Passion for Coconut

I love all things coconut!  One of my favorite memories of growing up in Mexico was eating coconut ice cream and paletas de coco or coconut popsicles.  Since there is an abundant supply of good coconuts here in Costa Rica, I determined it was time to learn how to make some coconut popsicles.

We really love the "pipa" water, or coconut milk as it s called here.  You see signs of vendors selling "pipa" everywhere here.  The coconuts are usually green, which is when the water or milk is tastiest and the coconut meat is very soft.  

I found this great, easy recipe on the Internet and just tweaked it to make the coconut popsicles even creamier.

1 can condensed milk

1 can coconut milk (straight from the coconut using the empty can of condensed milk which I dumped into the blender)

1/2 cup heavy cream

1/2 cup milk

1/2 cup cream of coconut (optional...kind used to make piña coladas)

1 cup shredded coconut or throw a few pieces in of the fresh ripe coconut to blend (ripe coconut is hard in texture and has brown peeling).

1/2 tspn cinnamon

Toss everything in blender and blend well.  Then put in popsicle molds and freeze.  

I tried my first one this morning and was quite delighted with the outcome.  The popsicles were creamy, and had great coconut taste.

One thing I have noticed when I have traveled in the past to places that do not eat spicy foods that my tastebuds develop a deep yearning for some chile infused spice.  In Costa Rica, the cuisine is not spicy, and serrano peppers are not to be found.  However, I am grateful to find jalapeños so I will learn to make due.  The variety of wonderful tropical fruits and veggies make up for a few scarce items such as serranos and tomatillos.  Pinto beans are a staple in Texas cuisine, but not so easy to find here.  We did manage to find some at the fancy, gringo type grocery store.  Red and black beans are the staple items here so I am going to try to cook some red beans today.  Personally, I have never met a bean I do not like, so I am sure we will learn to get by with only having pinto beans on occasion.  

Yesterday afternoon while I was battling the shell of the coconut to remove the meat away from the shell, I heard a couple of nearby toucans.  I was quite entertained listening to them sing back to one another ....extra treat was that they were both quite close and visible so it was quite a treat.

Everyday while we sit out on the patio we watch for our iguana neighbor who lives above the pump house across the driveway.  He provides us daily, cheap amusement along with the other critters you get used to seeing at various times of the day.  I am uploading Mr Iguana's photo to share.