Hawaiian Rice Medley

 

This is a wonderful combination of flavors and textures. Serves 8 or so.

  • 4 cups water
  • 2 cups brown rice
  • 1/4 cup virgin coconut oil
  • 1/2 cup fresh mango*
  • 1/4 cup raw macadamia nuts
  • 1/4 cup fresh Italian parsley
  • 1/4 cup fresh cilantro
  • 2 tablespoons pineapple juice concentrate
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/3 cup toasted coconut flakes

A few hours before serving time (or a day ahead) bring water to a boil in a large pot and add rice. Cook without stirring for 40 minutes or until rice is tender. Remove from heat and stir in coconut oil and refrigerate rice until chilled.

When close to serving time, chop mango, macadamia nuts, Italian parsley, and cilantro. Mix all the chopped ingredients with rice and add pineapple juice concentrate and salt.

Turn the rice out into a serving bowl and garnish with toasted coconut flakes. Serve dish at room temperature.

*You may substitute with dried mango or papaya.

Recipe submitted by Jennifer, Pinole, CA

Lemon-Lime Coconut Flour Cookies

 

Procedure:

Pre-heat oven at 375 degree F.

Mix coconut flour, unbleached flour, baking powder, salt and baking soda. In a mixing bowl beat the sugar, butter, lemon peel, lemon juice, lime peel, lime juice and egg. Stir in flour mixture. Continue mixing at medium speed with an electric mixer. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Place 2 inches apart on unglazed cookie sheet. Bake 10-12 minutes or until set. Immediately remove from cookie sheet and cool in a wire rack.

Yield: 2 dozen

Lemon Vinaigrette

 

1. In a small bowl, whisk together all the dressing ingredients except the oil.

2. Slowly drizzle in the oil, holding it several inches above the bowl and pouring in a thin, steady stream, while whisking vigorously until the mixture thickens.

Makes about 8 servings.

 

Better Than Candy Nut Crunchies

Better Than Candy Nut Crunchies Coconut recipe photo

Prepared by Sarah Shilhavy, Photo by Jeremiah Shilhavy

It’s true! These creamy little bark-like “crunchies” are seriously better than candy. No lie.

When this recipe was first published over 2 years ago it became an instant hit. Readers raved about the stuff. When I made it myself, I did too.

It is very simple and easy to make. The only really long part is waiting for the Coconut Cream Concentrate to warm up to a liquidy-ish state (see our video on how to do this) for proper measuring and mixing. After that, it’s just a throw-it-all-together-and-refrigerate process. How much simpler can it get?

The first time I made this 2 years ago, the whole batch was gobbled up and then (it being Christmas and everything, with various other sweets lying around) was promptly forgotten. Now, at around the same time this recipe was first posted two years ago, we’ve finally gotten around to making another batch. At the first bite the taste of the salt turned me off, but on the second piece, I remembered why I liked this recipe so much. It’s creamy, rich, versatile, easy, crunchy and low on sugar without sacrificing any taste. That is a nice thought considering how much one can overload on sugar this time of the year.

I like to cut down on the salt (not a big fan of the sweet and salty mix) and add a bit of vanilla extract. Chocolate is a great addition to this as well. Just melt and spread over the bark before chilling or drizzle. Use your imagination (this recipe will actually let you, it’s next to impossible to mess it up), watch the video below for a step by step tutorial and mix up a batch to add to your Christmas cookie and candy plate. You won’t regret it. I’m sure of it.

Better-Than-Candy Nut Crunchies

Process sugar in a food processor until very fine.

Spread nuts in a cookie sheet and toast very lightly in a low heated oven. Place Coconut Cream Concentrate jar in hot water to soften. In a medium sized bowl, beat desired amount of Coconut Cream, your choice of sweetener (see below), coconut oil, and salt with a mixer until creamy. Make sure the sugar and salt are mixed in well.

Fold the toasted nuts into the mixture and mix well with a large spoon until all nuts are well coated. Spread mixture evenly on a cookie sheet covered with parchment paper.

Sprinkle the coconut shreds or flakes toasted lightly if desired over the Nut Crunchies and place cookie sheet in the refrigerator.

When cold, break apart the Nut Crunchies into bite-sized pieces and store in covered containers in the refrigerator.

Note: all measurements are approximate and can be varied to suit your taste. It is pretty hard to mess these up.

Variations:

  • Use any nuts you prefer, and/or use stevia instead of sugar to taste.
  • Stir dried coconut toasted into the mixture before spreading out.
  • Add flavoring such as a tablespoon or two of lemon juice and some lemon zest for Lemon Nut Crunchies.
  • Melt some organic dark chocolate, and spread over the mixture before or instead of sprinkling on the coconut and refrigerating.
  • Stir bits of dried pineapple into the mixture for Pina Colada Nut Crunchies

Use your imagination!

Beware: They are addictive! But sooo healthy too. Enjoy!

Submitted by Carol, Palm Bay, FL

Thanks for stopping by!

