Why Pineapple Hill?

The pineapple has been a symbol of hospitality since the days of the early American colonies. According to legend, the symbol began with the sea captains of New England who would spear a pineapple on a fence post outside their home to let the community know of their safe return home and to invite friends to visit and share their hospitality.

Likewise, we hope Pineapple Hill Designs boutique will make you feel “Welcome”! We know how important it is to find something special for that certain someone or just the right accessory to complete a room. We believe everyday is a day to celebrate, and we have just the thing to help you create something special out of the ordinary.

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Tuesday Tip


How to "safely" Thaw Meat
http://img4.realsimple.com/images/food-recipes/cooking-tips/0502/freezer_300.jpg
via Real Simple
Whatever you do, don't zap it in the microwave, says Evan Lobel, owner of Lobel's butcher shop, in New York City. “It cooks the meat from the inside out, which removes moisture, retains the freezer aftertaste, and leaves your meat gritty.” Instead, he suggests, wrap your cuts in small, resealable packages before you freeze them―one steak, two lamb chops. Then, when dinner is just a couple of hours away and you haven't had time to thaw the main course in the refrigerator, soak it (bag and all) in cold water for about two hours. “Warm water is bad,” Lobel warns, “because the outside of the meat gets too warm and the inside won’t thaw”―not to mention that food-borne illnesses can breed that way.
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Friday, March 26, 2010

Lemon Cheesecake Cupcakes

Lemon Cheesecake Cupcakes
 via Kraft
Ingredients:
1 pkg. (2-layer size) white cake mix
1 pkg. (4-serving) JELL-O Lemon Flavor Instant Pudding & Pie Filling
1 cup water
4 egg whites
2 Tbsp. oil
1 pkg. (16 oz.) powdered sugar
1 pkg. (8 oz.) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter, softened
2 Tbsp. lemon juice

Directions:
PREHEAT oven to 350ºF. Beat cake mix, dry pudding mix, water, egg whites and oil in large bowl with electric mixer on low speed until moistened. (Batter will be thick.) Beat on medium speed 2 min. Spoon batter evenly into 24 paper-lined 2-1/2-inch muffin cups.
BAKE 21 to 24 min. or until wooden toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean. Cool in pans 10 min.; remove to wire racks. Cool completely.
MEANWHILE, beat sugar, cream cheese, butter and juice with electric mixer on low speed until well blended. Frost cupcakes.

Recipe by ANNE of Kraft Foods:

This is a nice light recipe, perfect for a spring luncheon. It makes a beautiful lemon tea cake in mini bundt pans, or as a layer cake (see note).

SPECIAL EXTRA:Stir 1 tsp. lemon zest into frosting mixture.

Note:
Incredible as a cake, too! I use lemon custard filling for between the layers, then frost the outside with the frosting.
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Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Tuesday Tip - Onions


Avoid onion-chopping tears by

Cutting an onion
lighting a candle.

via Target



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Saturday, March 20, 2010

A "new way" Bunny Cake

Transform a store-bought (or homemade) frosted cake
into a colorful grand finale ...
with bunny-shaped sugar cookies.
Courtesy of Martha Stewart Living
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Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Lucky Cupcakes


 Just click on the Cupcake Title to go to the recipe.  
Have Fun!

 Shamrock Cupcakes

via Spoonful  

Lucky Charms  Cupcakes

http://divinepartyconcepts.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/St.-Patricks-Day-Cupcakes-04.jpg

[St.+Patrick's+Day+Cupcakes+03.jpg] 

via Divine Party Concepts  

Martha's Saint Patrick's Day Cupcakes

 http://images.marthastewart.com/images/content/pub/ms_living/2007Q1/shamrock_cupcake_l.jpg

 via Martha Stewart

Rainbow Cupcakes

via Spoonful

St. Patrick's Day Cupcakes Recipe

http://hostedmedia.reimanpub.com/TOH/Images/Photos/37/exps11917_QC10096C_55.jpg  

via Taste of Home 

Shamrock Cupcake Pops

http://i636.photobucket.com/albums/uu90/mylittlecupcakepop/StPatyDayCupcake2.jpg
via My Little Cupcake

Key Lime Cupcakes
http://images.quickblogcast.com/115838-108114/P1150445x.JPG


via Noble Pig

Lucky Green Velvet Cupcakes
http://realmomkitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/Lucky-Green-Velvet-Cupcakes-450-3.jpg


via Real Mom Kitchen

and these "Cute" Cupcakes all shared from the 
http://www.hostessblog.com/wp-content/uploads/uploaded_images/stpatricksdaycupcakes_2.jpg

http://www.hostessblog.com/wp-content/uploads/uploaded_images/stpatricksdaycupcakes_3.jpg

http://www.hostessblog.com/wp-content/uploads/uploaded_images/stpatricksdaycupcakes_5.jpg
http://www.hostessblog.com/wp-content/uploads/uploaded_images/stpatricksdaycupcakes_4.jpg




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Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Tuesday Tip - NEVER


NEVER HANG PEARLS

 "This weakens the silk threads that hold the necklace together," 
says Helena Krodel of the Jewelry Information Center, in New York City.

