Brazilian Pavé de abacaxi (Pineapple cassata)

Pavé de abacaxi

(Pineapple cassata)

Ingredients:

Ingredients Required for Pave - Also some sugar for Cream Topping

 A. Custard:

1 can of sweetened condensed milk

1 or two cans of milk depending on how sweet you want it (use the can from the condensed milk to measure the milk). 

I prefer to use coconut milk to give it a different flavour that is a healthier option if that is possible for this dessert, and fits in well with the rest of the dish.

3 or 4 egg yolks

2 tablespoons of cornstarch to thicken (may require a bit more, mix cornstarch with a little milk to make a smooth paste)

B. Pavé:

1 package of Italian finger biscuits

1 can of sliced pineapple in syrup

1 package of coconut flakes soaked in milk or you can use grated fresh coconut

C. Cream Topping:

250 mls of whipped cream

4 egg whites

2-3 tablespoons of sugar, according to taste (and to balance the sweetness of the custard)

PREPARATION:

1. Put all the ingredients for the custard in a pan and mix well.

2. Let the mixture cook over medium heat for 10-15 minutes, stirring it constantly until the mixture loosens from the bottom of the pan and it forms a thick custard consistency, you can add a dash of vanilla essence if you wish!

Custard

3. Let the cream cool down for 5 minutes and in the meantime ...

4. Dip the finger biscuits briefly in the pineapple syrup (add some rum if you want an alcohol flavour, I use Brazilian Cachaca for this). 

Base Ingredients

Soaked Biscuit Layer in Greased Dish

5. Line the bottom of a greased glass serving dish with a layer of the dipped finger biscuits.

 

6. Spread the cooled custard over the layer of biscuits and let it cool down for a while.

7. In the meantime, cut the pineapple into small pieces.

Pineapple, Custard and Biscuit Layer

8. Spread the pineapple pieces over the layer of custard.

9. Sprinkle the layer of pineapple with coconut flakes.

 

Custard Layer with Pineapple and Coconut on Top

10. Whip the cream until soft peaks form and then slowly add about three tablespoons of sugar beating well.

11.  Whip the egg whites with a little sugar until stiff and fold into the cream.

 

Whipped Egg Whites and Cream

12. Spread the cream over the layer of pineapple and coconut.

13. Sprinkle the layer of cream with coconut flakes.

14. Cover the dish with aluminium foil and put the cassata in the fridge for at least three hours to set properly. 

15. Serve the cassata when it is ice cold.

The Lighter Side of Life

 “Even if there is nothing to laugh about, laugh on credit.” ~Author Unknown

If I were to tell you that there a new medication that boosts energy, decreases pain, improves your immune system in the fight against disease and also protects you from the harmful effects of stress, how many of you would want to buy shares in the pharmaceutical company producing this? 

Well the bad news is that there is no company producing this magic panacea, but the good news is that it is available to all of us to use on a daily basis to improve our health – and what’s more, it is free and simple to use.  It is called humor!

Laughter is a human magnet – it is infectious and improves relationships, increasing happiness and intimacy.  Additionally it is a universal language and as such can break through many cultural barriers that words cannot do. Unfortunately with all the anger, despair and negativity in the world today, it seems that we often forget just how good humor can make our lives a little easier!

Humor is not a behavior or positive emotion, but like stress it is a perception; the ‘ability to perceive/enjoy what is funny or comical, a state of mind, feeling or mood’ – Paul McGhee.

There is now sufficient scientific evidence that good humor, in the form of smiling and laughing, is a powerful tool supporting good physical, mental and emotional health.  Humor therapy is now being used widely in medical circles in many parts of the world.  What is interesting is that even simulated/forced laughter can have the same effects, so for all those skeptics and miserable individuals out there, try it and reap the rewards.

So how does laughter work? This is just to name a few of the benefits, as there is much more written on this topic, which is beyond the scope of a short blog:

·      It relaxes the body and reduces the stress hormones

·      It triggers the release of the endorphins or feeling-good chemicals similar to those released during exercise

·      It reduces pain and improves cellular immunity – thus aiding the fight against disease

·      It improves mood, adds joy to life and enhances resilience, many of the things that are being challenged in our worlds today!

·      It helps to defuse conflict and also improves relationships.

Try to find solutions to improve your sense of humor by smiling and laughing and seeing the lighter side of life.  There are many ways of doing this, but like everything that one aspires to, it takes a little extra work and effort!

So no matter how tough life seems right now, start by finding one humorous thing a day and learn to smile – a lot!!

Smile when you wake up in the morning and look in the mirror, smile when you are alone, smile at strangers and smile at any other time.

“Every day you spend without a smile, is a lost day.” ~Author Unknown