THE COCONUT LOVERS MOJO

Is Coconut A Dog's Best Friend?

2014-03-13T11:26:00.002-07:00

My new puppy Ms. JW is such a fluffy white ball of energy. I wonder if coconut oil can keep help her that way, full of energy with healthy looking hair. I’ve got to do some research to be sure that coconut products are not harmful to her.

The breeder gave me the following list of common foods that are poisonous to dogs:

Alcohol

Avocado

Chocolate

Coffee, tea

Macadamia nuts

Onions

Potato leaves and stems

Raisins and grapes

Tomato leaves and stems

This list just goes to show you, just because a food is OK for human consumption that doesn't mean that the same food is OK for dogs.

I was surprised to learn that garlic, onions and grapes are on the poison list. I don’t want to find out the hard way that coconut is not good for puppies and dogs. So my next step will be to do some serious research.

Make Your Afternoon Tea More Robust With Coconut

2014-03-06T07:42:00.002-08:00

Enjoying Matcha Green Tea

In previous posts, I've discussed how coconut sugar adds a delightful new taste sensation to strong teas like ginger and mint. I've recently discovered that spicy flavored coconut sugar also enlivens bland tasting green tea.

It's also great with regular ole' Lipton's black tea. There's no other beverage that recharges me like Lipton's Tea during late afternoons.

I drink a couple of other specialty teas like red Hibiscus during winter to reduce symptoms of colds and flu and spearmint during summer to cool off.

I started drinking green tea after reading about its health benefits several years ago. Then I learned about a supercharged antioxidant powdered version of green tea, Matcha or Maccha, that is actually eaten during the Japanese Tea Ceremony.

Yes, the tea is eaten and I was curious. As I recall, Matcha had a peculiar taste that probably could have used some coconut sugar in the cup.

But eventually, I returned to Lipton's Tea that I spike with coconut sugar for a cup of spicy afternoon delight.

Coconut Candy Reviews: Stover, Ghirardelli and Ferrero

2014-02-12T19:21:00.001-08:00

Life is better with coconut candy in a box of chocolates. I decided to stock-up on coconut candy at the grocery store before the next polar vortex, subzero cold wave invades Chicago in February 2014.

I bought Russell Stover’s, Ghirardelli and Ferrero Rocher’s coconut candies to taste-test for review …. And here are the results:

Russell Stover Review

Russell Stover’s coconut crunch patty is a sumptuous delight. It’s very tasty chocolate-covered shredded coconut.

The milk chocolate’s flavor rivals very expensive brands. The generous amount of coconut is almost like eating a pricey coconut haystack.

The coconut patty is only one, just 1, of 3 assorted pieces in Stover’s 3.5 oz. “Photo Heart” Valentine’s Day box, selling for about $2.00. It’s widely available at drugstores, online stores and big box stores. I need more!

Ghirardelli Coconut Rendezvous Review

I missed the coconut in Ghirardelli's chocolate bar. The milk chocolate is fabulous tasting and incredibly smooth melting in my mouth.

But Ghirardelli's new product misses the mark when it comes to coconut... there is simple not enough for a coconut lover like me.

The product is available at drugstores for about $1.50 on sale.

Ferrero Rocher Raffaellos Review

Ferrero Raffaello’s Almond Coconut Treat is a delicately-flavored, creamy sweet that I adore. It’s a diaphanous textured truffle that hits the spot without a sugar overdose.

The candy is a little luxury that's great with flavored coffee after dinner. It’s all Ferrero’s quality flavor without chocolate.

You can find the product at drugstores, online stores and big box stores. Ferrero Raffaello’s coconut truffles are available in a 5.3 oz. box, with about 8 pieces.

Life is indeed better with coconut candy in a box of chocolates. I'm glad that cabin fever pushed me to try new, different taste sensations. Russell Stover and Ferrero Raffaello get high marks after my coconut candy taste-tests with Ghirardelli trailing far behind.

Coconuts In Black History And Beyond

2014-02-06T13:16:00.001-08:00

Coconuts were part of the standard food provisions aboard slave ships for both the captives AND crew.

With this perspective, coconuts are as much a part of the economic history of the New World as cotton and sugar cane.

In the 1800s, coconuts were very profitable for atleast one African-American.

