Pineapple Cake For My Birthday!

Pineapple Cake For My Birthday!

Nope—it’s not my birthday again, but this amazing Pineapple Cake was made by my daughter for my birthday earlier this month. What a treat! Hope you’ll enjoy it too.

Pineapple Cake

My Birthday Pineapple Cake--made by Ashley!

Ingredients:

White or yellow cake mix

Eggs and oil (she used the juice from the can instead of oil) to prepare cake mix

1 large can crushed pineapple (20 oz.) (Use fresh chopped pineapple for a real treat)

2 tubs whipped topping (Use real whipped cream to make it extra special)

Flaked coconut

Prepare cake mix as directed on box (NOTE: We used the juice from the pineapple to replace the oil.)

Bake as directed in two round cake pans. Once done, remove from pans, and let totally cool. Cut each cake in half across—to make a total of four round pieces.

Mix the drained crushed pineapple into the whipped topping and frost between layers with a thin coating of the pineapple/whipped cream mixture. Frost the top with the remaining topping.

Sprinkle coconut on top and enjoy! (NOTE: Add candles if you’re celebrating a birthday!)

Hope you enjoy this cake as much as I did!

Join me over the next few weeks as I talk about more fruit and bring you lots more recipes!

Mahalo for visiting!

Cheryl

www.cheryllinnmartin.com

cheryllinnmartin@yahoo.com

Plenty of Papaya

One of my personal favorites—papaya! Visit my posts starting from August 1, 2011 to read more in my series about Hawaiian fruit.

Did you know all parts of the papaya are edible? But eat the skin of an organic papaya to avoid chemicals and pesticides. The skin is also used in some countries to treat rashes, cuts, and sunburn.

The seeds are like peppercorns and can used to add a little zip to recipes. Check out my Papaya Seed Salad Dressing recipe on my recipe pages, or click to go to the blog post from November 18, 2010. It’s a great tasting dressing and so unique.

Here’s a web site that gives lots more information on all parts of a papaya and the plant, how they can be (and are) used, and many nutritional facts.

http://www.livestrong.com/article/294039-can-you-eat-papaya-skin/

Join me again next week for more fun with fruit!

Mahalo for visiting!

Cheryl

www.cheryllinnmartin.com
cheryllinnmartin@yahoo.com

Going Bananas!

This is part 5 of my posts all about Hawaiian fruit. And who doesn’t love bananas??

Bananas grow on plants that can reach nearly 30 feet tall. But don’t mistake them for trees—they are not! They are actually perennial herbs. Interesting, huh? The part that looks like a trunk is called a pseudostem made of compacted leaves.

Bananas are 75% water and a great source of potassium and vitamin B.

Originating in Malaysia, bananas were first brought to Hawaii as one of the staple crops on journeys from the South Pacific to Hawaii.

Leaves can grow up to 10 feet long and 2 feet wide. In some countries they are used as umbrellas because of their size and they are waterproof.

I used a much smaller leaf to cook my Kalua Pork. Check out my recipe page (or click to go to my post from October 7, 2010) and try it in your oven or on a smoker (I used our Traeger grill.)

Why do we love to eat bananas? Because they have a peel! (I know—groan!)

Join me on Thursday for more fun with fruit!

Mahalo for visiting!

Cheryl

www.cheryllinnmartin.com
cheryllinnmartin@yahoo.com

Oh no! Already??

Not only has one year flown by for my blog, but my birthday has once again arrived as well. Actually it’s tomorrow, and I probably won’t celebrate until Saturday.

I’m thinking that one of the reasons I love Hawaii and the tropics so much is because I’m an August baby. Makes sense, don’t you think? Let me know if you’re celebrating your birthday in August too.

I sure would love to celebrate by heading to the islands, but that won’t happen this year. Maybe I’ll push for next year—what do you think? If you’d like to make my birthday special this year, please subscribe via e-mail (see the box right under my swimming fishies??) so you won’t miss a post this year. Lots of fun and interesting stuff coming up.

Join me again next week when I’ll continue with my series on the Fruit of the Hawaiian Islands.

In the meantime, Hau`oli Lā Hānau to all you August babies out there!

Mahalo for visiting!

Cheryl

www.cheryllinnmartin.com

Hau`oli Lā Hānau, Life In Flip-Flops!

My newest pair of Dressy Flip-Flops.
To begin a new year of Life in Flip-Flops!

I’m taking a break from my fruit series to celebrate the One Year Birthday of Life In Flip-Flops!

I can’t believe I’ve been faithfully posting twice per week for a year now! I hope you’ve enjoyed reading my posts and have learned a lot. Please continue reading for the next year and beyond! And Subscribe Via E-Mail (there’s a box to subscribe on my blog just beneath my swimming fishies!) so you won’t miss a post ever!

My numbers for readers has gone up over the year, and I’m thrilled to have you all on board. Don’t forget to post a comment—or just check a box. Simple, huh?

Don’t forget to subscribe via e-mail so you can connect to my posts from your e-mail box. Another easy-peasy way to keep up with my blog about all things Hawaiian.

