One of the easiest side dishes you can contribute to a party or potluck. Crushed pineapple and cubed bread with just a few other ingredients gets this in the oven quickly!
Have you reached the age of 40 yet? I turned 34 this year, but I have friends in their 40's. Most of them have families of their own, some with teenaged kids and some even with grandkids. I know 40-year olds who have been single all their lives, few who have been divorced, and one or two widowed.
What I don't understand are the ones who have a beautiful family and loving spouse, but freak out when they turn 40 because they want to live an independent life of a 20 year-old. Instead of embracing their age and the beauty of it, they focus on the negative aspects of aging. Maybe I'll understand when I turn 40, but I pray I won't. Never ever EVER do I want to desire such a selfish lifestyle that sets me apart from my spouse and ultimately apart from God. NEVER!
Let me challenge you, my readers, to fully embrace every age of your life and live it focused on what is pure. Set your desires on what is holy. Avoid TV shows that check you out of reality only leading you to fantasize about what is not true and faithful. Trust me, I'm not perfect and I watch crap on TV, and I've had to stop watching some shows when I felt like it was not edifying at all.
Lastly, be proud to be a "grown-up"! Aside from constantly failing and trying again to be in line with what God desires from me, I am eager to be more mature and a better "grown-up" every step of the way. I want to be that example for my kids and those around me.
Plus, grown-ups make yummy comfort food like this Baked Pineapple. See, I worked it in finally! I just had to get that off my chest. As far as this recipe, though? It's either a breakfast, side dish or dessert. Three choices on when to serve it! Definitely a versatile dish where you can also add more bread to stretch the amount it yields, or even toss in a few other fun ingredients like raisins, or spices, or mandarin oranges, or maybe some shredded pork...what!? Seriously, the sky is sort of the limit here.
Now, go and be a responsible and admirable adult! 😉
Baked Pineapple
Ingredients
- 4 large eggs
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
- 1 (20 oz.) can crushed pineapple
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 (20 oz.) loaf white bread, cut into 1-inch cubes (the less fresh, the easier to cut)
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly grease a 9x13 or 3 quart baking dish.
- In a very large mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs and sugar until light. Mix in the vanilla (optional). Stir in the crushed pineapple and salt. Gently fold in the bread cubes. Pour melted butter into the bowl and mix until coated. Transfer to the prepared pan. Bake for 45 minutes, until browned.
- Recipe Source: Friend of Seeded at the Table, Lynne Wingard
Sandy @ RE says
I've made something similar with crackers. Fantastic, Nikki! 🙂
Aggie says
I love your perspective Nikki and agree wholeheartedly. I'm 38 - 39 just around the corner. I was just telling my husband that I think 40 is a huge accomplishment...finally feeling comfortable in my skin, have a beautiful family, just really happy to be "grown up"! It's a good feeling really and I think embracing 40 rather than dreading is the way to go.
And...I love this baked pineapple dish! What a fun dish to serve at a potluck. Or with ham at Thanksgiving 🙂
Anonymous says
Good morning there my new friend,I love your recipes, I also whole heartily agree with you on God & being holy, we are Christians too, where would any of us be with out him? I am near 78 years old, & have much to be thankful for too, we have 7 wonderful kids, a lot of grandkids too, I have a wonderful husband of 42 years , I know God loves me, what more can I ask for?
Keep up the good work
Jan Sinclair
Laurie Sotro says
Nikki,
Amen! You said it beautifully. I'm now 53 and love this season of my life! But I do remember being 40ish and not quite as secure and confident as I feel now 😉 Even growing older has its own maturing and seasoning aspect to it. Love ya!
Amber Norfleet says
I've never comented on your blog before, but I wanted to let you know that I appreciate what you wrote in "getttng it off your chest". I am a single woman, 26, who very much longs to have a home and a family. I've been struggling especially with being contented in the season I'm in, and the Lord used your words today to remind me that I am to embrace EVERY season, the things I enjoy as well as the harder things and live purely.
Thank you for that reminder.
Nikki Gladd says
Hi Amber! Thank you for sharing your heart. Hang in there! God has a special plan for you even if it isn't what you expected. Set your desires on the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. He may change those desires, even, as you become more and more aware of Him. At 26 and single, you are at the perfect age and stage of life to learn so much about serving others -- lessons learned that will come in very handy to pass on to your kids someday!
It encourages me to keep writing about these things when hearing from readers like you. So, thank you!
Cindy says
I've been making this same recipe for years! My family and friends love it. This is the first time I'll be replacing the sugar with stevia baking blend. Hope it works! I'm 57, and loved turning 40. I finally knew where I wanted to be in life!