Mr. Ashbourne's Patents for Coconut Oil

We enjoy using coconut oil with a long shelf life because of Alexander P. Ashbourne. Ashbourne was the first American to realize the economic potential of coconut after the US Civil War.

This African-American was awarded 3 patents for coconut oil production and refining - Patents 163,962 in 1875, 194,287 in 1877 and 230,518 in 1880.

Here's a link to the 1875 US Patent Office Gazette for Mr. Ashbourne's invention.

Ashbourne was a successful grocer in Philadelphia and Oakland, CA. Clearly he was a great thinker and tinker: He was awarded numerous patents for a wide range of inventions.

I feel that coconut products can fuel renewed economic success for the descendants of slaves and everyone else that made it to the Americas and survived and thrived.

One African-American, Alexander P. Ashbourne, has already proved this.

The Future Economic Potential for Coconut

New profitable markets for Coconut oil, coconut water and copra commodities are emerging RIGHT NOW in the world's temperate zones-the northern hemispheres.

Medical and cosmetic use of Coconut by-products like Dicaprylyl Ether and Caprylic/CapricTriglyceride are the frontier of a new economy... partially replacing the use of black gold.

The old Black History may have been nurtured and sustained by coconuts in the dank, dark holds of a slave ships. But the future starts now with the coconut palm's solid economic foundation of renewable resources.

All-In Vegan With Key West Coconut

2014-02-06T06:59:00.000-08:00

Smoothies and "No Egg" salad by Key West's Help Yourself Organic Cafe are made with REALLY FRESH coconut. The coconuts are cut-down from nearby palm trees. Watch this YouTube video of the owner cutting down fresh coconuts for her cafe's vegan offerings.

I made a version of the meatless "no egg" salad recipe with fresh coconut meat and it is indeed YUMMY!

Ride Out the Flu With Coconut Water and Coconut Milk

2014-01-16T06:47:00.001-08:00

Yelp!

According to the CDC, flu reports are widespread throughout the United States, as of January 4, 2014. If you have the misfortune of contracting a case of influenza, coconut water and coconut milk can provide you with a basic level of dietary nourishment during your illness.

Stay Hydrated With Coconut Water

Coconut water contains vital electrolytes, like potassium, sodium and magnesium, which can prevent dehydration. Plus, coconut water contains small amounts of B and C vitamins and minerals like zinc.

Drinking coconut water is an excellent way to keep your caloric intake up when you're down with a cold or the flu.

Put Something On Your Stomach: Coconut Milk

Coconut milk contains all 3 main dietary nutrients: Fats, protein and carbohydrates. A 1/4 cup of High-fat canned coconut milk (22% fat), sweetened a little more with juice can really be filling when you don’t feel like eating heavier foods.

Flu Shots and Home Remedies

Flu shots are the only clinically proven and accepted medical treatment that lessens the symptoms of influenza. Get a flu shot before it’s too late!

Then add coconut water and coconut milk to the list of your essential home remedies like chicken noodle soup for colds and flu.

Get Answers About Coconut For The Daniel Fast

2014-01-09T12:22:00.001-08:00

Fresh grated, unsweetened coconut

My research reveals that some but not all coconut products may be eaten on the Daniel Fast. The 10 day Daniel Fast is described in the Bible's Book of Daniel, chapters 1 and 10.

Coconut Goes with All Fruits

I learned that Fruits are permitted and coconut is a fruit. Also "Quality" Oils are permitted… coconut oil is a quality oil just like olive oil.

Coconut Water in the original packaging

But I’m on the fence about coconut water and coconut milk. Both are “pleasant” and sweet. They are also highly nutritious.

Coconut water is just the pure juice from within the coconut seed pod. There are many shipwreck survivors' stories and patients' medical accounts of living only on coconut meat and water for days and weeks.

It seems that coconut sugar would be completely off-limits.

I’ve read biblical references, but I’m still not sure if some coconut products are OK to eat on the Daniel Fast. I am not a biblical scholar.

So I will be conferring with my church officials and pastor about eating any of the many different versions of coconut when I do the Daniel Fast. And I've got to fast, because Jesus says "And when you fast... " in Matthew 6:16.

How To Do Wolfin With Coconut Oil

2014-01-06T16:39:00.001-08:00

So you can keep-on sporting hair waves that everybody wants to surf, change your hair products. Get all the natural advantages of 100% Extra Virgin Organic (EVO) pure coconut oil for your hair and scalp, instead of using petroleum-based products.

