Quick Tropical Piña Colada Pudding

I was cleaning out the fridge the other day and found a lonely cup of crushed pineapple that needed using up.  I turned it into the star of a 'doctored up' instant pudding dessert.  The pudding was a lovely soft-set texture that we really liked.  We all enjoyed the 'tropical island' flavor combo of the pineapple, coconut and banana.  I just love getting creative with leftovers, especially when they turn out tasting this good ~ Enjoy!

Quick Tropical Piña Colada Pudding
serves 3~4

Ingredients

• one small box of Banana Cream Jello instant pudding (sugar-free or regular)
• 1 cup crushed pineapple, drained
• 1 cup skim milk
• 1/2 small banana, sliced thin
• 1/2 tsp coconut extract (optional)
• 1/4 cup shredded coconut, for topping
• 4 vanilla wafers cookies, crushed (or you favorite kind)
• whipped cream, for topping (optional)

Directions
Mix the ~ instant pudding, crushed pineapple, skim milk, sliced banana & coconut extract in a medium bowl until the powdered pudding is smooth & creamy.  Refrigerate pudding until set.  Serve the pudding topped with the shredded coconut, whipped cream and crushed cookies.

My Club Med EXGO Reunion ~ Club Med Ixtapa Pacific, Mexico ~ June 2013

My son won a Club Med 'medal' for being part of the pool kayak race, he was thrilled!

I went to my second Club Med EXGO Reunion in June, this time to the Club Med Village of Ixtapa Pacific.  I took my son with me this time, and we spent two weeks soaking up the hot and tropical weather that is Mexico.  It was his first experience with Club Med, and I think I have planted the seed for him becoming a GO when he is old enough.  Ixtapa was my first village, waaay back in 1992. (see my original post about working for Club Med & the last reunion ~ HERE) It was so great to come back and see all the changes that 20 years brings!  The trees are bigger, the landscaping more lush, the room decor is better...but the same GO spirit is still there.  :)

I've put together another photo collage blog post, of food and fun, to show just how much Club Med still means to me.  To see a certain collage better, just click on it to enlarge.  Enjoy!

J & I had a blast hanging out with the Chief of Circus, Patrick, and his super fantastic Circus Team.  J got to fly on the trapeze, he climbed the rock wall, he bounced on the trampoline and he walked on the tight rope.  Doing circus tricks, under the palm trees, on a beach... Yeah, you could say he liked it...A LOT!  :)

La Playa ~ you get the picture!  All the kids loved playing, boarding, sailing and swimming at the beach.   Not to mention the treasuring hunt, the beach fiesta, the sandcastle contests... The fun just went on & on!

The Main Pool was a big part of our day.  Juan, the GE (local employee) pool bartender/beach boy was just wonderful!! He was sincerely friendly, he always had a big smile for all the guests, and he made the BEST Sangrita ~ EVER!  He gave me pointers on how he makes his secret recipe.  This Mexico City-style recipe is similar to his.  This juice chaser is my new way to drink tequila.  I can't say enough good things about Juan, he is such an asset to the Club!  Juan ~ YOU ROCK!  :)

One afternoon, Chef Saul presented a cooking class.  He showed us how to prepare the freshest shrimp ceviche I've ever had.  His secret is to use a splash of Clamato juice to enhance the dish.  Genius!  I'll be making it his way from now on.  Thanks so much for the class, Chef!

The food was excellent, as always.  So much to choose from!  The seafood was exceptional, as was the service from the chefs. 

The Restaurant Manager, Hugo, and his staff, do a fine job of presenting three colorful and enticing food services a day, with an abundance of food and flavors to choose from.  I don't know how they accomplish it ~ but I'm so glad they can!!  There is a great terrace, just outside the main restaurant, where you can enjoy your meals al fresco.

The Pastry Chefs just kept the beautiful desserts coming, meal after meal...

The Main Bar is colorful and at the center of the village.  My favorite GO Bartender, Basti, is just amazing!!  He can mix drinks like no other, he dances like Michael Jackson in the evening shows and he's just so friendly ~ to adults and children alike.  He takes just as much care with a child's fruit smoothie, as he does with an adults order ~ now, that's service.   Both my son and I just love him! Basti, you are truly the BEST!!  :)

Me & Hoshi (top left).  She is a Mini Club GO and she was with my son's age group for the 2-weeks we were there.  She is so beautiful ~ both inside and out.  She has the old-school GO spirit that I remember from my days of working for the Club.  I can't say enough nice things about her, I sincerely hope we may meet her at another village in the future, both J & I just LOVE her!!  Hoshi, thanks so much for all the fun and care that you gave J & for making me smile!!  The Mini Club Chief, Tom-Tom, & his team helped us celebrate my son's 9th birthday.  We had a special cake, balloons, songs & gifts ~ all you could ask for.  :)  Thanks to all the GO's that helped to make his day extra special!  ~~  Some photos from around the village, having fun in the sun!

