Coconut Milk

Coconut milk is one of the most versatile ingredients around and it can be used in many different recipes. Coconut milk is made from the milk of a coconut, and it has a rich and creamy texture. It is also low in fat and has a mild flavour. Coconut milk is used in place of milk in many different recipes, and it can be used to make desserts, smoothies, and ice cream. Coconut milk is also used to make milk thickeners and dressings. Coconut milk can be bought in stores or online.

I promise that this will be my last tropical post for a wee little while. I am all over making my own hemp milk, almond milk, even sesame and flax milk. I have ventured into the land of oat milk and rice milk. All great. I haven’t the foggiest of foggies why it took me this long to realize how easy it was to get my coconut milk from a coconut, rather than a can.

Yes, I can hear you! I live in Toronto, not the tropics, but still… there are coconuts available all over the place here and let’s be honest if we want to talk eco-footprint here. What takes more energy- the mass production of coconut milk, followed by the canning, shipping etc. etc. or sending the whole coconut to town? See, so let’s move past the “coconuts don’t grow on trees’ thing and get cracking, de-shelling, blending, straining and drinking. Wait. Now I have nothing left to write about ’cause it is that simple!

Now, please check your “but isn’t coconut milk fattening?” thoughts at the door. Coconut milk is incredibly nutrient dense and yes this does mean it is caloric, but why not just water yours down a little and you will still get the richness from it. Coconut milk contains many vitamins, minerals and electrolytes such as potassium, calcium and chloride. I would also like to remind you that the short and medium-chain saturated fats in coconut is a form that the body quickly turns into energy instead of storing as fat. Therefore, although high in saturated fat, coconut can help you drop the jiggle wiggles if they are really bothering you.

Here is something else to consider, how often do you or someone you know indulge in ice cream or give kids milk and other dairy products when sick. Most dairy products are vile processed foods , incredibly mucous forming and acidifying to the body which can actually work to reduce immune function and prolong illness. Then we have coconut milk where about half of the medium-chain fatty acids are composed of lauric acid, which is anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-microbial and anti-fungal. Coconut milk, therefore, can help boost the immune system and fight off illness and disease.

Lastly, coconut milk has been known to help soothe sore throats and ulcers, moisturize the skin and to relieve dry skin and rashes. It can also be used on the hair and in baths.

COCONUT MILK

INGREDIENTS

• 1 coconut, de-shelled (you don’t need to remove the brown layer right around the coconut meat, justthe hard outer shell).
• Enough water to cover coconut meat in the blender

additional ad-in options: sea moss, vanilla bean, honey, dates, cinnamon, raw cacao, almonds, cashews, hempseeds etc.

DIRECTIONS

• Blend together and strain.
• Once strained, you may wish to run the coconut meat through the blender again for a little more milking
• Enjoy!

As a kid my mom was always buying coconuts and would let us kids have at it! We’d try to find different ways to open it and then enjoy the rewards. Those were great memories! Theres nothing like fresh coconut! We all need to get over this “it’s fattening” thing. If it’s good for you, eat it! Island people have such beautiful skin, they are eating all of these wonderful tropical fruits, coconuts being one of them.