Coconut Oil

Frozen PB and Banana Cups

Frozen_PB_and_Banana_Cups
Frozen PB and Banana Cups
photo by recipe author

 

Servings: 4
Preparation Time: 40 minutes

In a blender, blend banana and peanut butter until smooth. In a small glass bowl, break chocolate bar into small pieces (or add chocolate chips) and add coconut oil. Melt chocolate slowly on low heat using a double boiler. Stir until chocolate and oil are combined.

Pour about 1 teaspoon melted chocolate into each muffin mold. Carefully swirl chocolate up the sides of the mold. Place molds in freezer for about 10 minutes. Remove from freezer and gently spoon banana mixture into each mold. Top with remaining chocolate and return to freezer for about 20 minutes.

Carefully pop out the chocolate cups from the molds* and serve.

*Silicone molds work best for these.

Courtney from Columbus, KS won $50 for this recipe and photo! Submit yours here!

Arugula Pesto Chicken

 Arugula_Pesto_Chicken
Arugula Pesto Chicken
photo by recipe author

 

Servings: 4
Preparation Time: 30 minutes

Chicken:

Arugula Pesto:

  • 4 cups fresh arugula
  • 1 cup fresh basil
  • 1/4 cup pine nuts
  • 1 teaspoon minced garlic
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt

In a bowl, combine chicken breasts, olive oil, vinegar, Italian seasonings and minced garlic. Toss to coat.

Grill chicken breasts over medium heat for about 6-8 minutes on each side or until cooked through. Alternately, you can saute the chicken breasts in a large skillet over medium heat for about 6-8 minutes on each side.

Meanwhile, combine arugula, basil, pine nuts, garlic and salt in a food processor. While greens are blending, drizzle in coconut oil. Blend until smooth.

Slice chicken breasts and place over zucchini pasta. Top with arugula pesto and tomato slices. Sprinkle a little parmesan cheese, if desired.

*Make your own zucchini pasta using a julienne peeler, vegetable peeler or mandolin.

Courtney from Columbus, KS won $50 for this recipe and photo! Submit yours here!

No Potato Veggie Hash

No_Potato_Veggie_Hash
No Potato Veggie Hash
photo by recipe author

 

Servings: 4
Preparation Time: 25 minutes

  • 2 cups green beans, trimmed and cut into about 2″ pieces
  • 1 large zucchini, diced
  • 1 large yellow squash, diced
  • 1/2 cup onion, diced
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 2 tablespoons coconut oil

In a large skillet, heat coconut oil. Add in green beans, zucchini, squash, onion and seasonings. Stir until combined. Saute over medium heat for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Serve and enjoy.

Courtney from Columbus, KS won $50 for this recipe and photo! Submit your coconut recipes and photos here!

Gluten Free Wild Blackberry and Rhubarb Pie

Gluten_Free_Wild_Blackberry_and_Rhubarb_Pie
Gluten Free Wild Blackberry and Rhubarb Pie
photo by recipe author

 

Servings: 10-12
Preparation Time: 1 hour 30 minutes

Never Fail Pie Crust:

Filling:

  • 3 cups fresh blackberries
  • 2 cups fresh rhubarb, diced
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1/4 cup gluten free flour blend*
  • 2 tablespoons coconut milk**
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger or 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, optional

Combine flour, sugar, salt and baking powder in a mixing bowl. In a small bowl, whisk together egg, vinegar and water. Cut in about 2/3 cup cold coconut oil or shortening into dry ingredients until mixture is crumbly.

Pour in egg mixture and mix until dough ball forms. Add more water or flour to get desired dough texture. Divide dough in half. Place dough ball onto a lightly floured surface. Roll out dough until about 1/4″ thick.

Gently lay pie crust into a 9″ pie plate. Reserve the remaining dough for the top of the pie. After pie has been filled, roll out remaining dough and cut as desired for topping: lattice, whole, shapes, etc.

Combine berries, rhubarb, sugar and flour in a large bowl. Pour into uncooked pie crust. Add remaining 2-3 tablespoons coconut oil or shortening on top of berries in little pieces. Top with remaining pie crust if desired. Brush top of pie with coconut milk.

Bake at 350 °F for about 50 minutes. Filling should be bubbly and crust should be slightly brown. If edges of pie start to brown too quickly, cover with foil.

Let pie cool about 10-20 minutes before cutting and serving.

Note: Got leftover pie crust? Form together and roll out again on a floured surface. Cut or shape as desired. Place crust pieces on a large cookie sheet and sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon. Bake at 350 °F for about 10-15 minutes, or until golden brown.

Enjoy with home made ice cream. Recipe here.

*Gluten Free Flour Mix:

Makes 3 cups

  • 2 cups brown rice flour
  • 2/3 cup tapioca starch/flour
  • 1/3 cup coconut flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum

Mix all ingredients together and use as directed.

**For the freshest coconut milk make homemade coconut milk. (See video at this link.)

Courtney from Columbus, KS won $50 for this recipe and photo! Submit yours here!

Zesty Chicken and Veggies

zesty-chicken-broccoli
Zesty Chicken and Veggies
photo by recipe author

 

Servings: 4
Preparation Time: 30 minutes

  • 2 chicken breasts, cut into chunks
  • 1 tablespoon coconut oil
  • 8 ounces mushrooms, diced
  • 2 cups broccoli florets
  • 1 teaspoon minced garlic
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, cut in half
  • 2 cups spinach, chopped
  • 3 tablespoons Italian dressing
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

In a large skillet, saute chicken in coconut oil for about 10 minutes, turning once. Add mushrooms, broccoli, garlic, tomatoes and spinach. Drizzle dressing over everything and sprinkle salt and pepper over mixture. Cook on medium heat for about 15 minutes or until chicken is completely cooked through. 