Top 7 Advantages of Coconut Oil for Hair Care:

1. Coco Oil adds a subtle, soft sheen, with natural fatty acids. It doesn’t look greasy.

2. It moderately softens hair – for more softening add a little pure green olive oil.

3. It will not suffocate hair follicles (like petroleum) thus reduces chances of male pattern baldness.

4. It won’t dry out hair thus reduces breakage (unlike petroleum products).

5. It conditions hair with a moderate amount of protein.

6. The oil soothes your scalp and isn’t pimple forming.

7. You don’t have to use as much hair product – Less is Better!

Coconut Palm Trees grow near the sea shore!

How To Use Coconut Oil For Hair Care

Use as a scalp cleanser - Mix 1 teaspoon 100% Coco Oil plus exactly 1 drop of lime juice. Massage into your scalp for 2 minutes, rinse then shampoo and condition your hair.

Use a sulfate-free shampoo for softer hair. This is vitally important!

Use ¼ teaspoon of coconut oil as a leave-in conditioner on wet hair Do not over-apply!

Use a couple drops (no more) of coconut oil, if needed before daily Wolfin or brushing. Massage into your hands, apply to your hair, and then get to brushing.

Surfer Girls Love Waves!

Get "seasick" waves, all-natural, WITHOUT chemicals ... just brushing and the right hair cut. Use all natural, pure coconut oil to give the best care for your scalp and Wolfin hair waves.

Where To Buy Real Coconut Oil For Wolfin

2014-01-06T16:18:00.001-08:00

Hair waves you create by brushing or Wolfin are a natural style that’s maintained WITHOUT relaxer chemicals. So make pure Coconut oil a part of your natural hair care steps.

Places To Buy Coco Oil For Your Hair

You can find 100% Extra Virgin Organic (EVO) pure Coconut Oil without petroleum at the following outlets:

Direct from coconut oil manufacturers' secured websites.

Online stores – keywords “Pure or EVO Coconut Oil”

Health food stores

Major grocers like Walmart or Whole Foods in the cooking oil section. (Pure 100% EVO coconut oil is usually NOT SOLD in the hair care section.)

How To Store Pure Coconut Oil

Place on the bathroom countertop or in the room where you style your hair.

Do not store in a room where the temperature is less than 72 degrees

Do not refrigerate

Ready for surfin!

Wolfin Procedure With Coconut Oil

Use a small spoon to retrieve the coconut oil so you won’t contaminate the container with your fingers.

Use just a few drops of coconut oil before Wolfin or brushing your hair. Massage into your hands, apply to your hair, and then get to brushing, brushing and brushing your hair. Do not over-apply!

Try Spicy Coconut Sugar In Holiday Beverages

2013-12-19T05:57:00.001-08:00

Try Kiwi for Christmas

Hot chocolate made with coconut sugar is a Heavenly taste sensation. Here are some other Winter Holiday beverages that are supremely enhanced by just a dash of the hearty sweetness of coconut sugar:

Mulled Wine

Spiced Tea
Sherbet Punch Drinks
Egg Nog

Latte

Coco Mocha

Traditional Hot Chocolate

Serve-up a new, different taste sensation for your Holiday guests with the sublime sweet flavor of coconut sugar, along with the sweetner you normally use.

Try A Gentler Coconut Oil Scalp Massage

2013-12-19T05:52:00.001-08:00

If you are prone to winter scalp itch, like me, a coconut oil massage spells relief.

But I lighten-up on the essential oils I use with the massage during winter.

I try never to further irritate a mildly itchy scalp with heavy duty essential oils like Tea Tree, Mint or Eucalyptus during really cold spells.

I use these milder essential oils during winter to soothe my scalp:

Lavender

Chamomile

Ylang-Ylang

Rosemary

I wait until cold temperatures moderate a little, before using strong essential oils, like lime, in my massage.

How To Avoid Winter Scalp Itch

Also I wear a warm but breathable hat during winter. I usually avoid wool. Or I wear a light scarf beneath wool or other natural fiber caps.

Blow Dryer Too Hot???

You can also save your scalp by lightening-up on winter hair care, like dialing down the heat on your blowdryer.

