Friday, May 8, 2009

Paying Homage To The Pineapple

Recently, I've become rather obsessed with pineapples. I think this mostly stems from my desire to eat healthier, which has gotten me (and B) eating more fruit. I also have been incorporating pineapples into our decor. It all started with a pineapple dish towel, then lead to a purchase from Uppercase Living that includes a pineapple (post on this to come...hopefully soon!).

On our recent trip to Frankenmuth, I purchased this pineapple cookie cutter. There were so many neat cookie cutters there, and each one came with a cookie recipe attached. Some other cute ones were a crab, a palm tree, a coconut, and a crown.

This recipe is for Kahlua flavored cookies. Yum!



I've been curious about the social history of the pineapple, so I did a little research on the pineapple as a sign of hospitality. This site goes through much of the pineapple's history since Columbus "discovered" it in the Caribbean. During Colonial times in America the pineapple was so sought after (and so expensive and rare) that hostesses would actually rent a pineapple to place int he center of their table as a show of their social status and then later return it to the shop owner who would then sell it to an even wealthier family who would actually eat it! For Colonial Americans, entertaining was the main pastime, and the women took it very seriously! In fact it was a bit of a competition, not much unlike today! They would employ "creative food display" as a means to show their personality and status. This quite often included using a pineapple (even if it was rented!) to create elaborate centerpieces often in the shapes of small mountain ranges, pyramids and pedestals of different heights. Pineapple History gives a more in depth history of the pineapple, and if you're a nerd history buff, like me, you'll find this really interesting, not to mention a great conversation starter!


8 comments:

Lexilooo said...

When I was younger, my mother had a pineapple theme in our kitchen for a while. There was pineapple wallpaper with a border and everything! It sounds like it might be a bit much, but looked nice, it was subtle. She had accessories too, like dish cloths and such. I wonder what happened to all of that...I haven't seen it in years!

AEG said...

That's why there is a GIANT pineapple fountain in Charlston, SC :D

Muffy said...

OMG! JUST YESTERDAY I was telling Skipp that I want to have at least ONE room in our house to have a pineapple theme! Great minds think alike!! HAHA! Pineapples are so cute. Hope your wedding planning is coming along well!

xoxo,
Muffy

PS: I may be very late on this, but I LOOOOOOVE your new blog design. CONGRATS! Looks GREAT!

The Rest is Still Unwritten said...

I love pineapple. To eat! It's one of my faves! Very cute decorations.

Hopsy said...

That cookie cutter is darling. I want one and then whenever someone moves in to a new home I can make them a hospitality gift! Wouldn't that be cute??

Unknown said...

I love that cookie cutter & I have always enjoyed the history behind the pineapple. My mother's front foyer has a pineapple theme.

Miss Janice said...

Love the pineapple cookie cutter...love anything with the pineapple motif!

preppy little dress AKA "PLD" said...

I am also a huge fan of pineapples, love the cookie cutter you found in Frankenmuth! Haven't been there in about 4 years, another great place to visit if you are visiting Michigan!