Great served with brown rice, and a fresh green salad.

Courtney from Columbus, KS won $50 for this recipe and photo! Submit your coconut recipes and photos here!

Gluten Free Blueberry Coconut Cream Bars

Gluten_Free_Blueberry_Coconut_Cream_Bars
Gluten Free Blueberry Coconut Cream Bars
photo by recipe author

 

Servings: 16
Preparation Time: 15 minutes

Crust:

Filling:

Glaze:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Oil the bottom and sides of an 8 x 8 inch baking pan.

In a small mixing bowl, stir together the almond flour, cocoa, and salt. Stir in the vanilla, coconut oil, and maple syrup. Use your hands to press the mixture evenly over the bottom of the oiled baking dish. Bake the crust for 15 minutes. Let it cool completely before spreading on the filling.

Place the blueberries, coconut cream concentrate, vanilla, and maple syrup in a food processor or blender. Blend until fairly smooth, with some pieces of blueberry still visible. Spread the filling over the cooled crust and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before pouring on the glaze.

To make the chocolate glaze, stir together the coconut oil, cocoa powder, and maple syrup until smooth. Pour the glaze over the blueberry filling, tilting the pan to get it evenly over the top. Refrigerate the bars for at least two hours before cutting into squares to serve.

*You can grind your own almond flour by placing whole almonds in a blender/food processor and blending until you get a fine meal.

Angela from Longmont, CO won $50 for this recipe and photo! Submit yours here!

Gluten Free Coconut Oats Muffin Bites

Gluten_Free_Coconut_Oats_Muffin_Bites
Gluten Free Coconut Oats Muffin Bites
photo by recipe author

Servings: 12
Preparation Time: 30 mins

  • 1/2 cup coconut oil
  • 1/2 cup pure maple syrup
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
  • 1 1/2 cups oat flour*
  • 1 1/2 cups rolled oats
  • 1/2 cup unsalted roasted pumpkin seeds (or sunflower seeds)
  • 1/3 cup flax seed meal
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup raisins
  • 1/2 cup dried apricots
  • 1/2 teaspoon of coconut oil for coating the pan

Preheat oven to 350 °F

Melt coconut oil in a saucepan. Add maple syrup, stir well and turn off the heat. Set aside.In a large food processor, add oat flour, oats, and pumpkin seeds. Pulse a couple of times. Add the coconut, flax seed meal, baking powder, and salt. Pulse to mix. Remove from the food processor and set aside.In the same food processor, add raisins and dried apricots and pulse until the apricots are approximately the size of raisins.

In the same processor, add the above oats mixture and pour the melted coconut oil and maple syrup over the dry ingredients, then pulse until combined. Transfer to a large bowl and stir well to make sure all ingredients are well-combined. If any of the apricots and raisins stick together in clumps, use your fingers to separate and distribute them throughout the mix.

Using a 12 cup standard muffin pan, coat the cups with a little coconut oil. Scoop by the heaping tablespoonful into the cups of the mini muffin pan. With your fingers, press each gently but firmly to pack and flatten. Bake for about 10-15 minutes until set and edges are golden.

Remove from oven, allowing to cool for about 10 minutes. Use a butter knife to help pop each one out then place on wire rack to cool and set. They may be fragile until completely cooled.Keep at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days or can be refrigerated for 10-12 days.

*You can grind your own oat flour by placing rolled oats in a blender/food processor and blending until you get a fine meal.

Sheetal from Foster City, California won $50 for this recipe and photo! Submit yours here!

Gluten Free Black Forest Tart

Black_Forest_Tart
Gluten Free Black Forest Tart
photo by recipe author

Servings: 10-12
Preparation Time: 60 minutes

Crust:

Filling:

  • 1 cup rhubarb, diced
  • 2 cups cherries, pitted
  • 1 cup blueberries
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 2 tablespoons raw honey
  • 2 tablespoons arrowroot starch
  • 3 tablespoons chia seeds

Topping:

In a mixing bowl, combine almond meal, arrowroot starch, coconut oil, honey, cocoa powder and sea salt. Mix until small crumbs form. Add water and mix until a ball of dough forms, adding more water if necessary (about 1 tablespoon at a time).

Place dough into a greased tart pan or a spring-form pan , spreading over the bottom and up the sides of the pan. Bake at 350 °F for about 25-30 minutes or until cooked through and slightly crisp. Let cool completely.

Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan, combine rhubarb, cherries, blueberries, water and honey. Bring to a boil, then cover and reduce heat to low-medium. Simmer for about 10 minutes or until fruit is cooked.

Using an immersion blender, puree fruit mixture if desired – this is optional. Carefully sprinkle arrowroot starch over mixture and stir until blended. Stir in chia seeds until blended.

Let mixture cool for about 10 minutes to let filling set up slightly. Pour into the cooled tart crust and let set for about an hour, or 30 minutes in the refrigerator.

Drizzle melted chocolate over tart and top with coconut whipped cream if desired.

*You can grind your own almond flour by placing whole almonds in a blender/food processor and blending until you get a fine meal.

Courtney from Columbus, KS won $50 for this recipe and photo! Submit yours here!