Dealing with Pineapple

Pineapple is another classic ingredient, and nowadays you can get fresh pineapple most anywhere.

To get at it, two ways: fast, if you just want chunks, or almost-as-fast, if you want classic rings.

Fast: Cut off the top and bottom. Slide longways in half, top to bottom. Cut a long-wise wedge out of each half, discard the wedges, and chunk the rest.

Almost as fast: Cut off the top and bottom. Slice cross-wise into rings. Then use a small cookie cutter or other round object to get the cores out. Throw away the cores.

Note: Grilled pineapple is magic, especially in cocktails. The smokey, almost caramel flavor along with the acid bite of pineapple is, well, magic.