Tag Archives: coconut

Spring Break Menu: Tropical Treats

Just because you can’t afford to jet off to the Caribbean this spring doesn’t mean you have to miss out on the ravishing regional cuisine. The following tropical treats can be made in your own kitchen for less than a quarter of what you would pay for a plane ticket to the island retreat. CARIBBEAN STEAK WITH COCONUT RICE Ingredients: 1 flank steak (about 1 1/2 pounds) 1 can (8 ounces) crushed pineapple Ingredients for Marinade: 1/4 cup fresh lime juice 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh cilantro 1 tablespoon Caribbean jerk seasoning Ingredients for Coconut Rice: 2 cups water 1 … Continue reading →

Not Your Mama’s Thanksgiving Recipes

Back in my previous life as a TV journalist, I had the opportunity to cook with local “celebrity” chefs when they appeared on our morning show. I actually did more eating than cooking, but I learned some culinary tricks just the same. The holidays always included a steady stream of cooking segments featuring proud pro chefs whipping up unique dishes. The following is a sample of some of the recipes I saved from those segments. They’re nothing like my mom served us on Turkey Day, but boy were they popular with our studio crew. THANKSGIVING GRAVY Ingredients: 1 can cream … Continue reading →

Simple and Affordable Edible Holiday Gifts

I know. I know. It’s not even Thanksgiving yet, but I can’t help myself. When I noticed that my local market was having a sale on fresh cranberries I instantly thought of all of the homemade gifts I could make with them. I plan to stock up on the tart berries and make a few jars worth of Honey Cranberry Butter to give away as holiday gifts. For me holiday gift giving begins this month. After all, who goes to a person’s house on Thanksgiving without taking a hostess gift? The following recipes are some of my favorite edible gifts. … Continue reading →

Special After School Treat—Chocolate Pizza

You survived the send off and now you only have a few more hours before the first day of the new school year ends. That’s more than enough time to whip up these special treats. Growing up my mom would always have a tasty homemade treat waiting for us when we got home from the first day of school. My brothers and I would join my mom at the kitchen counter; chow down on our ooey-gooey goodies and share details of our first day back at “prison” (my youngest brother’s nickname for school). If you want to welcome your children … Continue reading →

Desserts for Your Summer Potluck: Coconut Cream Casserole

I confess that I am known as the dessert lady. Whenever our church has a potluck–I am asked to bring dessert. That’s fine by me too–there are lots of advantages to bringing dessert. First of all, you can lick the bowl. You can’t really lick a bowl of marinade that had raw chicken in it–right? You probably wouldn’t want to lick the bowl of potato salad either (although I suppose that’s open for debate). Not only that but desserts are very forgiving as far as recipes go. If you don’t have something on hand, you can almost always substitute and … Continue reading →

Low-Fat Christmas Cookies

Christmas cookies are the perfect way to end a festive meal, but after Saturday’s cookie-a-thon I really don’t have the desire to consume anymore of the sweet morsels until next year. I also don’t have the desire to get on a scale (and don’t plan to) until well after the holidays are over. If you are reluctant to undertake holiday baking because you are concerned that you will inhale the fruits of your labor before they make it to their final destinations I offer you the following recipes. They prove there’s no reason to eliminate Christmas cookies from the holiday … Continue reading →

Holiday Quick Bread with a Tropical Twist

I don’t know about you, but for me banana bread falls into the category of “quick bread.” It’s fast, the ingredients are affordable, and it doesn’t require the sweat or time associated with kneading, proofing and punching down. If you are tired of baking the same ol’ Christmas cookies year after year you might consider going the quick bread route this holiday season. They are the ideal homemade treat to pass out to friends or family members as gifts. They also make great additions to a holiday brunch. I used to make the following recipe each December and take it … Continue reading →

Hawaiian Style Christmas Cookies

A week ago today I was braving the crowds at the grocery store in order to get the ingredients I needed for our Thanksgiving feast. Today, I’ll be back at it again. This time to gather the ingredients for all the Christmas cookies I plan to bake in the weeks to come. Weeks… Who am I kidding? Our first round of Christmas parties starts on Saturday, December 1st. My friend and former colleague is hosting a Christmas party in her newly renovated home and I want to get a few batches of her favorite cookies done in time to take … Continue reading →

Health Benefits of Coconut

I am allergic to coconut (and pineapple and shrimp), which really is not that unusual, unless you were born and raised in Hawaii. Yes, the jokes start to fly once I tell people about my food allergies. All kidding aside, when I informed my daughter’s pediatrician about my many food allergies shortly after she was born he recommended that we not introduce shellfish or other tropical fruits into her diet until she was at least 3-years-old. My daughter turned 3 a few weeks ago. Two days ago we attended a party that featured a gigantic white coconut cake. I’m not … Continue reading →

Kids in the Kitchen: Coconut Cupcakes

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Leave it to Rachel Ray to come up with a cupcake that is. . .”yummo”. . .but is frankly, a little complicated. None the less, I have decided that this one is so “yummo” I’m sharing it anyways. This is fun to do with your kids in the kitchen. After all who doesn’t love making something that has ‘fluff’ as an ingredient? I know. . .I know. . .I just said it was complicated and well, it is. (It doesn’t win any sneaky mama awards for being healthy either!) However, I promise that your budding pastry chefs will love stuffing … Continue reading →