Either change hair products or space-out the timing for doing your hair. Hair sprays formulated with alcohol really irritate my scalp year round.

Also I cover my head with a light silk scarve INDOORS, to shield my scalp and hair from the furnace’s dry heated air.

In any case as soon as the humidity drops in winter, along with cold temperatures outdoors, I get dry ALL OVER my body. I usually realize this when I start scratching my scalp.

How I Saved My Scalp With Coconut Oil

So then I do a light massage: 1 teaspoon of coconut oil plus 1 drop of essential oil … I only use, maybe, ½ of this mixture for my scalp massage. I use the rest on my feet and hands.

It's Walmart VS. Whole Foods For Coconut

2013-12-12T04:16:00.001-08:00

My receipts with coconut purchases in Nov and Dec 2013

Which store is the best place to buy fresh young coconuts? Who is the winner?

The Whole Foods store I shop at is near affluent Dearborn Park, on Roosevelt Road in South Loop, Chicago. I shop at the new Walmart in Pullman next to the Ford (Calumet) Expressway on Chicago's southside.

The good news is that coconut oil, coconut water as well as fresh coconuts are now widely available in the Chicago metro area at BOTH grocers. And both stores’ prices are sensible and reasonable.

Of course, Whole Foods was the pioneer in making coconut products available to metro Chicago residents and stocks more fresh coconut in it’s stores. Walmart, the new entry into the city, has more locations thus actually may provide more coconut products to a wider swath of metropolitan residents.

The winner for the cheapest fresh coconut prices is Whole Foods, by 0.99 cents per coconut. The winner for the making more coconut products available closer to more city’s residents is Walmart.

We all win by making coconut a part of our lifestyle for cuisine, health and beauty rituals.

(Disclaimer – I have no affiliation with either Whole Foods or Walmart. I purchased the fresh young coconuts with my own money solely for my own use. I did not make the purchases for the purposes of comparing prices or the stores – I noticed the difference afterwards, while reviewing my recent purchases.)

5 Christmas Gifts For Your Coconut Lover

2013-12-05T07:00:00.001-08:00

Christmas in Miami, Florida, USA

Here are 5 tips for Christmas presents for that Coconut Lover in your life:

Fresh coconuts from Whole Foods that can yield over a cup of fresh coconut water... the price is much cheaper than at online stores.

Heavyweight Zwilling Butcher Knife by J.A. Henckels to hack open fresh coconuts

Carol’s Daughter’s Monoi Oil for hair moisturizing

A bag of spicy-tasting Coconut Sugar

The original, authentic Monoi Tiki Tahiti oil in Sandalwood, a surprising fragrance flavor twist for skincare.

Your Coconut Lover will really appreciate finding any of these gifts under the Christmas tree.

How To Protect Yourself In A Purple Chemical World

2013-12-05T06:59:00.001-08:00

Chemicals, Chemicals! Everywhere!

My sister, the biochemist, told me one day ‘Chemistry isn’t poetry.’

Back in the day, I never used Dippity Do. I used the purple hair setting lotion that’s been ubiquitous in salons and sold at drugstores all over Chicago for years. I used it often at home and every hair stylist I ever went to used the purple stuff.

I used the purple stuff from my teenage years until about 10 years ago – many, many decades.

I Like Reading Labels

Funny, every time I picked-up the bottle of purple stuff I was drawn to read the ingredients list and one word in particular ALWAYS stuck-out to me. It’s such a pleasant sounding word, so melodious – not frightening at all.

I love words, I love English.

But the purple lotion ingredient sounded like Japanese Haiku - futuristic Haiku.

The purple stuff made my scalp itch horribly. I regularly yanked-out hairs from inflamed follicles. But my relaxed hair had firm curls no matter the weather or how high the humidity climbed.

My sister told me that chemical and scientific words have to be treated differently-every suffix and prefix has to be carefully considered to completely understand the chemical’s function. And so I looked-up the lovely sounding chemical term on the purple lotion’s bottle.

The term is “q-u-a-t-e-r-n-i-u-m 15”

Cosmetic Ingredient Research

I discovered that Quaternium-15 is a preservative that releases formaldehyde. Apparently, I had been having an allergic reaction to it for years.

