Weekend Extra || Coconut Exposed

I know I promised you all a coconut-tell-all ... enjoy!

COCONUT

from the Cocos nucifera palm

Coconut is unbelievable. -- there are so many incredibly, amazing, fantabulous things that coconut can do/be, I was pretty intimidated to write this post, because I wasn't sure where to start, stop, or keep going. You'll see, don't worry... Studiesencourage the idea that coconut is great for health promotion and disease prevention. Parts of the fruit and coconut water host so many medicinal properties like being antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antiparasitic, antidermatophytic, antioxidant, hypoglycemic, hepatoprotective, immunostimulant -- woah. Coconut water and the coconut kernel contain microminerals and nutrients, too! These are essential to human health and survival, and thus coconut is desired by those all over the world and readily found in tropical areas/countries.

Nutritional Benefits | just some of the amazing qualities… per 80g or one cup shredded ... percentages of daily value

• Healthy fat // saturated fat (65% medium chain triglycerides)
  • Fatty acids in coconut // fatty acids necessary for optimal health
    • 49% lauric acid
    • ~ 18% mysteric acid
    • 9% palmitic acid,
    • 7 % capric acid
    • 8% aprylic acid
    • 5-6% oleic acid
    • ~3% stearic acid
    • 2% linoleic acid
    • Vitamin E // 1%
    • Vitamin C // 4%
    • Sterols
    • Fiber (in coconut meat)
    • Electrolytes
      • potassium // 8%
      • magnesium // 6%
      • manganese // 60%
      • sodium (coconut water) // 1%

What it can help me with |

• Increases metabolic rate
  • contributes to fat loss and better weight management
  • AntimicrobialProperties
  • Aid in digestive health // here + here
  • Benefit skin moisture/integrity // here + here + here
  • Great for preventative care

Different Forms That I Can Use |

Coconut meat // white flesh within the coconut amount varies depending on age -- young coconuts have very soft coconut meat similar to a gelatin / mature coconuts have a very hard, dense, and fibrous coconut meat with a stronger flavor

Coconut water // clear liquid within the coconut young coconuts have a greater amount of coconut water than the mature coconuts high in natural electrolytes such as potassium, magnesium and a small amount of simple sugars perfect to sip all day long or post-workout

Coconut milk // liquid from grated coconut meat thick, creamy and white used in sweet and savory dishes -- think curries or for making dairy-free ice cream

Coconut oil // oil extracted or pressed from mature coconut meat solid at room temperature and melts around 76 degrees note//always choose organic cold pressed oil and stay away from any coconut oils that say hydrogenated great for cooking and eating amazing beauty product replacement

Coconut butter // pureed unsweetened shredded or flaked coconut meat similar consistency to cashew or almond butter naturally sweet flavor and thick creamy texture great as a replacement for butter +            my favorite -- drizzled over warm fall squash for a filling, healthy, and delicious treat

Coconut flour // simply dried and ground coconut meat high in fiber and great for gluten free + low carbohydrate baking

Coconut shredded flakes // coconut meat either shredded very small or larger sized flakes used in baking or as toppings yummy note: toast in the oven until golden brown for a nice nutty flavor Used in Chocolate Covered Coconut Circles

I couldn't even put a star next to my favorites... I love coconut too much!

[great research site for coconut][image found on refinery29 + edited by emily friend]

Chocolate Covered Coconut Circles to Rock Your World

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It’s amaaaaaazing to me how easy and simple and life transforming sweets can be when they don’t contain ingredients that make you want to run for the hills. These treats are easy to make and indulgently glorious for your body.

I mean who doesn’t love coconut & chocolate – sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don’t… great commercial. Anyway… enjoy these little circles of pure joy – maybe add some peppermint to the filling and find yourself biting into a mint patty cloud. I know. Heaven.

When you eat ingredients that are delicious and magnificently great for you, you begin to look radiant and glowing. Pretty soon someone will ask you on the street, what’s your secret? Oh my secret? Coconut patties covered in chocolate and dotted with almonds…

Coming up this weekend… The Inside Scoop On Coconut

 P.S. this rainy weather I’m having is really messing with my photo shoots… but how could I not share this deliciousness? Make these and if you still aren't assured of their magic... let me know and we'll work on that pronto ; - )

||Chocolate Covered Coconut Circles ||

Makes about 10 small treats – feel free to make larger ; )

Coconut Filling ||

½ cup + 2 tbsp. unsweetened organic coconut, finely shredded 2 tbsp. melted coconut oil 1 tablespoons liquid sweetener – I’ve been experimenting with brown rice syrup, so I used that, but agave, honey, or maple syrup would also work 1 dash cinnamon Might be a delicious option to add peppermint essential oil to the coconut filling for a minty treat!

