Mango Chicken Curry with Coconut Rice

This takes a little planning ahead. The meat should marinate at least a couple hours, or overnight. The rice takes about an hour and fifteen minutes to prepare. It's worth the effort, though. If you want to save on calories or groeries, the curry would be good over plain rice as well. {Thanks to my friend, Laura, for the base of this recipe}

Serves 4.

For the chicken curry:

2-3 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into chunks

2-3 Tbsp. hot curry paste

Veg. oil

Cider vinegar

1 onion, chopped

1-2 bell peppers, sliced and cut into 1" pieces

Fresh cilantro, chopped

2 mangos, chopped

Coconut rice (see below)

Make a marinade with the curry paste, a little oil, some cider vinegar, and a little water.  Add the chicken and let it marinade for a few hours.

Cook the onion and peppers in a little oil.  When done, add the chicken with marinade.  When the chicken is cooked, add the cilantro and mango chunks.  Stir over heat a few more minutes.  Serve over rice.

For the rice:

1 1/2 cups brown jasmine or basmati rice
2 cups good-quality coconut milk (preferably regular, not 'lite')
2 cups water

1/2 tsp. salt

2 1/2 Tbsp. dry shredded coconut (optional)

1 Tbsp. coconut oil, or other vegetable oil

Rub the oil over the bottom of a large saucepan. Add the rice, coconut milk, water, salt, and shredded coconut. Stir and set over high heat. Bring to a bubbling (but not rolling) boil. Immediately reduce heat to low and cover. Cook for 1 hour, or until the coconut-water has been absorbed by the rice. Remove from heat and allow to sit for 10 min. Fluff with a fork.

Peanut Butter Energy Bites

(makes 18-20 bites)

1 cup oatmeal

1/2 cup peanut butter (or other nut butter)

1/3 cup honey

1 cup coconut flakes

1/2 cup wheat germ

1/2 cup mini chocolate chips

1 tsp vanilla

Mix everything above in a medium bowl until thoroughly incorporated. Let chill in the refrigerator for half an hour. Once chilled, roll into balls and enjoy! Store in an airtight container and keep refrigerated for up to 1 week.

{note} When I made these, they were a bit dry. If you have that problem (which probably has t do with your peanut butter, as I always pour the oil off of my new jars of PB), just add more PB and honey until it will hold together.

*original recipe on smashedpeasandcarrots.blogspot.com

Morning Glory Muffins

½ cup (3 ounces) raisins or dried cranberries
2 cups (8 ounces) whole-wheat flour, traditional or white whole wheat
1 cup (7½ ounces) packed light or dark brown sugar (see note)
2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp ground cinnamon
½ tsp ground ginger
½ tsp salt
2 cups (7 ounces) peeled and grated carrots
1 large tart apple, peeled, cored and grated
½ cup (1½ ounces) sweetened coconut (see note)
½ cup (1½ ounces) sliced almonds or chopped walnuts
⅓ cup (1⅝ ounces) sunflower seeds or wheat germ (optional)
3 large eggs
⅔ cup (4⅝ounces) vegetable oil
¼ cup (2 ounces) orange juice
2 tsp vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly grease a muffin tin or line with papers and coat the papers with nonstick spray.Put the raisins in a small bowl and cover them with hot water; set aside to soak while you assemble the rest of the recipe.Whisk together the flour, sugar, baking soda, spices and salt in a large mixing bowl.Stir in the carrots, apple, coconut, nuts and sunflower seeds (or wheat germ, if using).In a separate bowl, beat together the eggs, oil, orange juice and vanilla.Add to the flour mixture, and stir until evenly moistened. Drain the raisins and stir them in.Scoop the batter evenly into the prepared pan (the muffin cups will be almost full to the top—that's OK).Bake the muffins until nicely domed and a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean, 25 to 28 minutes.Remove from the oven and allow the muffins to cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then turn them out onto a rack to finish cooling.
 
NOTE: When I made these, I used half the amount of sugar called for and unsweetened coconut and I thought they were great. I think they'd be rather sweet for breakfast made with full sugar, but do as you please.

Chocolate Coconut Oat Bars

{from Delicious Living, Feb 2011}

"With a classic macaroon texture, these egg-, dairy- and gluten-free bars are an adult chocolate indulgence. Kids, of course, will love them too."

2.5 C rolled oats
1 C almond meal/flour
1 C unsweetened shredded coconut (I used a finely shredded variety)
1/3 C cocoa powder
1/2 C coconut oil
1/2 C agave nectar (or honey)
1/2 C sugar
1 C bittersweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 275 deg. F. Combine oats, almond meal, coconut and cocoa powder in a large bowl. Mix well.

Combine coconut oil, agave nectar (or honey) and sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat. Stir until sugar dissolves and mixture is hot (not boiling). Pour over oat mixture and stir until well mixed. Stir in the chocolate chips, quickly but thoroughly (they will melt).

Press mixture into an ungreased 8x8 pan and bake for 20 min. Remove from oven and cool completely. Cut into 24 small pieces.

[per serving] 184 cal, 12g fat (1g mono, 2g poly, 7g sat), 0mg chol, 3g protein, 2g fiber, 3mg sodium

Coconut-Buttermilk Ice Cream

15 oz cream of coconut (see note)
2 C buttermilk
1/4 C water
pinch of salt

Combine ingredients, chill and freeze in an ice cream maker.


Note of Cream of Coconut:
This is *not* the same as coconut milk or coconut cream. It is made of pressed coconut and sugar. You will find it in the drink aisle of the grocery store, by the bloody mary mix and such. Here is an example of what it looks like:

Apricot Macaroons

3 large egg whites
1/2 cup sugar
3/4 teaspoon pure almond extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 package (14 ounces) sweetened flaked coconut
1/2 cup soft dried apricots, coarsely chopped (3 ounces)

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a large bowl, whisk together egg whites, sugar, almond extract, and salt until frothy. Add coconut and apricots; mix to combine. Using your hands, shape mixture into mounds, each equal to 2 level tablespoons; place 1/2 inch apart on prepared baking sheet (macaroons will not spread). Bake until lightly golden, 35 to 40 minutes, rotating sheet halfway through. Transfer macaroons to a wire rack to cool completely. Store in an airtight container at room temperature, up to 1 week. Makes 16-20.