Thursday, July 14, 2011

Coconut-Pineapple Smoothie

When it's too hot to cook, you just might need to drink some of your calories.  Here's a tropical coconut smoothie recipe I discovered in an old issue of Sunset magazine. 

This is just the kind of discovery that keeps me constantly trying new recipes.  It introduced me to cream of coconut -- an ingredient I'd never used before, but one that has become an immediate new favorite.  You can find it in the liquor section of the grocery store (though it's not alcoholic), near the grenadine and margarita salt.  Apparently it's used in pina coladas.  I was happily surprised to see it cost less than four dollars.

All I can say is, this cream of coconut is terrific in smoothies, especially if the other ingredients are mild enough that the coconut flavor shines through.  (When I put some in my mocha frappuccino, for example, the coffee flavor overpowered it.)  It's also terrific mixed with maple syrup (one part cream of coconut, two parts syrup), heated, and served over waffles.

Mmmph, it's good by the spoonful, too, straight from the can.  But if you tell anyone I said that, I 'll have to lie and say, no I didn't.

If you're curious about more uses for this creamy, sweet, coconut goodness, check out this web site.

And I would love to know:  Have you ever used cream of coconut, for drinks or other recipes?  Please share.

DELICIOUS COCONUT-PINEAPPLE SMOOTHIE

For one serving, combine in blender:
1/2 c. plain, unflavored yogurt
1/4 c. frozen pineapple chunks
1/4 c. cracked ice (about 3 or 4 ice cubes)
1/2 banana, sliced
1 1/2 T. cream of coconut (mmmmm)

Whirl in blender until it's smooth.

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6 Comments:

Blogger Farm Girl said...

I wish I could say I had, but I don't think I have ever seen it before. You always find the most amazing things. I will look next time I go to the store. I wonder if you could use in in a coconut cake?

July 14, 2011 at 6:00 PM  
Blogger Joanne said...

Coconut is the BEST rehydrator! SO yes, drink up! This sounds like tropical heaven.

July 14, 2011 at 6:00 PM  
Blogger Lynn said...

Farm Girl, I'm sure you could use this in coconut cake. I'm also thinking it might be wonderful in a glaze for cake or scones . . . So many possibilities :)

July 14, 2011 at 6:20 PM  
Blogger Heidi said...

Hi Lynn! Thanks for stopping in to visit my blog. I too love using scraps. In fact, I have been on a four year stash diet so I only use what I have. Making small (doll) quilts is perfect for that. I can use little bits and have enough. Do you have photos of your quilts on here?

I too think being a homemaker and creating a loving place is the most important job in life! Nice to find a kindred spirit.

Hugs from Holland ~
Heidi

July 14, 2011 at 11:57 PM  
Blogger Lynn said...

Heidi, it is such fun to find people on the web with common interests. Thanks for stopping in to say hi. Your quilts are really gorgeous. The only quilting pictures I have on this blog are incidental, in-the-background pics, as I try to focus here on recipes. But the corner of a quilted table runner I recently finished is here: http://queenofthecastlerecipes.blogspot.com/2011/05/look-what-i-just-bought.html and a small glimpse of a work in progress is in one of the pictures on this post: http://queenofthecastlerecipes.blogspot.com/2011/06/olallieberry-cake.html Happy quilting! Your work is inspiring :)

July 15, 2011 at 7:50 AM  
Anonymous Vicki said...

I have never used cream of coconut before, but that smoothie looks so good!!

July 16, 2011 at 9:12 AM  

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