Does holiday cooking stress you out? If so, you’re not alone. According to PWC research, 54% of people admit to feeling uptight any time they think about prepping or cooking food for holiday celebrations. Fortunately, stress-free holiday dishes can be possible with the right ingredients.
Executive chef at Dole, James Bickmore-Hutt has ideas for how to elevate your holiday dishes in preparation for the festivities.
“The holiday season is such a busy time of year. It’s also a moment when people are expecting to be ‘wowed’ at mealtime. Selecting high-quality ingredients like canned pineapples can reduce prep work and help you deliver crowd-pleasing dishes quickly, so you can focus on enjoying the season with loved ones.”
Why are pineapples Chef James’ best-kept secret? The pineapples he uses are handpicked at peak ripeness and are a naturally sweeter variety of pineapple. Offered in pre-cut chunks or slices with no sugar added, canned pineapples help home chefs cut down on prep time without sacrificing freshly-packed flavor.
Here are Chef James’ top tips for incorporating them into your seasonal fare:
• Add extra garnishes of pineapple to any holiday dish for a naturally sweet, tropical taste – no need to add extra sugar.
• Pineapples are very juicy, and you can precook dessert filling on the stovetop to thicken the juices. Simply drain the liquid from the can, pour the fruit in a pan, reduce remaining liquid and then combine it with a thickener of your choice before adding back in.
• Let fruit-filled desserts cool for at least two to four hours after baking to allow the filling to fully set.
• For added oomph and flavor in cocktail or mocktail batches, reserve pineapple juice from the same cans used in your food dishes, like a family-favorite pie.
This holiday season, Chef James’ guaranteed crowd-pleaser, Caramelized Pineapple Baked Brie, adds a tropical twist to a traditional spread. Ready in 40 minutes and with just six ingredients, this stress-free appetizer will make your festivities all the more memorable.
Ingredients:
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 can (20 ounces) pineapple chunks in 100% pineapple juice, drained
• 1/4 teaspoon finely chopped fresh rosemary
• 1 tablespoon honey, divided
• 1 package (13 ounces) round brie cheese
• 2 tablespoons chopped roasted salted pistachios Instructions:
• Heat butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add pineapple, rosemary and 1 tablespoon honey, stirring occasionally for 6 minutes or until the pineapple is golden brown.
• Line a baking sheet or small baking dish with parchment. Cut the top rind off the brie and discard, placing the remaining portion on the parchment paper.
• Spoon pineapple mixture over the brie. Bake at 350 degrees F for 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and drizzle with the remaining 1 teaspoon of honey before garnishing with pistachios.
To stress less in the kitchen during this year’s holiday festivities, let pre-cut pineapple take center stage for easy preparation of elevated classics.
Chef James’ Caramelized Pineapple Baked Brie.