The resource I used is “Don’t Go To The Cosmetics Counter Without Me” by Paula Begoun. Paula first published this book in 1991. I used the 2000 edition.

I stopped using the purple stuff immediately. (Note-it’s still sold in stores and still has the formaldehyde forming ingredient Quaternium-15).

Nowadays, I use Paula’s book and internet resources to look up each and every unfamiliar chemical that I come across on cosmetics’ labels.

Cosmetic Ingredient Research Case Study

I had to do this recently for a hair coloring product.

I have 10% gray hair, but it ALL seems to be at my temples and along my front hairline. I was so tired of wearing headbands all the time.

I used some lightweight color products without ammonia or peroxide with great success for a few years. But after a time, the color treatments just didn’t seem to cover or even “camouflage” the gray.

I knew that it was time for stronger coloring products. But just having gotten on the highway to leave relaxers behind and go ‘au natural’, I just couldn’t pull the trigger. I figured I might mess-up the natural texture of my hair with stronger coloring products before I could really appreciate my true hair type.

Then the girl at the hair products store told me I could buy a product to make the temporary color stronger and last longer. It was the tiniest little packet of chemicals, the size and thickness of a sticky note. And it only cost $5.

I looked at the ingredients list and one word in particular dredged-up something in my distant memory – something about severe allergic reactions and deaths. I declined to buy the little chemical packet!

Phenylenediamine or Paraphenylenediamine or PPD are the terms for this particular chemical.

Who’s Responsible for Your Safety?

I decided to use a gray-covering hair powder that I saw on a TV shopping network.

When it was delivered, I noticed many chemical terms on the label that I had never seen before. I pondered whether ‘the shopping channel would sell something with dangerous chemicals.’ And, ‘Surely their quality department has examined the chemical list for dangerous stuff.’

Hmmm….

I looked-up each and every long, complex chemical word on the hair powder’s ingredients list. All the chemicals seem OK for cosmetic use. I used Paula Begoun’s "Cosmetic Cop" website at Paulaschoice.com to check-out the terms.

Today, there are many, many internet websites that are available for use by ordinary women not just biochemists, to research cosmetic chemical terms. But Paula Begoun was a pioneer with her book 25 years ago.

I am responsible for taking steps to keep myself safe. What about you and your children?

Thank you Paula Begoun for keeping me informed and for helping me to protect myself all these years.

Merry Christmas All

2013-12-05T06:36:00.001-08:00

Here's a truly spirit stirring acappella version of "Carol of the Bells" by Beyonce and Destiny's Child from back in the day. Enjoy the Christmas Music!

Easy Thai Coconut Milk, Homemade, Step-by-Step

2013-11-21T15:50:00.000-08:00

Make your own fresh coconut milk and you won't have to worry about the preservatives in the canned stuff. Here's a video demonstration from You Tube:

The great thing about making fresh coconut milk in your own kitchen is that you can add ingredients according to your own family's likening, for example:

Sweeteners like coconut sugar
Flavorings like vanilla extract
Fruits like mango

Try the fresh coconut milk in fruit smoothies and frozen like whipped cream.

But first you've got to crack open the coconut to get started on making the milk. Personally, I've never been able to crack open a coconut as easily as the lady in the video. I've got to practice more!

I Could Inhale This Food - Edible Perfume Notes

2013-11-14T15:03:00.002-08:00

Saffron Rice with Veggies

Coconut is my favorite gourmand perfume note -- those fragrance notes are based on foods, especially spicy foods. What a nexus, it's the best of both worlds!!

Here are a few more popular gourmand perfume notes:

Honey

Cumin

Saffron

Cardamom

Sugar or Caramel

Orange, Lime, Lemon
Almond
Butter

Mint

Chocolate

Rose Petal Jam

Of course, I can’t forget about edible flower fragrance notes, like

Violet

Lavender

Rose

But I just luv, luv, luv the smell of fresh coconut and toasted coconut fragrances that remind me of Holiday desserts. Nothing beats eating coconut cake and sweet potato pie topped with toasted coconut for the Holidays.

But the best are creamy coconut perfumes blended with everybody’s favorite flavor: Orchid!!! Huh? You know… vanilla flavoring!

How To Hydrate Skin In Winter… Inside-Out

2013-11-07T13:11:00.001-08:00

"Baby, it's cold outside.... Are you sweating too?"

