Did you know that according to Dustin Hoffman, the two basic items necessary to sustain like are sunshine and coconut milk?
While I cant argue with such thinking, I will say that coconuts, coconut mile and especially coconunt oil has become one of the most trendy topics in 2015.
I personally use coconuts in various recipes and indeed I have used coconut oil for other purposes other than for cooking with and I have to say I am impressed with the various ways one can use coconut oil, and I have to tell you the ideas ( such as using as a skin softner and helping with scars have been working very well for me)
Let me know how it works for you?
Enjoy
2. Coconuts, specifically coconut oil has
been gaining popularity over the years
as we start paying more attention to
our diets, our health and our
lifestyles.
5. It is thought to have come from
the western Pacific and spread
by human activity and ocean
currents to all over the tropics.
However, no one knows for sure
how this species moved from
place to place.
6. Over time this plant proliferated,
spread some more and eventually
became domesticated. It’s
now an essential resource for:
food
shelter
tools
fuel
7. Coconuts are still an integral
part of daily life for people
living in southern India,
southern Asia and some
areas of the Pacific Islands.
9. ANSWER
A coconut is actually considered a drupe, which the Library of
Congress defines as “a fruit with a hard stony covering
enclosing the seed.” That said, what you see in the store is not
the full coconut — it’s actually the seed, and the fruit, which
is why you can consider a coconut to be both! When coconuts
grow on the tree, they’re not the round, brown bowling balls
that most of us picture. They actually grow in hard, green,
oblong husks that encase the brown shell that covers the
delicious fruity “meat” inside.
source:
North Atlantic Books
10.
11. Before getting into the many
uses for coconut oil, here are
some facts and trivia about
coconuts
12. Falling coconuts kill 150 people every year - 10 times the
number of people killed by sharks.
image source: Diving into the Gene Pool
13. Craftsmen in the small Micronesian archipelago of Kiribati
created coconut armor. The suit was made out of densely
woven coconut fiber matting. . It probably felt like wearing a
very thick carpet.
14. During World War 1 the concept of large-scale gas warfare began which made gas
masks a necessity. Gas mask manufacturers in the US developed the use of steam-
activated coconut char—obtained by burning coconut husks—as an important
component in gas mask production. They found that these masks were superior at
filtering noxious substances.
image source: Legion Magazine
15. Coconuts are more than popular than for health,
they have also inspired music. Take "Coconut" by
Harry Nilsson. While it may be a bit a nonsense
song, it is a charming song none the less.
17. Wood Polish: Most wood polish coats surfaces in a slick layer of
synthetic chemicals, which makes the wood look all sleek and
shiny…for a little bit. Coconut oil, on the other hand, sinks into the
wood and keeps it looking “healthy” longer. The appearance is
much more natural, and it stays that way.
18. At-home face mask. Are you wanting a better
complexion? Use Coconut oil and honey. Mix the
two for a hydrating, antibacterial face mask.
Leave it on for about 15 minutes, and then rinse.
19. Home Made Bug Spray: Combine a half cup of
coconut oil with 10 drops of tea tree oil into a
spray bottle. Close the lid, shake the bottle and
then spray this natural formula directly onto skin
to keep pesky bugs at bay.
20. Taking care of your make-up brushes - knowing how
important it is to keep your make up brushes clean and
bacteria free, mix antibacterial dish soap with coconut
oil and give your brushes a good cleaning. The coconut
oil will also condition the bristles.
21. Cutting Board Conditioner : An awesome way to keep your
cutting board conditioned. Wipe down the cutting board
with a damp towel and then dry it. Use a soft cloth to rub in
some coconut oil, and let it sit for 10-15 minutes. Buff with a
fresh cloth. If you want to make the cutting board even
more odor freeF add a few drops of lemon essential oil or
just a small squirt of lemon juice.
22. Get rid of those dark circles! Use coconut oil to
help get rid of those dark circles that make you
look so exhausted. Every night, rub a little bit of
coconut oil under your eyes to reduce puffiness
and dark bags in the morning.
23. Soothing skin conditions:As Coconut oil has the properties
of being antimicrobial, anit-inflammatory, antioxidant as well
as being a great moisturizer, coconut oil has been shown to
help sooth psoriasis or eczema as well as helping to control
blemishes.
24. Homemade Toothpaste with Coconut Oil
6 tbsp coconut oil
6 tbsp baking soda
25 drops essential oil (whatever you prefer— I’ve used eucalyptus and grapefruit)
1 tsp stevia (or more if you like it sweeter)
directions
1. Mix all ingredients together in a bowl. Whip it really well and give it a light
creamy texture.
