Honeyed Pineapple Food

PINEAPPLE HONEY-GLAZED HAM

Steps:

• Let the ham sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• Trim off any skin from the ham. Use a sharp paring knife to score through the fat in a diagonal crosshatch pattern without cutting through to the meat. Push the cloves into the ham, if using, placing them at the intersections of the cuts. Put the ham, flat-side down, on a rack in a roasting pan.
• Drain the pineapples, reserving the juice. Arrange the sliced pineapple all over the ham, securing with toothpicks. Add a maraschino cherry to the center of each pineapple slice and secure with a toothpick.
• Pour 1/4 inch water in the bottom of the pan and tent the ham with foil.
• Roast until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the ham (avoiding bone) registers 130 degrees F, about 2 hours 30 minutes (or about 15 minutes per pound).
• Meanwhile, combine the honey, brown sugar and reserved pineapple juice in a large saucepan set over medium heat. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until thickened, syrupy and reduced to about 3 cups, 25 to 30 minutes. Set aside.
• Increase the oven temperature to 425 degrees F.
• Uncover the pan and carefully brush a third of the glaze all over the ham. If the water in the roasting pan has evaporated, add more. Bake the ham for 15 minutes more. Brush with another third of the glaze and bake for 15 minutes more. Brush the remaining glaze over the ham and cook until the glaze is shiny and the skin is dark golden brown and crispy, about 15 minutes more. Let rest for 15 minutes.

HONEY-ROASTED PINEAPPLE WITH GREEK YOGURT

Steps:

• Position an oven rack in the upper third of the oven, and preheat to 450 degrees F.
• Combine 1 cup water, orange juice, honey and vanilla bean pod and seeds in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally to loosen the honey. Turn off the heat, and leave the saucepan on the stove. (You may need to reduce the roasting juices a little more once the pineapple is cooked.)
• Arrange the pineapple slices in a broiler-proof 9-by-13 baking dish. Pour the orange syrup over the pineapple. Roast, basting occasionally, until the pineapple is tender and the juices have reduced, about 20 minutes.
• Set the oven to broil, and continue to cook the pineapple until it is a deep golden yellow and lightly brown around the edges, 5 to 10 minutes more.
• The roasting juices should be reduced and syrupy, measuring about 1/4 cup. If they are too watery, remove the pineapple slices with a slotted spoon to a medium bowl, return the juices to the saucepan and reduce the juices over medium-high heat until syrupy, about 1/4 cup.
• Divide the yogurt among 4 small bowls. Top with the pineapple slices, and drizzle with the syrup.

HONEY GLAZED GRILLED PINEAPPLE

Steps:

• In a baking dish, mix together the honey, lime juice, and cinnamon. Place the pineapple slices in the glaze and let marinate 2 hours, turning occasionally.
• Preheat a grill pan over medium heat.
• Place the pineapple slices on the preheated grill. Grill on both sides until the glaze caramelizes and grill marks form, about 2 minutes per side.
• To serve: Place the pineapple slices on individual plates and top with a scoop of ice cream. Drizzle the remaining honey syrup over the top.

HONEY-GLAZED GRILLED PINEAPPLE

Steps:

• Whisk first 4 ingredients in large glass baking dish. Peel pineapple; cut crosswise into 6 rounds. Remove core; discard. Add pineapple to dish; turn to coat. Cover with plastic wrap; let stand at room temperature at least 1 hour and up to 2 hours.
• Prepare barbecue (medium heat). Remove pineapple from marinade (reserve marinade). Grill until golden brown, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer to serving dish. Pour reserved marinade over. Sprinkle with mint. Serve warm or chilled.
• *Sold at liquor stores and in the liquor or specialty foods section of supermarkets.

HONEYED CHICKEN AND PINEAPPLE

Steps:

• Cut chicken in half or thirds for manageable serving size pieces.
• Coat chicken with cornstarch.
• Heat vegetable oil in fry pan over high heat.
• Add chicken pieces and cook until golden brown.
• Drain on paper toweling and set aside.
• Pour all but 2 Tbls of oil out of the pan.
• Stir-fry the ginger and garlic in the oil over medium heat about 1 minute.
• Add pineapple and pepper strips to ginger mixture.
• Stir-fry over high heat 2 minutes.
• Remove from pan.
• Mix water and remaining 2 tsp cornstarch.
• Blend in honey, bouillon granules and sesame oil.
• Pour mixture into pan.
• Cook and stir over high heat until mixture boils and thickens.
• Place the chicken and pineapple-pepper mixture in a baking dish.
• Top with honey sauce and green onions.
• Bake at 350 F for 30 minutes or until chicken is tender.
• *Theoriginal recipe calls for 1 whole chicken, cut up Chinese style into serving pieces.
• I find the chicken breasts easier to use, and we prefer the boneless meat.

HOT HONEY, GARLIC AND PINEAPPLE CHICKEN THIGHS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Arrange the chicken thighs on a baking sheet, evenly spaced, and pat the skin dry with a paper towel. Rub the chicken skin with the oil and season with salt and pepper. Roast until the skin is golden brown and crispy and the meat registers 165 degrees F when an instant-read thermometer is inserted into the thickest part of the meat, 35 to 40 minutes.
• To make the sauce, whisk together the pineapple juice, garlic, honey and hot sauce in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until reduced by half and slightly thickened, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Drizzle the sauce over the crispy chicken skin and serve warm with cooked rice. Sprinkle with cilantro if using.

HONEY PINEAPPLE CHICKEN

Steps:

• In a skillet, brown chicken in oil in batches on both sides; transfer to a 5 qt slow cooker.
• Combine the remaining ingredients; pour over chicken. Cover and cook on LOW for 3 to 4 hours or until chicken is no longer pink.
• Strain pan juices, reserving pineapple. Serve pineapple over the chicken.

HONEY-PINEAPPLE CHICKEN

Steps:

• For marinade, combine all ingredients except the chicken in a large saucepan. Bring to boiling. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Let mixture cool to room temperature.
• Place chicken in plastic. Pour the marinade over, seal the bag, and turn several times to make sure all the chicken is coated well. Marinate the chicken in the refrigerator for 6 to 24 hours, turning occasionally.
• Drain the chicken pieces, discarding marinade. Grill for 40 to 45 minutes or until chicken is cooked and no longer pink.

HONEY-PINEAPPLE GLAZED HAM

Steps:

• Bake ham in a roasting pan at 350º for 1-1/2 hours.
• In small saucepan, mix brown sugar, cornstarch and salt.
• Stir in pineapple, honey and mustard.
• Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens and boils.
• Boil and stir 1 minute.
• Brush sauce over ham and bake 30 minutes, basting once or twice during cooking time.
• Brush sauce over ham before serving.
• Yield: 12 servings.