Tag: coconut

Make the smoothest Pina Colada of all time

The Pina Colada is one of those drinks that by itself can make you feel like it’s summer time when it’s not, or like your on a beach in Caribbean. We owe thanks for this simple drink Puerto Rico. Specifically, most people believe that it was invented in 1954 at the Caribe Hilton. The debate on who created it usually comes down to bartender Ramon “Monchito” Marrero or Ricardo Gracia.

While there is not much of a story to the drink being invented by Ramon Marrero there is a unique story around Ricardo Gracia. According to an interview that Gracia gave to Coastal Living magazine in 2005 the he created the drink due to a strike by coconut cutters in Puerto Rico. According to his story the bar served a mixed drink of rum, cream of coconut, and crushed ice in a cut coconut. Due to the shortage in coconuts he started to pour the drink into a cut pineapple. Bar goers liked the drink in a pineapple so he decided to add strained pineapple juice to the rum and cream of coconut and thus the birth of the Pina Colada.

I have a recipe I like for smooth and creamy Pina Coladas that I will share with you now. Most people will put 2 cups of ice into their Pina Colada but I like to use 1 cup of ice and 1 cup of frozen pineapple instead. The reason is that as the ice melts it usually dilutes the drink, however, by substituting one of the cups of ice with frozen pineapple you create a smooth and creamy drink that doesn’t get diluted as the ice melts.

Ingredients:

3 oz. rum
4 oz. cream of coconut (coco Lopez)
4 oz. pineapple juice
1 cup frozen pineapple
1 cup ice

Directions:

  1. Pour all ingredients into a blender.
  2. Mix on high until the ice is all blended and the drink is the consistency of a smoothie.
  3. Pour into a tulip shaped cup (also called a hurricane cup), garnish with a slice of pineapple and cherry.
  4. Enjoy!

Instead of using Coco Lopez you can make your own cream of coconut by clicking on this link. https://mylowcountryliving.net/home-made-coconut-cream-diy-version-of-coco-lopez/

The smoothest and best Pina Colada

Home made coconut cream DIY version of Coco Lopez

One of my favorite drinks is a Pina Colada and everyone knows that you need Coco Lopez to make a Pina Colada. Wrong! You can make your own DIY version of Coco Lopez coconut cream at home in less than 5 minutes because Coco Lopez and all other Coconut Creams are just coconut simple syrups. Join me in making this quick coconut cream for a fraction of the price of buying Coco Lopez. You can use your savings to buy a better quality of rum for your Pina Coladas.

Ingredients:

14 ounce can of coconut cream

1 and 3/4 cup of white sugar

Directions:

  1. Mix coconut cream and white sugar in a small pot.
  2. Bring to simmer and stir until all sugar is dissolved. About 3-4 minutes.
  3. remove from heat and place into a storage container until you are ready to use.

Since this is a simple syrup it can last in our refrigerator for up to one month.

Home made coconut cream DYI version of Coco Lopz

How to make granola at home

You never know what is in your store bought granola. Although we think of it as a healthy snack it can be packed with excessive fats, sugars, and preservatives. When you make granola at home you control exactly what goes in it. You can make healthy, great tasting granola at home that is easily customizable made with superfoods, such as honey and coconut oil, and can include a multitude of foods such as fruits, nuts, chocolate, m&m’s, coconut and so much more. Join me as I show you how to make delicious granola at home.

Ingredients:

3 cups rolled oats (oatmeal)

1/4 cup honey

1/4 cup coconut oil

1/4 cup raisins

1/4 cranberries

1/4 cup sliced almonds

1/4 cup cinnamon sugar

1/2 cup shredded cococunt

1 tsp. vanilla extract

2 tsp. almond extract

pinch of salt

Directions:

  1. Pour the oats onto a baking sheet.
  2. mix the coconut oil, honey, vanilla extract, and almond extract together and stir.
  3. Mix raisins, cranberries, sliced almonds, coconut, cinnamon sugar, and pinch of salt with the oats.
  4. Pour the coconut oil/honey mixture over the oats and mix all together.
  5. Bake in a preheated oven at 325 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes. Make sure you check it every 10 minutes and stir the granola during the time to allow it to brown evenly.
  6. Enjoy.

To get the recipe for homemade vanilla extract go to: https://mylowcountryliving.net/how-to-make-homemade-vanilla-extract/

How to make granola at home