, limes

TRY TO EAT: 1 serving daily

Fresh fruits

1 orange

1 mango

1 lb strawberries