2. Pour into a mason jar and seal it up until ready to use.
recipe source Family Sponge
26. Other uses of Coconut oil
~ Soothes bee stings
~ Improve scalp health ( massage oil on scalp before
shampooing
~ Enhance eyelashes. Just apply some oil to a cotton swab
and wpred onto your lashes before going to bed.
~ Use instead of shaving cream
~ use coconut oil on toast instead of butter
~season your cast iron cookware
~add it to tea or coffee
~ make your own nut butter. process your favorite nuts ( I
love cashew) and add in a small amount of coconut oil. Talk
about healthy and organic!
28. Of Course you can't talk about coconuts
without mentioning how good it is in
cooking, so on the following slides are a
few recipes using the awesome Coconut.
Don’t forget that you can use coconut oil
in place of other oils when you are
cooking ( just a little hint)
29. Easy Thai Coconut Rice
2 cups Thai jasmine-scented white rice
2 cups good-quality coconut milk
1 3/4 cups water
2 heaping Tbsp. dry shredded unsweetened coconut (baking type)
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. coconut oil, OR vegetable oil
Optional: 1-2 Tbsp. toasted coconut for garnish (see instructions below recipe)
Directions
1. Rub oil over the bottom of a deep-sided pot. You will also need a tight-fitting lid.
2. Place rice, coconut milk, water, shredded coconut, and salt in the pot and set over medium-high to high heat.
Stir occasionally to keep rice from sticking to the bottom of the pot and burning.
3. Once the coconut-water has begun to gently bubble, stop stirring and reduce heat to low (just above minimum).
Cover tightly with a lid and let simmer 15-20 minutes, or until most of the liquid has been absorbed by the rice. To
check, pull rice aside with a fork. If most of the coconut milk-water is gone, go on to the next step.
4. Replace the lid and turn off the heat, but leave the covered pot on the burner to steam another 5-10 minutes, or
until you're ready to eat. Tip: Your Coconut Rice will stay warm this way for up to 1 hour or more, great for when
you're expecting company!
recipe source: about food
30. Peaches and Cream Dairy Free Smoothie
Servings: 1
Preparation Time: Under 10 minutes
1 whole peach, large
1 cup coconut milk* or other dairy free milk
1/4 cup frozen fruit of your choice
1 tablespoon coconut cream concentrate
2 tablespoons fresh ground nuts
1 tablespoon dried coconut flakes
1 tablespoon honey
4 ice cubes
Wash and peel peach, cut into quarters. Place peach and all
remaining ingredients into blender and puree until smooth. Enjoy!
recipe source Coconut Recipes
31. Coconut Yogurt Pops
INGREDIENTS
3 cups nonfat vanilla yogurt (not Greek)
1 cup sweetened coconut flakes
1/2 teaspoon coconut extract
PREPARATION
Combine yogurt, coconut flakes and coconut extract in a medium bowl. Divide
among ten 3-ounce (or similar-size) freezer-pop molds. Insert sticks and freeze
until solid, at least 6 hours. Dip the molds briefly in hot water before unmolding.
TIPS & NOTES
Make Ahead Tip: Freeze for up to 3 weeks.
Recipe Source Eating Well
32. Chewy Coconut Macaroons Recipe
Ingredients
2-1/2 cups flaked coconut
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 can (14 ounces) fat-free sweetened condensed milk
1-1/2 teaspoons almond extract
Directions
In a bowl, toss the coconut, flour and salt. Stir in milk and extract until blended
(mixture will be thick and sticky).
Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls 3 in. apart on lightly greased baking sheets. Bake
at 300° for 18-22 minutes or just until golden brown. Cool for 2 minutes before
removing from pans to wire racks. Yield: 32 cookies.
Recipe source: Taste of Home
33. Dump Cake V
1 (21 ounce) can cherry pie filling
1 (20 ounce) can crushed pineapple, drained
1 (18.25 ounce) package yellow cake mix
1 cup margarine, melted
1 cup flaked coconut
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
1. (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
2. In the prepared dish, layer the cherry pie filling and the drained pineapple.
Sprinkle the dry cake mix over the top, covering evenly. Pour the melted margarine
over the cake mix, and sprinkle the top with the coconut and chopped walnuts.
3. Bake 50 to 60 minutes in the preheated oven, until browned and bubbly.
Tip
Aluminum foil can be used to keep food moist, cook it evenly, and make clean-up
easier.
34. As you can see coconut oil not only has many uses, but
it's also very good for you.
I hope this presentation will get you wanting to know
more about coconut oil and its many uses as well as
having fun cooking using recipes for coconut and
coconut oil.
Enjoy!
Diane Bjorling
2015