The Coconut Campaign Update

by Lorna L. Morrison



The Sun has set on Year 2013

 

                                                           A HAPPY, HEALTHY GREEN 2014

Four weeks of the new year have gone. Can you believe it? I have a lot of catching up to do, not only for the new year but for the latter part of last year when I was MIA(missing in action). There's no use crying over spilt (coconut) milk so I'm dusting off and making more. You'll be glad to know that I have been doing just that, making more coconut milk and other coconutty things. Unfortunately, I have been negligent with regards to blogging about all these wonders but it's a new year once again; time to re-adjust and do things differently. The fact is I've not been a very good blogger. I probably need to go to blogging school or sign up for Computer 101. I've not done a good job of getting persons to read much less follow the blog. My posting schedule has been inconsistent; It's been three months since I posted anything. I do believe in this Blog and in the information that I wish to share, but it's no use crafting it in my head; I have to get it to you in a format and in a way that you will gladly accept. So that brings me to you. How can I make it more appealing to you? What will make you want to read what I have to say? Send me some feedback. I will try to do better on my end but I would certainly appreciate your imput. Thanks for listening. I actually wrote the blog update a few days ago and it disappeared, so it forced me to do a rewrite. I did not consciously decide to lay myself bare but that's what happened so I'll go with the rewrite and see it as an opportunity to share rather than as a chore. I attended a symposium last year and one of the speakers, Dr. Leachim Semaj basically said that if you wanted something you had to want it with purpose, not wishful thinking. Boldly put it out there;write it down;make it happen;say it into being! So, in 2014 I'm going to make things happen, starting right here. I'M TAKING MY HEALTHY GREEN BLOG TO THE NEXT LEVEL! Do you hear me shouting? I want you all on this journey. It's 2014 and I've got a new attitude.

Coconut & More Coconut

Let's get back to the coconut story:  All parts of the coconut can be used in a variety of ways; eating, drinking, craft making and more. We drink the water from jelly coconuts (young green coconuts) and eat the soft meat or jelly. We use the dry brown coconuts to make oil, milk and so much more. Last year I increased my green account by using more parts of the coconut - the brown shell of the dried coconut. As I started to make more milk with the dry coconut I ended up with quite a bit of coconut shell. After a while I came up with the idea of making bowls, tapas plates and display containers. Of course that meant trying to get the coconut out of the shell without it breaking  into lots of pieces. It's been quite a task and I'm getting used to chopping the coconut in two but the hard meat still needs to be removed from the shell (not my favourite job). I've discovered a coconut removal tool online as well as locally in one of my favourite stores, but I'm not going to rush out and get it just yet. Haste sometimes makes waste and it's pretty pricey.
I did manage to craft enough coconut containers, along with my other art & craft work to display at the Jamaica Exporters' Association's first 'Packaging Expo' last September. It was a lot of work but I'm glad I attended and maybe I'll be ahead of the game for the next staging.

                                                                                                         

The Coconut Campaign

Last year, I declared that I was on a 'Coconut Mission', a campaign to get persons to do more with jelly coconuts. Most Jamaicans drink the water from the young coconuts then throw away the shell with the jelly meat, especially if it's not soft. Hard or soft, it's a natural, healthy whole food. It's a waste to throw it away as there is so much that we could be doing with it, whether at home or commercially. We can make milk, milky drinks, smoothies, creamy ice-cream, buttery cream or creamy butter, to name a few. However, my latest obsession has been coconut jelly cream and chocolate coconut cream, made with young coconut jelly meat. To officially launch my 'Coconut Mission' on the 'Healthy Green Blog', I have a few dairy and sugar free recipes to share.






Jelly Coconuts - shaved & whole with stem handle

 




Jelly Coconuts with tops chopped off




Jelly Coconut with hard meat chopped in two



Part 1: Coconut Jelly Cream/Butter

Directions: (Skip #1 if you already have an open coconut)

1. Chop or cut open top of 1 or 2 young jelly coconuts

(I get mine chopped or shaved off at the market & take them home in my cooler)
Pour out the water & chop in two; drink some & save the rest for Part 2

2. Scoop the 'meat'out of the coconut halves with a large spoon

to provide 1/2 - 1 Cup of 'jelly meat'(Chop if not very soft)

Add to blender/nutribullet or other processor

Note: If it turns out to be a very mature jelly coconut with
very hard 'meat' use it to make regular coconut milk
(see brawta recipe below) 



Jelly Coconut butter & Starapple flavoured jelly cream



3. Add 1-2 TBSP cold pressed  coconut oil

4. Blend until creamy & smooth

5. Mix or blend in (optional) additions:

Pinch of sea salt/himalayan pink salt

Spice of choice eg. vanilla extract, cinnnamon

6. Pour or scoop out into container.

Use immediately or store in a closed glass container. It will keep for a week or more in the fridge.




Use as butter or spread on anything.

Mix with your morning cereal or eat with fruit.

Add to smoothies or thickies. Simply enjoy anyway you like!



