Pineapple Boat

• Start with a ripe pineapple.
• Now lay your pineapple on a counter or table. If you are planning to carve the pineapple into a "boat", turn it to find the most attractive and stable way for it to lie (will it lie flat, without tumbling over?). Also, choose the side with the best looking leaves.
• Rotate the pineapple slightly. Using a serrated knife, begin to make a slice (no more than 1/4 of the pineapple) down along the side to remove the skin. Note: Do not cut the leaves.
• Completely slice off the first side (skin) of the pineapple.
• To continue carving the pineapple to create a "boat": Cut around the inside of the pineapple, following the "rim". Cut deeply, but try not to let your knife go through the skin to the other side.
• Now cut the flesh inside the pineapple into cubes, first by making long slices down the length of the pineapple, then cross cuts approximately 1 inch wide. Again, be careful not to cut through to the other side.
• Using a large spoon (preferably one that has a fairly "sharp" edge), scoop out the flesh and set aside. When you get to the bottom, you may have to use some muscle to scrape out the last of the fruit.
• The pineapple boat is now ready to be filled with a tropical fruit salad.