More beautiful views from around the village...

EXGO Family & Friends Reunion ~~~ Club Med Ixtapa Pacific, Mexico ~~~ June 2013

If you're ever looking for a great family vacation, check out Club Med Ixtapa Pacific.  Trip Advisor loves it as much as we do!  It's their #1 ~ Traveler's Choice 2013 Award Winner ~ for best hotel for families in Mexico.  I couldn't agree more!  :)

Tropical Coconut Mango Breakfast Cookies

Tropical Coconut Mango Breakfast Cookies, with optional white chocolate chips ~ With pineapple, macadamia nuts, coconut & mango ~ these breakfast cookies let you enjoy a taste of the islands in your own kitchen.  :)

I decided to try making a new Breakfast Cookie without using bananas, just for a change of pace.  I thought pureed mangoes would work in a similar way as the mashed bananas & I'm happy to report they do!  Summer is in full swing & I'm really jonesing for the beach, tropical climes & some Jimmy Buffet on the radio ~ so this Breakfast Cookies is my way of living on island time ~ in my Midwest kitchen.   :)

I love eating fresh mangoes!

Since I was using all mangoes, I thought I might as well really embrace the tropical vibe, so I included the flavors of coconut, pineapple & macadamia nuts.  I figured as long as I was splurging, I might as well add some white chocolate chips to some of the cookies, too & just let me say they were divine!  I felt like I was eating a healthier, coconut-y  version of a White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookie ~ YIPPEE!  They are flour & egg free and have no sugar added (unless you include the optional white chocolate chips).   Roy is a big fan of this new cookie flavor & I hope you will be, too!

For those of you who are you're not a fan of bananas, this will be the cookie version for you.  If you are a fan of bananas & not of mangoes ~ then make them that way instead...or maybe try it with 1/2 mango & 1/2 banana.  Add the vanilla protein powder, or not ~ same goes for the coconut.  Just go native, tweak this recipe as you see fit & make it your own.  Happy sailing!  Now, were did I put my Buffet CD's....

Tropical Coconut Mango Breakfast Cookies ~ with pineapple, macadamia nuts & optional white chocolate chips

makes 12 large or 16 regular sized cookies

• 2/3 cup mango puree ~ from fresh or frozen (about 2 fresh mangoes) (*can exchange 2 mashed bananas for the pureed mangoes or use 1/3 cup mango puree & 1/3 cup mashed banana)
• 2/3 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 1/3 cup crushed pineapple ~ drained 
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp coconut extract
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cup old fashioned oatmeal ~ uncooked
• 1/4 cup golden raisins (I used the golden raisins for their light color in this recipe , it's OK to use regular dark raisins if you prefer)
• 1/4 cup chopped macadamia nuts ~ (OR ~ use chopped walnuts if you prefer)
• 1 scoop vanilla protein powder ~ (optional)
• 3 Tbsp unsweetened flaked coconut ~ (or sweetened, if you like that kind better or already have that in your pantry)
• 1/4 cup white chocolate chips, or to taste (optional ~ if you feel like splurging :)
• additional coconut flakes for sprinkling on top of the cookies ~ if desired

Preheat heat oven to 350 degrees.

In a large bowl mix ~ mango puree (and/or mashed bananas, if you are using those), applesauce, crushed pineapple, coconut extract, vanilla extract & cinnamon until well combined.

Stir in the dry ingredients ~ oatmeal, coconut flakes, raisins, macadamia nuts (or walnuts) & protein powder (if you're using) ~ combine until well blended.  Let mixture sit for 10 minutes.

Drop cookie dough, by spoonfuls, onto a parchment paper lined cookie sheet & flatten cookies into rounds or bars. Add white chocolate chips to top of breakfast cookies, if using, & press them into the dough (OR, just mix them in with the dry ingredients, see above).  Sprinkle some additional coconut flakes on top, if desired.

Bake approx. 35 minutes, or until golden & done.

Enjoy!