Tag Archives: yummy

Product Review: Artisana Raw 100% Organic Coconut butter

My grandparents will be the first to attest that I despised coconut anything growing up. Any cakes or baked goods with the flaky shreds of coconut I’d proclaim, “taste like soap.” Clueless where I came up with that one? Thank goodness our taste buds mature and develop with us into our adulthood. Fast forward to my adulthood and I couldn’t even image not liking the taste of coconut. Missing out on coconut cake, coconut frosting, piña-coladas, coconut water, coconut milk, the list goes on and on.

How about you, do you like coconut or coconut flavor?

So I came across a product on Amazon for raw coconut butter and after reading the reviews of so many happy owners we decided we wanted to give it a whirl too! Artisana Raw 100% Organic Coconut Butter, have you tried it yet? (GET ON THIS!)

image
(Photo taken with iPhone)

This is the moment I wish we had some smell-o-vision from my screen to yours. We opened the jar and immediately were reminded of a tropical island. No, not the super potent car air freshener that gives you a headache when you first open it and can taste it in your mouth. More like the coconut smell that transports me when I can close my eyes and almost feel a light sea breeze blowing while lounging on a tropical beach (it could just be our fan too). Regardless it’s certainly hard to fully describe in words how divine the smell is! Folks just trust us on this one.

When we first got our jar of coconut butter it was in solid form, however with the recent change in temperature it is a liquified butter that just like natural peanut butter can separate and just needs a good stir to eat.

So onto the taste…..drum roll please! We’d like to describe it to you as naturally sweet and packed full of incredible coconut flavor! We’re finding every excuse to slather or drizzle the stuff on our meals. Suchhhhh a delicious treat and it’s healthy too! Just like their product marketing states, no additives, only pure, unadulterated coconut!

This little butter babe has certainly jazzed up our breakfast routine and I don’t see us giving up on it anytime soon. Stay tuned for more featured debuts in our cooking and recipes.

Backpackbees

Click, Ship & treat yourself!

What The Wang Chung?

Everyone has some freakishness they rather keep to themselves, right? Something embarrassing about their existence that they would never openly admit…today mine comes in the form of my Korean co-worker catching me singing out loud “Everybody Have Fun Tonight” by Wang Chung… WHAT? Yes… me… No clue where it came from. I completely blame it on 94KX. Central Pennsylvania folks you know the terrible local radio station that I speak of. Somewhere Wang Chung went to craving spicy coconut lime shrimp for dinner. Yeah… sort of all over the place when I think about it? Whatever it was, I went with it.

This succulent spicy shrimp is quick to whip up on the whim and big on flavor! So….”Ev’rybody have fun tonight!”

Spicy Coconut Lime Shrimp

Ingredients:

2 Jalapeno peppers
1 Lime, zested with juiced
2 Garlic cloves
1/3 Cup sweetened shredded coconut, heaping
1/4 Cup coconut oil
1/4 Cup soy sauce
1 Pound cooked medium shrimp

Instructions:

Combine first six ingredients in Vitamin or food processor; blend throughly. The consistency will be thick. Place the shrimp in a large bowl. Pour in the thick sauce over the shrimp and toss to coat. Cover and allow to marinate at least 1 hours.

Cook shrimp on the stove in a skillet, turning frequently until nicely warmed throughout, about 10 minutes.

Of course any excuse to eat roasted garlic too!

Anyone else want to share their freakishness moments with me tonight?

Backpackbees

Baked Couscous

I am such a lucky gal to have such a great husband that is willing to try just about anything that I cook for him. Tonight served as a nice reminder of that feeling. Couscous. Never have I ever cooked it, never have I ever ate it..

uh oh.

No, no… it turned out really great! Victory dance over here folks!

Have you ever had couscous? What are your thoughts? Favorite way to cook it?

Baked Couscous

Ingredients:

4 Egg whites
1 Box couscous
1 Cup whole milk
1 1/3 Cup heavy cream
1 Cup Gouda cheese, grated
1 Cup sharp cheddar, grated
1 Cup Feta cheese, crumbles
1 Small yellow onion, chopped fine
1/4 Cup fresh or dry chives
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Heat oven to (400 degrees) or 200 degrees Celsius. Beat eggs, milk, heavy cream, onion, and cheeses. Then once well blended, add couscous, salt and pepper. Mix again until blended in with liquid cheese mixture. Then pour into a greased baking dish. Cover with foil bake for 30 minutes. Once 30 minutes ends, uncover and bake an additional 30 more minutes, or until you get that nice brown and firm consistency.

Try paring with a nice chopped beet and yogurt salad as a side. Have fun, dress up the meal with swanky little cups as serving dishes too!

What’s cooking in your kitchen tonight?

Backpackbees