Chocolate Coating || note: you can also melt a bag of chocolate chips to dip them in… which I would have done but Tuesday night I ate them all. yeah.

1 tbsp. melted coconut oil 1/3 cup cocoa powder -- I didn't have cacao on hand 4 tbsp. brown rice syrup (can use honey, maple syrup, or agave here as well) Additional flavorings could include: cinnamon, maca powder, cayenne, the options are endless!

Recipe ||

For the filling -

1. Combine all of the ingredients for the coconut filling together in a small bowl.
2. Grab a small cookie sheet with some parchment paper– I have a small living space and even smaller refrigerator so I used a container lid
3. Start to form the coconut into about 10 small paddies – mine were about the size of quarters (don’t worry if they don’t stick together well – this is due to the melty coconut oil – just clump them together on the paper and press down using the back of a spoon or lid)
4. Place them in the freezer to harden – about 30 minutes

For the chocolate -

1. Combine all of the ingredients for the chocolate coating together until smooth or melt your chocolate chips

For the final result -

1. After the patties have set, pull them out of the refrigerator and dip carefully in the chocolate mixture – using your fingers if eating these by yourself or a fork if you plan on sharing. Warning: this is a messy process – more chocolate got on my fingers then the coconut, which was really okay because I ate it all …
2. Feel free to add sliced almonds to the top or more shredded coconut
3. Place them back in the freezer or refrigerator to set or do what I did and not wait and just eat them as a chocolaty, blissful mess

Enjoy, loves! xxoo

Inspired by Free People: Almond Coconut Chocolate Bites + Emily Von Euw: Chocolate Covered Mint Patties

[pictures by yours truly, slightly off lighting courtesy of a rainy day – what is it they say about the best laid intentions…]

A Different Kind of Nutrition

So today I need to do something different. I’ve been burning my candle at both ends lately, and while the light is bright and vibrant and flickering against the walls and the sky, every second that goes by, the wick gets shorter and shorter until there might not be anything left. If you’ve read my earlier musings, I struggled to repair both wick and light in the darkness of the winter months. To do that again, to have to do that again, would mean missing out on this magical place called Earth. And I don’t want to leave any of you or the little voice inside my head that begs to stand on her stepstool and shout to the heavens of her worthiness. I’m doing so many writings and creations over here that sometimes my mind gets lost. And when my schedule gets out of wack and the plates are spinning a little too fast for comfort, rather than burn out and disappear I want to respect myself and you enough to step back. Even if it is just for today.

In my planner, I wanted to write about chia seeds today. Then my mind was plagued with fear that no one would be interested or that we have seen enough of those black little seeds to last a lifetime. It didn’t matter that I wanted to write about it and share an exquisite kitchen staple. Which is wrong and just shows how I planned myself into self-doubt – a low vibrational energy that just simply doesn’t need to have a presence in my life.

There is a different kind of nutrition far too overlooked. And that is the nutrition of the mind and soul. And when the elements taken in by the body – be it food, outside influence, etc – are tainted, the mind and soul become dull, just like our skin when it isn’t hydrated or not filled with vibrant leafy greens. And with a dull mind and soul, we burn our candles out too fast; forget to take chances; live in fear and envy and anger. We forget what it means to be a child; to laugh, color, and play. We become stuck, and we become a lesser version of ourselves, because it is easier to withdraw.

Well I’m standing beneath the moon to see the shining halo that surrounds it in a sea of darkness. I’m standing beneath the moon to see hope and truth and existence in tranquility. And I turn that within myself to recharge my good vibes and radiate out only sweet intention. I’m going to spend my morning getting ready for a lunchtime adventure, enjoying my classes even if they are exhausting, finding peace in the time I give myself to work, and imagining recipes to display on this site I call home.

Maybe it isn’t what the blogosphere expects, but it is what I need. It is the different nutrition that I have been craving all week but have been adamant against. I will be back with my fingertips sliding across the keys tomorrow… maybe even tonight. But right now, chia seeds and traditional ideas of sustenance must be set aside. And you know what? I bet they will be all the better for this break.

Liza Rae over at There’s Beauty in Recovery (click on the image under Musings Elsewhere in the sidebar) will be adding my newest contribution to her site today if you are interested and would like to explore the depths of yoga as a tool of healing.

I love you all infinitely more than you could ever imagine.

xxoo

[image found on Tumblr]