How to Make Coconut Milk

I do not live in an area where fresh coconut is available, so this is how I make my own coconut milk.  Why would someone choose to make their own as opposed to buying it in the cans?
1.  You are sensitive to or prefer to avoid the additives in canned coconut milk such as guar gum or xantham gum.
2.  You are concerned about BPA in canned products for you or your children.
3.  It is not available where you live.
4.  You use so much of it, you would like to reduce cost.
5.  You bought a Vitamix and now need to justify why you NEEDED it!

Step 1:  Measure 2 cups filtered water and 1 cup dry, unsweetened coconut.  Heat water if you are not using a Vitamix.


 

Step 2:  Turn it on and let it go for several minutes.  I like to feel the sides of the container for when it is warm.

 

Step 3:  Strain milk.  You can purchase a "nut milk bag," but I use a paint strainer I purchased at a hardware store for about $3.  

 

Step 4:  Squeeze all the moisture you can out of the pulp.


 

Step 5:  Discard pulp or move onto step 6. 
Step 6:  Spread pulp out onto a baking sheet.  Place in a 250 degree oven (I use my toaster oven) for about 20 minutes.  Watch it so it doesn't brown too much.  You only want it slightly toasted.  Make sure it is completely dehydrated.  Sometimes I let it sit on the counter for 24 hours.

  

Step 7:   Grind into coconut flour.  I use the flat blade with my Magic Bullet.  




Step 8:  Store in an airtight container in the freezer until ready to use.

  
I love doing this with the coconut I buy in bulk.  There is absolutely no waste and the milk and flour are delicious!  ***I have had trouble using this flour in some recipes.  I use it for things that do not need to be so exact like pancakes and coatings for meat.  I would not recommend for cakes, pastries, or new recipes.***

Smoothie & Oven Omelet

Here's what I put in my smoothie this morning:
2 cups vanilla almond milk (unsweetened)
2 handfuls fresh spinach
1.5 cups frozen organic strawberries
1 cup frozen organic blackberries
1 frozen banana
2 Tbsp ground flax



 

 I also made an oven omelet.  This was a great recipe.  I used dehydrated chives this time.





 
This was yummy!  

Salad with V&O

 
I got home from shopping with 4 children for the day at suppertime.  I quickly made the family tacos and I ate the last of my mustard lime chicken.  I cut the chicken up on top of mixed greens, carrots, cucumber, olives, cilantro and hard boiled egg.  I drizzled olive oil & red wine vinegar on top.  This is my go-to meal when I'm too tired to cook or the family is eating a non-paleo meal. 

Lunch at Steak & Shake

I ordered the guacamole burger with no bun. I asked for a salad instead of french fries.  Obviously the cheese is not paleo, but I do eat a bit of dairy when I'm eating out. 

Almond Flour Panckes

 

These are a favorite pancake at our house.  We have some Cinnamon Apple GoGo Squeezes that were not going very fast at our place, so I am using them up in this recipe.  So, if you don't have any applesauce around, 1 of these little packets is about the right amount.

Almond Flour Pancakes:
1 cup almond flour
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
2 eggs
1 Tbsp coconut flour
1/4 cup soda water, mineral water, coconut or almond milk
1/4 tsp sea salt
dash of nutmeg

Combine all ingredients and mix with a fork.  (The batter will be thick.)  Heat a pan over medium low heat.  Melt a bit of coconut oil in the pan and drop about 1/4 cup of batter at a time.  Flip when bubbles start showing up on the top.  Cook for another minute or two.  

We topped ours with wild blueberries and ate with fried eggs.

Hamburger Soup

 
Anybody have a recipe they ate growing up & then you make it for your family?  Me too!  I have paleofied this favorite.  It is not exactly like the original, but it is a good substitute.  (The original contained barley.)  This was my soup & salad tonight.

Hamburger Soup
1 lb. ground beef
16 oz can of diced tomatoes
2 medium carrots, sliced
1 medium onion, chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped
1 cup finely chopped cauliflower
1/4 cup catsup
2 tsp seasoned salt
1 tsp dried basil
1 bay leaf
5 cups liquid (I use about 3 cups beef broth & 2 of water.  use extra seasoning or boullion if you use all water) 

Brown ground beef & drain off fat.  Stir in remaining ingredients.  Bring to a boil & then reduce heat, cover and simmer for 1 hour.  Remove bay leaf.  Alternate cooking method is to brown beef & throw everything in the crock pot for several hours on low.

Notes: 
1.  paleo catsup is hard to find and time consuming to make.  I subbed 1/4 cup of tomato sauce, 1/2 tsp onion salt, 1 Tbsp coconut sugar, splash of apple cider vinegar and a pinch of cloves.  I will omit cloves next time.
2.  seasoned salt often contains sugar, check your ingredients.

Leftover Lunch

 
Leftovers from the week on a Dixie plate.  Classy!