By increasing your daily gulps of coconut water, you can reduce the chances of getting dried-out skin and dehydration in fall and winter. Coconut water is not just for hot summer days.

Drinking even more coconut water in winter is a skin care secret for great looking skin all year around.

Dehydrating Winter Conditions

Increased sweating while wearing extra clothing like sweaters and coats,

Irritating low humidity in fall and winter that's a major cause of winter skin itching,

Indoor forced air heating that literally bakes skin.

Icy winds that swipe moisture from hands and face.

Bundled-up like a baby

A massage with coconut oil goes a long way towards keeping my skin supple and moisturized in winter.

But I swig more coconut water, however, to insure that my skin and the rest of my body never suffer from dehydration, even when it’s cold outside.

My Getaway Plans With Palm Print Resort Wear

2013-11-07T06:10:00.002-08:00

Mychael was the winning designer on the ‘Creepy-Crawlers’ episode of Project Runway: All Stars. And, he gave me the inspiration to go somewhere warm on the globe this winter. How?! Well, early in the episode, Mychael wore a palm print shirt.

I got an immediate flash: ‘That’s it!!! I’ll go shopping for resort wear!’

Hawaiian shirt with a palm print

Yelp! I’m going shopping for resort wear especially a dress, shirt or bikini with a palm print.

Once I buy the resort looks, I really have to go on the winter vacation... Right?!

Usually, shopping for a vacation never fails to get me into the mood of actually booking the trip.

Sad, ain't it?!

Winter's Sooo... Sad in Chicago

Most years, I escape winter’s lockdown by driving through icy streets and trudging through several inches of snow to get to Chicago’s Garfield Park Conservatory. It's a botanical house in a city park.

This is where I usually go to actually see, touch and feel Cocos nucifera the coconut palm tree. Sad, ain’t it.

But not this year! I'll be walking in my palm print sarong on warm sands somewhere far away.

Coconut Oil Makes Your Hair Worse...Really?!!!

2013-10-31T11:57:00.002-07:00

More time to play instead of fretting about hair

I started to post over 500 words on hair care today because some women have complained online that coconut oil makes their hair’s condition worse. Come on! Both You and I got better things to read and write about.

Just Remember, three-quarters of the world’s women use coconut oil in their hair care routines. There is no reason why you can’t get the same long, lovely, lush, soft and touchable hair.

Quick Tips for Using Coconut Oil on Your Hair

Here is the short version of my origin treatise, if you are not getting the hair results you desire from using coconut oil. Look, see if you need to change how you are actually using coconut oil on your hair.

Only use Extra Virgin Organic Coconut Oil (EVOC) manufactured by a reliable company.

Use Coconut Oil sparingly…don’t use globs…too much is not a good thing and it’s a waste. You will never need more than 1/2 teaspoon of EVOC for medium length hair.
Rarely use traditional shampoos , if at all, to cleanse hair.

Avoid all petroleum and silicones products and their derivatives, they are not compatible with human hair and scalps and create the very dryness they were purported to remedy. Don’t use Coconut Oil hair products that have petroleum on the ingredients list.

Upgrade your blow dryer and other styling tools to ionic technology…this produces a dramatic improvement in hair softness and manageability.

I was one of those women that stylists always said 'you have to relax your hair - it's so coarse'. My regrowth was like a brillo pad.

Well, I'm going afro now and thanks to coconut oil, I won't be going back to relaxers. My hair is not straighter, just softer and easier to comb.

I’ll say it again: three-quarters of the world’s women use coconut or other palm oils in their hair care rituals. They have done so in many, many cultures - for hundreds of years in Africa, Asia, Pacifica, the Middle East, South America and the Caribbean.

Thai Food Recipe Ingredients: DA LIST

2013-10-24T05:24:00.001-07:00

Run Out and Get Some Pad Thai...Now!

Do you love tasty Thai food sooo… much that you tried to cook it at home? But after all that cooking, you were left pondering ‘What’s missing from MY Pad Thai?” I know I have!

Thai Recipe Ingredients List

Well here’s an online link to the most comprehensive and straightforward list of Thai food recipe ingredients that I’ve ever seen: Thai Food thetowntalk.com.

