Hmmmmn.... what to do with a coconut?
As if it isn't hard enough to juggle a grocery list, a shopping cart, far to many cloth bags taking up said grocery cart, AND two little boys each with their own little grocery cart doing their own shopping, whew, it's a lot to juggle. Then you go adding self imposed regulations on what is ok to purchase and what is not, coupled with a tight budget, and this is a tough job.
I am a creature of habit and I tend to shop for the same things, at the same stores, on the same day of the week. I do my best to purchase local produce from the wonderful farmer's markets we are so fortunate to have. From time to time, though, I still end up at a grocery store of one sort or another and generally with my little helpers. This particular day one of my helpers was very certain that a coconut was just the item for his little cart. No manner of discussing it's location of origin, method of transportation to arrive here in California, and associated cost with transportation, was going to talk the little boy out of wanting the coconut. Luckily I could see in his eye the curiosity, wonder and true need to experience a coconut, and spared us both the conversation about all the above issues (though he has heard it all before)!
But, what to do with a coconut??!
Step one: choose the most crude tools you can find in your Papa's tool box.
Step two: Use those crude tools and open the coconut with brute force!
Step three: marvel at the beauty you find inside.
Step four: sip the fresh juice of the inside.
Step five: mix up a batch of cookies.
Recipe found here. (we substituted rice flour for the wheat flour and added dried coconut to make up the needed quantity)
Step six: take cookies out of oven and place on pretty plate - they always taste better from a pretty plate!
Step seven: without delay - begin the feasting....
Step eight: wonder who will make it to the last crumbs first...?
Step nine: ask when we are going to buy another coconut?
Step ten: begin looking, really high up, to the top of all palm trees you come across and wonder if this is the one that will grow us a coconut?!
Thank you Gavin, for needing a coconut. A very fun, yummy, and curiosity satisfying afternoon in the kitchen, indeed!
