Heart News and Kiwis

Ian and I made our bi-annual visit to the cardiologist. All went well, thankfully. The doctor would like us to consider an internal heart monitor for him. This was discussed last year but we all agree now is the time. He's five years old and shouldn't have to carry around the monitor everywhere. My only concern is the surgery. He's been through so many surgeries already; but the doctor assures me it's a non-invasive procedure. Greg and I talked to him about it and it's something he wants to do. "Don't worry, Mom". Yeah, right.

We went to a May Day celebration on Saturday and had fun.

Salt Spring gets a nice write up here. The rolling hills, open meadows and pastures, seashores, forests, tiny villages, hills and mountains offer untold opportunities to make that Kodak moment happen. And that's why I live here.

Darling niece Annie has emailed me asking for summer dessert recipes. A favourite fruit to use is kiwi. It has a great flavour and is perfect for summer desserts. It's high in vitamin C and low in fat. Yum.

Tropical Fruit Dessert
(serves 6)

Ingredients:3/4 cup kiwi
1 and 1/2 cups mango
3/4 cup cantaloupe or honeydew melon
3/4 cup pineapple chunks
1/2 cup orange juice
1/4 unsweetened cocunut

Directions:
Peel and cut all fruit into bite-sized pieces. Combine with O.J. and cocunut. Chill. Serve with Banana Whipped Cream.

Banana Whipped Cream

Ingredients:
1 cup heavy cream, whipped
2 tbsp. sugar
1 ripe banana, mashed until smooth

Directions:
Combine chilled whipped cream and sugar in bowl. Beat for 5 minutes. When ready to serve, fold in mashed banana.


Tropical Pie
(serves 8-10)

Ingredients:
5 ounces graham crackers
1/3 cup flaked cocunut, toasted
2tbsp. brown sugar
1/4 cup butter
8 ounces cream cheese
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 tsp. vanilla
2 tbsp. melon-flavoured liqueur

Topping:
3-4 kiwis, peeled and sliced thin
5-6 strawberries, sliced thin

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 F.
Prepare crust first. Grind graham crackers in food processor. Mix in cocunut, sugar and butter. Stir well. Press crumb mixture into bottom of 9 inch pie dish. Cover and chill for 20 minutes. Bake at 350 F for 20 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely.
To prepare filling: Mix remaining ingredients together and spread in cooled pie crust. Top with kiwis and strawberries. Chill several hours or overnight.

Enjoy.