Pineapple Cheesecake Dessert

This pineapple dessert is the perfect cool treat for hot summer days.

Ingredients

Crust:

• 2 1/2 C graham cracker crumbs

• 1/2 C unsalted butter melted

Cream Cheese mixture:

• 8 oz Cream cheese softened

• 1/2 C unsalted butter softened

• 2 C powdered sugar

• 20 oz can of crushed pineapple drained (You will using about 3/4 of the crushed pineapple and the other 1/4 in the cool whip)

Cool whip mixture

• 1 8 oz cool whip

• 1/4 C crushed pineapple

INSTRUCTIONS 

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees

• In a large mixing bowl, mix together the 2 1/2 C crushed graham cracker crumbs and melted butter and mix until combined

• Using only 2 C of the mixture, press into a 9x9 baking dish

• Place into the oven and bake for 9 minutes

• Remove and allow to cool completely

• Then, place a can of crushed pineapple into a strainer and drain the juice completely

• Using a standing mixer, cream together the butter and cream cheese until smooth and creamy

• Mix in the powdered sugar until incorporated

• Fold in 3/4 of the crushed pineapple into the cream cheese mixture

• Spread cream cheese mixture onto the cooled crust

• Using a large mixing bowl, mix together the last of the pineapple and cool whip together

• Spread onto the top of the cream cheese mixture

• Using the remaining graham cracker crust, sprinkle onto the top of the cool whip layer

• Cover with plastic wrap and place into the fridge overnight

Rumaki with Pineapple

With summer here, it's time to start grilling.  These easy appetizers are a quick addition to any cookout.

Ingredients

• cooking spray
• 24 (1 inch) cubes fresh pineapple
• 24 water chestnut slices
• 8 thick-cut bacon slices, cut crosswise into 3 pieces
• 24 toothpicks
• 1/2 cup low-fat sesame-ginger salad dressing
• 1 tablespoon chopped green onion, or to taste

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line the bottom section of a broiler pan with aluminum foil, top with the broiler rack, and spray rack with cooking spray.
2. Place a water chestnut slice atop each pineapple cube; wrap each with 1 bacon slice, securing with a toothpick. Arrange wrapped pineapple on the prepared broiler rack.
3. Bake in the preheated oven for 7 minutes; turn and continue baking until bacon is almost crisp, about 8 more minutes. Brush rumaki with sesame-ginger dressing and continue baking until bacon is crisp, about 5 more minutes. Garnish rumaki with green onion.