Before you wash out the blender, here's Part 2.

Part 2: Coconut Jelly Cream Milk

Directions:

1. Add 1/2 - 1 Cup water or coconut water to jelly cream residue left in processsor

2. Blend until milky & fully combined

3. Pour into a glass & enjoy as is or serve chilled

Jelly Milk can be enjoyed by itself or used as the milk of choice in smoothie and other recipes.

Store in a glass container in the fridge for 2 - 3 days if not using right away.

Brawta Recipe

Coconut Milk

Refreshing Glass of Coconut Milk

Directions:

1. Remove hard meat from dry coconut or mature jelly coconut

Chop into small pieces & add to blender

2. Add 2 Cups purified water to 1 Cup of coconut & blend

3. Strain mixture with a fine seive or strainer

4. Save pulp for other recipes; make coconut meal/flour or blend again with less water to get more milk

Store milk in the fridge for 3 - 4 days in a glass container or freeze for longer storage in ice cube trays
or freezer safe container.

Green Tip: Make a plan when using electrical appliances like your blender, so that you can accomplish two or more jobs for the price of one without additional waste, as I did above with the two-part recipe that did not require washing the blender in between uses.





If It's Too Good To Be True ... & Never Look a Gift Horse in the Mouth!

If it's too good to be true ...

I go to the market almost religiously and have been doing so for years but, that, I have discovered, is not enough to stop me from being taken. I'm always on the look out for bargains especially on a thursday, which is the sort of official wholesale market day. If you're lucky you can get some items at a better price than normal. It's not as common as it use to be but you might get lucky; so a few weeks ago I see a man in the market selling julie mangoes for a ridiculously low price and because I can't resist a bargain I had to buy a dozen. Even as I purchased them I'm thinking that they looked strange, but of course the vendor is assuring me that they were sweet and he'd already eaten several. No such thing , I was totally taken for a ride. They were sour in parts and looked as if they might have been young and been doctored somehow. I have to conclude that they were probably stolen. So, not only was I lied to, I lost my money and I probably ingested something that was not safe. The next time you're confronted with something that's too good to be true, pass it by, especially if from an unfamiliar source. Not everyone who purchases a spot in the market can be trusted. Don't talk yourself into purchasing something if you have misgivings about the item or the seller.  I am determined to try and take my own advice as I was really mad and upset about the whole incident. Become familiar with the people you buy from and ask questions. Don't take everything as gospel. Draw your own conclusions and make your own decisions based on the information presented. Going to the market is never a quick thing for me. I regularly spend three hours every week and I still make mistakes. Next week is another opportunity to learn as I shop for fresh wholesome foods. Life is a gamble. Do what you can to make the best of it and never buy a dozen mangoes from a strange vendor.

Never look a gift horse in the mouth!

In contrast to the mango fiasco I have a good story to report. Last week I went to the market on Friday after heavy rains on Thursday. There weren't as many vendors but I managed to get most items, but I ended up buying jelly (green) coconuts from a different vendor, but one that I also knew. There was another customer there getting coconuts as well. She was filling up a large bottle with the coconut water. After a while I realized that she was not planning to take the coconut shells with some fairly hard 'meat'. To my mind that was good 'meat' to eat or make coconut milk. I started chatting with her and encouraged her to make milk with the coconut flesh, but she insisted that she didn't like the hard 'meat'; anyway she did get the seller to scoop out some of the meat and take it along with her. In the end there were still several coconut shells with 'meat' that she did not take, so I decided to take them home along with the ones I purchased at a very good price. I did pay the vendor additional for chopping them for me but I think I was given a gift, thick coconut meat that was practically free. Some days you win some. (Good thing I had a large igloo in the car.)

I'm always disappointed if there is no 'meat' in the 'jelly' but I didn't have to guess with these. They were already chopped open. I think it's such a waste to buy a jelly coconut and not eat or utilize the meat  and such a shame to see the vendors with huge piles of coconuts that have 'meat' left in them waiting to go to the dump.
Here's how to make 'Coconut Jelly Milk' or 'Jelly Coconut Milk':
(Please note that it wont be as rich as coconut milk from a dry coconut but who's complaining.)

Using a large heavy spoon, scoop out the fairly thick 'meat' from the green coconut; wash and chop it up. Place in blender with a cup or two of water depending on how thick you like it and blend until nice and smooth. You don't even have to strain it. Add a pinch of (real) sea salt if you don't plan on using it right away and it can stay in the fridge for almost a week or you could pour it into ice cube trays, freeze it and use as needed. The possibilities are endless; plain milk to drink, coconut rice & peas, sauces, desserts, even ice cream.  If you want coconut cream put the milk in the frigde to cool and scoop the thick cream from the top. This is like a three for one special. Enjoy the savings especially bearing in mind the price of dry coconuts these days. See more on coconuts at the link below:-
http://www.be-healthy-with-coconuts.com/coconut-meat.html

Have a Happy Healthy Green Coconut Day!