Sarah

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Gluten Free No-Roll Sugar Cookies

Gluten Free No-Roll Sugar Cookies
Gluten Free No-Roll Sugar Cookies
Prepared by Sarah Shilhavy, Photo by Jeremiah Shilhavy

These gluten free cookies bake up soft and chewy with a slightly crisp outside. This is a drop cookie recipe, so there is no need to roll the dough out. Once the cookies have fully cooled you can decorate with frosting and toppings or simply eat plain! For a coconut sugar cookie variation stir in some dried flaked coconut into the dough before baking.

Servings: 20 cookies
Preparation Time: 15 minutes

  • 4 oz (approx. 1/2 cup) butter, at room temperature
  • 1/4 cup cream cheese, softened
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 1/3 cups gluten free flour mix*
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Cream butter, cream cheese and sugar together in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat until mixture is light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Scrape bowl down with a rubber spatula once or twice, as needed. Add egg and vanilla extract, beat until well combined and scrape bowl down as needed.

In a separate bowl mix flour mix, baking soda, baking powder and xanthan gum together. Add to the butter and sugar mixture and stir until well combined and a sticky dough forms.

Using a cookie scoop, drop heaping tablespoon sized balls unto parchment paper lined cookie sheets. Place about 2 inches apart.

Bake cookies for 9-12 minutes, or until the edges and tops begin to turn golden brown.

Remove cookies from the oven and allow to cool on the sheet for 1-3 minutes. Slide parchment paper off cookie sheet and allow cookies to cool completely on a wire rack or counter top (still on the parchment).

*Gluten Free Flour Mix:

Makes 3 cups

Mix all ingredients together and use as directed.

Recipe courtesy Sarah Shilhavy

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Feel-Good Cold Weather Soup with Coconut Oil

Feel Good Cold Weather Soup with Coconut Oil recipe photo
Feel Good Cold Weather Soup with Coconut Oil
Prepared by Sarah Shilhavy, Photo by Jeremiah Shilhavy

The veggies in the ingredient list are only suggestions – the ingredients shown are what I had on hand at the time.

Servings: 4-6
Preparation Time: 15 minutes

  • 1 quart organic chicken or beef broth
  • 1 small red potato, diced
  • 2 ribs celery, chopped
  • 1/2 large white or yellow onion, chopped
  • 2 small carrots, chopped
  • Lemon pepper or regular black pepper
  • Salt to taste
  • Cayenne pepper to taste
  • Handful leftover herb salad mix
  • 1 small and 1 medium zucchini, diced
  • 3 large cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 knob fresh ginger (about 1″ by 1 1/4″), peeled and minced
  • 2 – 4 tablespoons virgin coconut oil
  • Juice of 1/2 lemon

Bring broth to a boil; add the veggies that need to cook longer. Example: potatoes first, boil a few minutes, celery, onion and carrot next (if you want your carrots only partly cooked and still crunchy add them in the last 10-5 minutes of cook time). Add seasoning at this point or wait until the end.

Lower heat and simmer for about 20-30 minutes or until potatoes are tender.

Add remaining ingredients.

Recipe submitted by Simi, Los Angeles, CA

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Coconut Oil Fudge with Nuts & Fruit

Coconut Oil Fudge with Nuts & Fruit recipe photo
Coconut Oil Fudge with Nuts & Fruit
Prepared by Sarah Shilhavy, Photo by Jeremiah Shilhavy

Preparation time: 15 minutes
Servings: 25

Prepare all ingredients before mixing together.

In the bowl of a standing mixer stir coconut oil until creamy with no lumps (if oil is too thick set bowl in warm water). Add nuts, cocoa powder and sweetener, mixing after each ingredient. Mix the dried fruit in.

Spread fudge into 7×11 or 8×8 inch pan and refrigerate or freeze until firm. Cut into squares and serve. Keep refrigerated.

Recipe submitted by Mike, Hobart, WA

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Rise & Shine Breakfast Smoothie

Rise & Shine Breakfast Smoothie recipe photo
Rise & Shine Breakfast Smoothie
Photo by recipe author

Servings: 2
Preparation Time: 10 minutes

  • 2 1/2 cups kefir, yogurt or buttermilk
  • 1 whole mango, fresh or frozen
  • 2 handfuls strawberries, fresh or frozen
  • 1 or 2 frozen bananas
  • 1-3 tablespoons raw honey
  • 1 tablespoons freshly ground flax seed (optional)
  • Raw egg yolks (optional)
  • 2 tablespoons coconut oil, melted (more/less as desired)
  • Coconut flakes

Pour your choice of cultured dairy into the blender. Add in mango, strawberries, bananas and honey (add flax seed and/or egg yolks if desired).

Give it a whirl till smooth and while it is blending… add coconut oil and let it run for a minute more. Pour into a tall, large glass and top with coconut flakes and extra ground flax seeds if desired.

Recipe submitted by Marillyn, Bloomingdale, IL

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