Instead, store them in a jewelry box for same keeping.
via Real Simple

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Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Bunny Banner

Delightful Easter Bunnies

These cheerful decorations multiply quickly, thanks to their simple construction. To bring some festive cheer to your dessert table, march the rabbits across a garland, sit them atop cupcakes, or use them to offer sneak peeks into gift bags.

*Tip from Martha: Position templates close together on vellum to get the most bunnies per sheet.
Bunny Garland How-To
Garland: Download and print the rabbit template. Trace onto vellum; cut out shape. Punch 2 holes in head; thread with yarn. Repeat as desired.
Bunny
More Projects to Make with Our Bunny TemplatesGift bag: Cut an 11-by-2 1/2-inch strip of vellum. Position upright template so ears fall 2 1/2 inches below top edge. Trace; cut out. Fill 2 1/2-by-1-by-6-inch cellophane bags with favors, leaving about 2 1/2 inches empty. Wrap vellum around bag, fold top edges together, and punch 2 holes for ribbon tie.

Cupcake topper: Trace template onto vellum; cut out. Repeat. Coat back of 1 rabbit and top 1/2 inch of a 6-inch bamboo skewer with a glue stick. Sandwich the stick between 2 rabbits. Dry between the pages of a magazine for 30 minutes.


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Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Tuesday Tip

When you begin your Spring Cleaning, think about:
Healthy Cleaning Products

Most conventional cleaning products are inexpensive and easy to use. Unfortunately, many contain chemical compounds that are dangerous to breathe and touch and that can contaminate soil and water once washed down the drain. But with a little knowledge and some willingness to experiment, you can find less-toxic alternatives that work for everyday cleaning and even tougher jobs.

It's also worth rethinking your idea of what "clean" means. Many of us associate fragrance or bleach with sanitation because we're so used to the odor of the chemicals in commercial cleaning agents. Yet a truly clean house smells air-fresh, not odor-laden. And be aware that many manufacturers of "unscented" cleaners use chemical fragrance to mask the scent of the active ingredients in their products. So while your laundry detergent might not smell like roses, it may be scented to smell unscented.

When it comes to germs, anyone who's taken high-school biology knows that microorganisms, including beneficial ones that live inside us, are omnipresent. Yes, we want to eliminate E. coli from countertops and bathroom fixtures; yes, we want to minimize the spread of viruses. But studies have shown that unless someone in your home is severely immunosuppressed, all you need is soap, warm water, and a little scrubbing to keep your family members from getting an infectious disease.

Even homemade or gentle store-bought cleaning products can be irritating, so always wear rubber gloves while cleaning and ventilate the area whenever possible. Also, test a new cleaner in a discreet spot before using on a big area. Label homemade cleaning solutions clearly and keep them out of the reach of children.

  • Careful
 Curb your instinct to reach for the most powerful cleaning product; for example, don't use a bleach-laden wipe on the kitchen countertop if a clean, soapy sponge will do. When working with any cleaning product, use only what you must to get the job done, and not a drop more. Don't drown that spot in stain-removing solution. Don't saturate the sponge with dishwashing liquid, either. If you find yourself going through bottle after bottle of cleaner, consider cleaning less frequently. You don't need to overclean to maintain your family's health. In fact, you might keep everyone healthier by cleaning weekly and spot-cleaning dirtier areas as needed. If you have a task that requires you to use a particularly toxic product, wear protective clothing (rubber gloves and a mask), and ventilate the area well. When you're finished, follow the manufacturers disposal guidelines, or keep the product in the basement or garage until your community's hazardous waste disposal day.
  • More Careful 
Commit to using less-toxic cleaners, which you'll find at health-food stores, many grocery stores, or online. Unfortunately, there is no government equivalent of "organic" in the world of cleaning products. Read labels to be sure of what you're buying (especially if you're prone to allergies). Look for manufacturers that spell out everything clearly on the label. A long list of ingredients in small print is often an indicator that the manufacturer is using more chemicals you're better off avoiding. Experiment with different brands to see which ones work for you. Even less-toxic cleaners can be unsafe and aggravate allergies and chemical sensitivities. Downplay these risks by opening a window (or, at the very least, running a fan) while you're working with cleaning products.
  • Most Careful 
Use homemade cleaners whenever possible. Water is often effective on its own. Cold water is all you need to rinse off bowls used for flour when baking, or to wipe up many spills. Likewise, warm water is adequate for cleaning most floors, and hot water works for a sink or a toilet seat. When more cleaning power is needed, look in the kitchen. Baking soda and salt are mild abrasives. Distilled white vinegar and lemon juice are acidic, so they can neutralize alkaline substances such as soap scum; they are also gentle bleaches. Add a few very basic ingredients like liquid soap and borax, a naturally occurring mineral, to your cleaning cupboard, and you can tackle every room in the house. Keep in mind that while modern cleaning products are designed so you don't have to do anything but wipe, a little scrubbing is preferable to breathing in a lot of nasty fumes.


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