Thursday, April 9, 2009

Two Juicy Pineapples + 4 Juicy Pork Chops

Maybe I am a Pineapple Princess.... 


It all started when I was walking through Sack n Save in downtown Hilo. This is normally my "market of choice" for things I cannot find at the Farmer's Market. Although, living on an island, we of course have to make runs to various stores (Safeway, KTA and Cost U Less; No Whole Foods or Trader Joe's here) to find some things and there are also things that we may not be able to find at all. I was meandering in the sprout section (which is actually quite comprehensive) and saw a sign out of the corner of my eye, "Pineapples .25 cents a pound, Save $2.54 a pound!"
Being a person that finds it difficult to pass up a true bargain I decided to pick up a couple of fifty cent pineapples. Normally I buy white pineapples that come over from Maui. A woman a the Farmer's Market brings them once a week. BUT those white pineapples come at a hefty price, usually about $7 each, so doing the math did not take long for me. Dole Gold would do just fine this week. 
Another great thing about pineapples is that every one you buy gives you more pineapples. Yes, that is if you live in the right climate. I just twist off the top, strip the leaves about one inch from the bottom and put it in a glass to root. My studio has a window sill filled with rooting pineapple starts. Once roots are developed you just plant and wait about 18 months for your own sweet juicy pineapples! 
Now what? Hmm... let's see if they have some big juicy pork chops to go with the pineapples! They had local range fed pork chops which I scooped up and I made my way home with my pineapples and pork chops, my head was spinning just thinking or what I might do with them. 

Last Sunday at Scuba Sunday, my friend Carey had just given me a bag of Cuban Sour Oranges, or Orange Lemons as they call them here. She has an abundance of them and Carey always loves to share much to the delight of our dive club and Cooking Club. I decided to juice the Sour Oranges and make a marinade for the pork chops and then do a Pineapple Salsa to top them.
Here is the resulting recipe which us easy and very Ono (GOOD in Hawaiian): 
Pork Chops in Sour Orange Marinade with Pineapple Salsa

Ingredients


Marinade:
  • 1/4 teaspoon lime zest
  • 2 Sour Oranges or Limes juiced
  • 2 inch piece of ginger chopped
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 1 small shallot, chopped
  • 1 serano pepper, chopped 
  • 3 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • 1/4 teaspoon Sea Salt
Directions
Pineapple Salsa:
  • 1/2 pineapple, diced and cored, juices reserved
  • 1 ripe tomato, diced
  • 1 clove of garlic finely minced
  • 1/2 red onion, minced
  • 1/2 cup chopped cilantro
  • 1 red jalapeno, diced (or green if you can't find red)
  • 1 tablespoon chopped cilantro leaves
  • 1 sour orange, juiced (or lime if you cannot find sour oranges)
  • Salt and pepper
  • Bone-in, center-cut pork chops (this recipes makes enough for four, but you can adjust it)

For the marinade:
Blend all the ingredients in a large bowl. Place in a resealable plastic bag and add the pork chops. Marinate in the refrigerator for up to 3 hours.

For the salsa:
Mix all the salsa ingredients in a medium bowl. Taste for seasoning. Set aside for 10 minutes for flavors to meld.
Preheat grill to medium heat.
Remove chops from marinade. Grill for 5 minutes per side for a medium rare and 8 minutes for medium. Remove chops from grill and let rest 10 minutes before slicing.
Spoon on salsa.  
*note... this salsa and marinade could also be used with fish & chicken. 
Now, here are a few more great Pineapple Pictures for you courtesy of my 


8 comments:

Tina-Louise (Kiki) said...

Yummie! And I was just contemplating how to turn ordinary pork chops into a fantastic tropical dish!

Coconut Girl Connie said...

Hi Devany,

I love this post! The vintage pics are cool. When we were growing up on Oahu, the Dole "Pineapple Cannery" was the place that all teenagers worked during the summer. Of course when Mickey D's and Jack came to Hawaii...everything changed. The recipe looks great! I know that soaking ribs in pineapple juice prior to b-b-q makes them super tender!

Ann Wurden said...

Hi Devany, What fun pictures! I love the recipe will have to try it. I also want to try the pineapple pepper dip you included in one of your articles. Do you or Connie have any suggestions as to where I should contact for shipping me a few pineapples from the islands? I know this will result in a spendy pineapple, but pineapples area a rarity in this small Montana town and if you do find them they are radiated, so probably won't grow a new one, or so old and tough (and expensive) that I always pass them by. Hard to find organic stuff there, they did just open a large organic market in Bozeman however, about 3 hours from here. Thanks again for the fun post! Ann

MikeR said...

Hey Hot Stuff!
Where did you find that pic of you in the pineapple mound!
Looks like you are having fun as usual.
Love to hear from you.
Mike
I fell off my bike, healing quickly and was back on it this weekend flying through the air.
Will I ever learn?

Devany said...

Connie,

I understand how a cannery would be a great job for a kid. Of course until Jack and Mc came to town.

Using pineapple for tenderising is a good thing, you just can't let stuff sit in it for too long, as it will become mush.

Thanks for posting.

~dvd

Devany said...

Ann,

I would suggest waiting to go to a big city that has a whole foods to find pineapple. However, growing your own will not work in Montana. You would need a tropical climate, unless of course you have a greenhouse that simulates the environment. Hey... that is a great idea for you when you buy your place here! A Pineapple Farm!

You can buy online several places, here is one:
http://www.hawaiivacationgifts.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=23_40

Also when you come here for a visit you can bring them home if you take them through the ag check. You might even be able to find white pineapples then.

Pineapples here are usually not as cheap as I bought them for. We usually pay the same prices as I saw them for in CA. On the mainland there are a lot of Mexican ones too.

Mahalo for posting,
dvd

Devany said...

Mike,

You are such an adrenaline junkie! Geesh! I am glad you healed well. Just don’t end up like Evil Kenivel ! Sue needs you in her golden years. Take it easy! Looking forward to seeing you guys in December. Hello... has anyone told you that you are FIFTY FOUR years old? Just because you don't look your age does not mean you shouldn't act your age! Of course as they say, 50 is the new "30". Or is it "20" in your case? ;-)

~d

Ann Wurden said...

Thanks Devany for your response. Yeah, I know there's no growing pineapples in Montana, but will give it a try in our green house.

Yes! That's what I'm thinking... pineapple farm, to be sold in cold climates, here in MT to my starving people... we'll see.

The pineapples at our market today are from Costa Rica, small, punny tops, not sure I'll try those.