You put the lime in the coconut...

I am relieved to have no plans this weekend, I have 10 million loads of laundry to do and it would be nice to finally get my closet organized, we can maybe finally watch the movies I rented from netflix over a month ago (The Fighter & You Again). And maybe we can even go and see Water for Elephants! And a hike would be wonderful if it's nice, or finally get around to renting bikes. The possibilities are endless!

I have been on a coconut kick for a while, but it's more of an addiction than a kick. I recently discovered that there are such things as coconut flour, and coconut nectar (syrup), and crystals (like sugar), and vinegar! The crystals have a brown sugary essence, and also a slight mesquite flavor. It's different. The flour smells and slightly tastes like Samoas and I haven't yet tried the nectar or vinegar. It's really interesting though, I need to research it more but so far Ive learned that the flour somehow lowers the caloric value of whatever you use it with, you are supposed to mix it with reg flour as it has different absorptive properties and you can also use it to thicken gravy. The vinegar is also more nutritious than apple cider vinegar. Coconut products have a very low glycemic conversion so they are good for diabetics. I have been drinking coconut water regularly for about 4 months b/c I love it but also because it is really hydrating and a better source of potassium than bananas. I love the coconut fruit, or meat whatever it is, it just tastes beneficial somehow, they sell coconuts at the grocery store and I need to figure out how to chop them without having a Bahamian man or a machete. I wish we could grow coconuts here, it really makes me want to live in the Bahamas or Hawaii, you can practically live off the stuff.

Seaweed is creeping into my diet as well. Trader Joes has little packs of seaweed snack-it's good! It's dried, and salty, and as it sits in your mouth it re-hydrates and has a slight chewy texture. This inspired me to order some actual kelp, it comes dried and rubbery, but you can use it in many ways, such as in soup, like I am going to do. Combine the seaweed, miso paste, green onion and tofu and viola!

I sent my mom a care package of a bunch of coconut products and some seaweed and a sampler of all the teas I have acquired. I think it will be fun for her to go through and try them. I sent her tea bags of Sweet Thai Delight, Tahitian Vanilla Hazelnut, Mayan Cocoa Spice, Egyptian Licorice, Mango/Peach/Pineapple Green Tea, Cucumber White Tea, Ginger Pear White Tea, Pomegranate White Tea, Wild Sweet Orange, Mint Melange, Duchess Gray, Strawberry Pomegranate, Mangosteen Green, Coconut Mango Oolong, and Acai Berry. I love putting together little care packages.

And did you know that white tea and peanut butter both have more antioxidants than green tea! Crazy!

I am hopefully going to make these tomorrow night! Click on the pic for the recipe!

I say hopefully, because, well...you know me :)