Bolo Bao (Pineapple Bun) Ice Cream

The bolo bao or pineapple bun is a confusing pastry.  Mostly because there’s no pineapple in it at all!  The Chinese bakery we get ours from actually specifies this on the sign, probably so that customers don’t complain about the lack of fruit filling.  It’s actually called a pineapple bun because the crunchy, yellow topping that sits on each bun kind of, maybe, looks like a pineapple… if you squint. 

I love bolo bao – that sweet, dense pastry.  My favourite are the ones filled with coconut.  So clearly, I made it into an ice cream.

Mangoconut Shortcakes

I’ve been doing some mathematical modeling at work over the past couple of months. Sometimes math is a nice break from wet lab work.  The logic is relaxing.  Things are predictable.  At the same time, I’ve had to remember things that I learned in calculus in undergrad.  Partial differential equations, asymptotic analysis, limits.  I made my brain reach.
  

Super Streusel Roasted Pineapple Pound Cake

I bought a pineapple the other day.  A whole pineapple.  This is something I rarely do because disassembling a whole pineapple is a daunting task that leaves me sticky all over with a puddle of pineapple juice on the counter.  And I always feel like I’m wasting half of it trying to get rid of those little sharp bits.  But I bought one because they look so cool, with their yellow-green colour and tuft of leaves on top. 

Roasted Strawberry Toasted Coconut Almond Cookies

Anyone who knows me will tell you that I am stubborn.  When I get it into my head to do something, I will keep going until I do it.  Sometimes this is good; we call it perseverance.  Sometimes this is bad; we call it pig-headedness.
 
When it comes to this week at work, I am definitely feeling piggy.  I cannot solve this problem.  Breathe with me.