Hot Peppery Tum Yum Soup

Where to Find Thai Food Ingredients

Most of the essential Thai recipes ingredients like Galangal ginger and Thai Bird Eye Chilies can be found at organic grocery stores. Some ingredients like canned coconut milk and lemongrass stalks are available at most big grocery stores.

You might have to order other critical ingredients like Kaffir lime leaves from an online Thai grocery website.

Kaffir lime fruit and leaves

And, nooo… I haven’t bought any of those $60 Thai food recipe books…. Yet.

Learn About and Experience Thai Culture

Years ago I was lucky enough to work for a Thai couple. Our office pot luck lunches and parties always featured sumptuous tasting Thai dishes.

Flowers carved out of food - A Thai cultural specialty

So your best bet to learn authentic Thai cooking might be to make some Thai friends.

Use Coconut Oil For Sweater Weather Skincare

2013-10-17T08:13:00.001-07:00

Use Coconut Oil Skincare To Fight Dry Indoor Air

I’ve powered-on the furnace because it’s October, there’s a north wind a blowin’ off Lake Michigan in Chicago, frost advisories in nearby counties and the living room is just too darn chilly. All this also means that I got to now start using a bit more coconut oil après showering to keep winter dry skin at bay.

Then I'm ready for 'sweater weather.'

Best Amounts of Coconut Oil for Skincare

Lakefront Chicago's Aon Tower in Autumn

There’s simply no better product to stop itchy, flaky dry skin from occurring than coconut oil.

I simply massage in a teaspoon or two all over my body, with or without my favorite skin cream. I also add exactly 1 drop to my daytime face cream.

Best Oil for Dry Skin

Forced dry air from the furnace, icy winds, scratchy woolens and drafty rooms all cause the problem of severely dry and irritated skin in fall and winter.

Coconut Oil can soothe itchy skin caused by scratchy woolens

Solution: Use extra virgin, organic coconut oil in your skincare rituals during fall and winter.

Donatella Versace’s Coconut Visions

2013-10-10T05:55:00.000-07:00

Who can ever forget a coy Jennifer Lopez on stage at the 2000 Grammys in a flowing green palm print Versace couture designer dress?

The Versace green silk chiffon dress at the 2000 Grammys was a stellar moment in television broadcasting. I know I will never forget it.

Coconut is for Sensuous Women

That’s why I was surprised that the ‘Green Dress’ wasn’t mentioned in the Lifetime Channel’s recent well done biopic on the Versace family, "House of Versace". I was really looking forward to a dramatization of the Grammys moment.

It’s clear that Donatella Versace has her finger (or fist) on the pulse of sensuous femininity for ALL women.

Coconut Fragrance Notes

Nothing reveals that more, than the coconut perfume note of Versace Crystal Noir. It’s a subdued yet lush fragrance combination of coconut and gardenia. It’s a posh scent for daytime wear and coy with some spice for evening.

Globally, three-quarters of the world’s women use coconut products in their beauty rituals, mostly those living in tropical latitudes.

I think that Versace understands the woman who knows what coconut can do for a woman. We can all learn a lot from Donatella Versace. Learn more here online about the Versace type of woman

Sylvia’s Coconut Cakes

2013-10-03T10:33:00.001-07:00

Sylvia giving Lil' Loren the inside scoop on coconut cake baking

Sylvia, my Mom, often told us about cracking open coconuts and grating off flakes as a young girl along side her Grandma during the 1930s and 1940s in rural Mississippi. Mom told us how lucky we were that we could just go to the store and buy bags of coconut already grated.

But the bagged coconut was always and still is too, too sweet…pure cane sugar that always obscures the coconut flavor.

My Mom had the magic touch when it came to making coconut cakes. Somehow she tamed the bagged flakes and made moist flavorful cakes with true coconut flavor, that were never too sugary.

Frankly, the frosting and coconut toppings on my own cakes always seem to be a disappointing sugar overload even though everyone tells me that they love eating them.

Sylvia…we love you and your coconut cakes…forever. God is love, God is forever and love is forever.

Please support Easter Seals' efforts to help physicians recognize elderly US citizens with symptoms of Post Polio Syndrome. Please support Bill and Melissa Gates' efforts to eradicate poliomyelitis in improvished nations.

Everybody Likes Coconut

2013-06-27T17:00:00.000-07:00

Even doggies like coconut... see here:

This is sort of relaxing to watch, isn't it?