Sunny Pineapple Fruit Arrangement

Happy Mother's Day to all the wonderful mothers!!! 

Your heart is like a garden

With the gateway open wide,

And all who will may enter,

Finding peace and love inside.

There are roses for remembrance

Of happy by-gone days,

Forget-me-nots that symbolize

Your ever-thoughtful ways.

Shy violets for your modesty

And pansies for the tender thoughts

You always have of others.

And from my childhood, Mother,

My joys have had their start

In that place of truth and beauty--

The garden of your heart.

                                             (unknown author)

How about adding a festive pineapple fruit arrangement to your celebration!  This is supper easy to make and is wonderful to give as a gift...not to mention delicious!

©      2 Pineapples: cut into 1/2-3/4 inch circles

©      1 1/2 pounds Red Grapes

©      Container of choice

©      Foam: preferably green in color

©      Decorative grass/kale/lettuce/ or green tissue paper: to cover the foam

©      8 inch Wooden Skewers

©      Flower cookie cutters-preferably not plastic

Directions:

1.  Place foam into the container of choice. If foam is moving in the container, secure with tape running across making an "x." Cover foam with grass, green tissue paper or kale/lettuce: secure kale/lettuce with toothpicks broken in half if needed.

 

2.   Cut pineapple into circles 1/2 to 2/4 inches thick.  Using the cookie cutters- cut out flowers:  I used tulip and "pointy" 8 petal daisy.  My cookie cutters are made from stainless steel: you can use plastic cookie cutters if that is all you have, simply use a knife to cut out the flower.

3.  Place pineapple flowers onto the wooden skewers.  Leave the daisy flowers without a grape center for easier placement.  Start making the arrangement from the middle.  The tallest flowers should be at the top, keep working on it and it'll eventually start looking like an arrangement. 

4.  When all pineapple flowers are in, place grape centers on daisy flowers.  Fill space between flowers with grapes on skewers and you're all done! 

5.  Serve immediately or refrigerate covered for up to 6 hours.  Making an arrangement ahead of time but don't want the fruit to turn brown?  Soak fruit flowers in ginger ale for 10 minutes (I hear any lemon-lime soda also works).  The best thing, pineapple will still taste like pineapple!

Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

Strength and honor are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.

She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.

She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth no the bread of idleness.

Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.

Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.

Favor is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.

Give her the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

- Proverbs 31: 10, 25-31

Happy Mother's Day Everyone!!!