Cooking Quick Tip: Pineapple Juice Substitution

Since the "How to Select, Peel & Cut a Pineapple" post and video, a few subscribers wanted to know what was a good substitution for pineapple juice.  Quite a few times, different cocktails call for this juice and sometimes at the store it slips the mind.

The most common trick I use is simply equal parts orange juice and apple juice.  To get the proper color, just add a few drops of yellow food coloring.  The orange juice adds acidity, while the apple juice adds sweetness.  While the taste is not exact, this is enough to mimic the flavor of pineapple juice in drinks and recipes.

I hope this helps.  Smacznego!

Peanut Butter: Do You Know What You're Eating?

The FDA (Food & Drug Administration) has specific standards for certain foods called 'defect levels'.  These levels are what you can expect to be contained in the food.

Go to "Read More" to find out the defect levels for peanut butter.

Be sure to subscribe to Smacznego: A Blog for more "Do You Know What You're Eating" segments!

Cracking Open the Egg

Easter was just upon us, though this post is probably late in coming, it will serve as a valuable tool for all bakers that want to know if the egg is all that it is cracked up to be.

Yes, this essential ingredient is more than omelets for breakfast.  It's uses are endless, from ice cream to cakes, from breakfast to dessert, the culinary industry would not be here if it were not for the egg.

 The Composition of an Egg

The egg is comprised of six items; three of which are important for uses as culinarians.

The Anatomy of an Egg

(1) The Egg Shell

(2) The Egg Yolk

(3) The Egg White

The Egg Shell: The egg shell is what protects the egg from spoilage and other outer elements that could otherwise damage the fragile interior.  One thing that must be kept in mind, the shell is rather porous.  It is essential to properly store eggs away from strong odors, like chopped onions, to keep them tasting fresh.  Because the shell is porous, it also allows for quite a bit of moisture to evaporate through the exterior if not stored correctly.  To keep eggs lasting fresh longer, keep in a chilled atmosphere, but not freezing.

Video: Simple Pineapple & Kiwi Fruit Salad

Finally, the secret to the perfect fruit salad is revealed!  Feel free to add other fruits or come up with your own combination.  The dressing recipe is universal across fruit salads: that is the point I am making here.  The spices are optional, however, they add a depth of flavor that fruit alone cannot provide.  Please don't think that it is 'spiced' tasting.  The spices are here to ENHANCE the fruit, not mask and cover it up.  My recipes are intensly developed to highlight the main ingredients.

So here is the video!  .Smacznego.

Video: How to Select, Peel & Slice a Pineapple

I don't understand why so many people leave the core in the pineapple.  Just this weekend, I had the pleasure of going to a dinner party for Easter.  There was a beautiful fruit salad.  But all deliciousness was lost when half my plate was filled with pineapple cores.  So please do your guests (and yourself) a favor, and decore your fruit before serving.

Watch this video, where I show you how to select, peel & slice a pineapple (yes, without the core).  Enjoy!  (Psst.  Don't forget to subscribe by visiting my YouTube channel, & typing your email in the box to the left)