Thank you so much for your support! Here’s to another wonderful year experiencing the wonders, culture, history, geopgraphy, and food of Hawaii!

Mahalo for visiting!

Cheryl

www.cheryllinnmartin.com

Magnificent Mangoes

My August series on Hawaiian fruit continues today with part 4. If you missed parts 1-3, check all my August 2011 posts.

One of my husband’s favorite fruits is the mango. I love them, too, and when I lived in Hawaii you could find mango trees everywhere. What fun to pick a ripe one right from a tree and eat it.

Did you know there are a ton of varieties of mangoes? Check this link to see a photo (with labels) of different kinds you can find on the big island of Hawaii.

http://www.hawaiifruit.net/mango.jpg

The mango was introduced to Hawaii from Manila in 1824 and from Chile in 1825. Like the guava, the mango is rich in nutrients. But, unlike the guava, the mango is much easier to eat—more meat and only one large seed, not a million tiny ones.

In July this year there was a Hawaiian Mango Festival (held in Miami, Florida) where you could attend workshops and lectures as well as attend mango tasting and watch cooking demonstrations. You could also purchase items including mango trees, and attend a mango brunch. Check out this site for the full list of activities from this year’s festival:

http://www.fairchildgarden.org/Events/?date=2011-07&eventid=501

Florida is a lot closer for people on the east coast or even the mid-west than Hawaii. But I’m closer to the Healing Garden Mango Festival in Kona on Hawaii, also held in July this year.

Hmm . . . maybe I should attend next July—want to join me?

Mahalo for visiting!

Cheryl

www.cheryllinnmartin.com

Gorgeous Guavas

Pink Guava

Today I’m going to talk about a highly nutritious, extremely common fruit in Hawaii (part 3 of my Hawaiian Fruit series—check out parts 1 and 2 from August 1 and 4.)

Did you have it figured out before today that Guava is the most common fruit in Hawaii?

Yes, the amazing, plentiful guava is high in minerals, vitamins A and C (four to five times as much as an orange,) and omega 3 and 6. Here is a site that elaborates on the health benefits of guava:

http://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/fruit/health-benefits-of-guava.html

White Guava

Guavas are native to Mexico and Central America. They probably came to Hawaii when birds ate the seeds and then left them in Hawaiian soil through their shishi. The fruit comes in white and pink.

Guavas are made into juices and used in baking. Check out my recipe page or click for my past post from October 4, 2010: Guava Cake. My husband grew up in Burma where he remembers eating guava right from the tree—the meaty part before you get into all the seeds.

Wood from the trees is used in crafts and in smoking meat. Mmm . . . I’ll have to try some meat smoked using guava tree wood. A unique treat I’m sure.

Come back on Thursday for more information on amazing Hawaiian fruits.

Excuse me now, as I devour some of those rich nutrients offered in guava by enjoying a nice big slice of guava cake!

Mahalo for visiting!

Cheryl

www.cheryllinnmartin.com

Which Fruit is Native?

Hawaiian fruit is the best! If you missed part one of my series on Hawaiian Fruit, check my post from August 1.

So, did you figure out which of the following fruits are actually native to the islands?

Pineapple, Mango, Guava, Papaya?

The answer is: NONE!!

Hala--Tourist Pineapple

There is a native fruit, however, that confuses tourists. It’s called Hala and looks very much like a pineapple. In fact, the Hala is often times referred to as Tourist Pineapple because of its mistaken identity.

Next post (on Monday) I’ll start talking about specific fruits. Do you know what fruit is most common in Hawaii? Come back on Monday and find out as well as learn something about this highly nutritious fruit.

Mahalo for visiting!

Cheryl

www.cheryllinnmartin.com

Hawaiian Fruit—Yum!

Pineapple

It’s August and I’m in Mega-Summer-Fruit-Mode. Aren’t you? There’s nothing like sweet fresh fruit. And Hawaiian fruit is the best.

Papaya

I’m going to take time over the next month (or more) to talk about the fruit you find in Hawaii. I will also post a couple fun recipes at the end of the series. One is my personal creation and the other is from my daughter and one of her friends.

Guava

I’m not going to highlight any one fruit today, but I did want to let you know about Native, Introduced, and Canoe Plants in Hawaii.

Native plants (or in our case, we’re looking at fruit) are those that existed from the beginning on Hawaii. Introduced plants have been brought to the islands over many years. Canoe plants were brought here by the first Polynesians and have grown well. They are pretty much considered native now.

Mango

But which of the following fruits are actually native to the islands?

Pineapple, Mango, Guava, Papaya?

You can leave a comment and a guess. I’ll give you the correct answer on Thursday as to which of these popular fruits are native.

I think I need to go pick some raspberries or blueberries from my garden. Soon I’ll be going on walks to find those luscious wild blackberry bushes. Not Hawaiian, but oh so delicious!

Mahalo for visiting!

Cheryl

www.cheryllinnmartin.com