Pineapple Coconut Dip

This is a healthy recipe, using natural flavors from the coconut oil, and natural sweetening from the pineapple juice concentrate. It's one of those simple recipes you can literally whip up real quick; for easy blending, just be sure you've warmed the coconut oil and pineapple juice up first, before adding to the cream cheese.

You can use this dip with bagel pieces or crackers, but serving the fruit kabobs with this dip adds more color and appeal,and the flavors go perfectly. You can make the dip a few days early, which is convenient. Serves 10-20.

Ingredients:

• 2 TBS. virgin coconut oil
• 1/2 c. frozen pineapple juice concentrate
• 8 oz. cream cheese
• 1/2 c. coconut flakes
  

Warm in microwave, 30-60 seconds, until coconut oil melts, in small bowl: > 2 TBS. coconut oil (or coconut cream concentrate) (found at health food stores or online) > 1/2 c. frozen pineapple juice concentrate (or substitute 4 oz. dried, sweetened, chopped pineapple)

Mix above ingredients until smooth. Add to a mixing bowl, and whip until light with: > 8 oz. cream cheese (room temperature)

Put in a bowl to serve the dip, topping with: > 1/2 c. coconut, toasted until golden in toaster oven

Fruit Kabobs

Ingredients:

• 1 whole, fresh pineapple
• 1-2 pints strawberries
• 2 large mangoes
• Substitute other favorite fruits: Melon, kiwis, etc.
• 15-20 bamboo skewers
  

For arranging the kabobs, prepare the top of one pineapple: > Fresh pineapple, with top third cut off at an angle

When cutting off the top part, leave enough of the meaty part attached to give room for sticking the kabobs in, cutting about a third or so of the pineapple off along with the spiky part. I cut mine at an angle, so that the pineapple top could be laid on the plate with the spikes off to the side. Place the cut pineapple top on a platter.

For the kabobs, use: > 15-20 bamboo skewers

Prepare fruits for skewering. I prefer a mixture of pineapple, mango, and strawberries, as they are the right texture, and don't turn brown. Use: > Fresh Pineapple (what's left after cutting top off) > 1-2 pints Strawberries > 2 or so mangoes

Make kabobs, sticking into the pineapple top as you go. Serve with the dip; enjoy!