{"id":99372,"date":"2015-03-13T16:31:01","date_gmt":"2015-03-13T06:31:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=99372"},"modified":"2015-03-13T16:31:01","modified_gmt":"2015-03-13T06:31:01","slug":"pointy-end-of-the-pineapple","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2015\/03\/13\/pointy-end-of-the-pineapple\/","title":{"rendered":"Pointy End Of The Pineapple"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>March 13, 2015<\/strong><\/p>\n

by Jason Ford<\/strong>
\nFord on Food<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Pineapple is a cylindrical shaped tropical fruit with a thick, prickly, diamond-patterned skin crowned with green, spiky leaves and got its name from its resemblance to a pine cone.<\/p>\n

The pineapple plant can bloom hundreds of spectacular, spiral shaped flowers which miraculously fuse together to form the fruit. <\/p>\n

This means that a pineapple is actually made up of many individual fruits (called eyes) that join together to form the large pineapple we all recognise.<\/p>\n

Pineapples are native to South America, but are now grown and cultivated in many tropical regions around the world.<\/p>\n

Queensland is a prolific grower of pineapples and over the course of many decades has carefully cultivated a world-renowned species that is fluorescent gold and sweetly perfumed.<\/p>\n

I once planted a pineapple head; it eventually grew into a plant which took almost two years to bear fruit. <\/p>\n

Given such a long growing cycle, it\u2019s probably easier and quicker to just go and buy one!<\/p>\n

Pineapple generally has a juicy, sweet (yet tart) flesh made of tender fibres.<\/p>\n

The fruit can be peeled and eaten raw, chopped and added to fruit salads or blended into smoothies, mocktails and cocktails.<\/p>\n

It can also be cooked on the barbecue, crumbed and deep-fried as a fritter, or caramelised in a pan with butter, brown sugar and flamb\u00e9ed with rum.<\/p>\n

Be aware that fresh pineapple contains an acid called Bromelain which breaks down proteins, such as gelatine. <\/p>\n

Therefore, if you want to make sure your pineapple jelly or cheesecake will set, you’ll need to cook out the acid first.<\/p>\n

However the acid can also help tenderize foods such as calamari when soaked in a pineapple puree.<\/p>\n

Pineapple is low in saturated fat, cholesterol and calories, but high in fibre, antioxidants and vitamin C.<\/p>\n

* * *<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Upside Down Pineapple Cake<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/a>Ingredients:<\/strong><\/p>\n