No Foolin'

While others were devising elaborate pranks and fake news stories, the guests of VA Puget Sound Fisher House were celebrating April Fruits Day.

Guest Mike K has been in the House for several months, tending to his brother. Mike is the kind of guy who never met a stranger, who has a big heart and a big laugh. He is always looking for ways to help out other guests and staff (more than once he's lent a hand when one of the housekeepers had to be out). Mike used to live and work in LA, working in catering and craft services (the food provided for actors and crew on movie sets). Get him started on the subject of food and wine...he knows his stuff. 

One day he was showing pictures of some of the fruit displays he's done for events. "I should do something like this for the other guests," he said. "That would be fun". Fun indeed. April Fruits Day was born! Mike spent weeks thinking about his theme (a mountain) and planning, He visited McPherson's, the produce stand j near the hospital, to order the freshest and best produce. Then he spent hours and hours cutting fruit, making banana balls* and arranging the display. ​

Folks stood around, awed and delighted. But no one wanted to be the first to disturb the work of art. Mike grabbed a big strawberry, popped it into his mouth and said, "OK? Now eat!" Delighted guests filled plates for themselves, then made up packets to take to their patients and the nurses who care for them.

Mike was pleased with the reaction. "I want to find a way to give back," he said. We'd say he found a spectacular (and delicious) method.

Banana Balls: Cut firm but ripe bananas into chunks (about 1" thick). Put on a parchment line baking pan and freeze for a couple hours, until firm. Dip frozen chunks into yogurt, then roll in flaked coconut. Return to freezer until ready to serve. And if you happen to has some warm chocolate sauce for dipping, all the better!