Put the LiMe in the Coconut...

I have recently discovered the joys of young coconuts. I found them at our local Asian grocery store... you want to make sure you get the white ones, not the brown hairy ones. Young coconuts are high in carbohydrates, as opposed to mature (brown) coconuts which are high in fat. The old coconuts are the ones you always hear that you should avoid because of the fat in them... but the young ones, dig in!!

Young coconut water has almost the exact chemical composition of blood plasma and is often touted as being more hydrating than water. Coconut water used to be used for IV fluid, if none was available. They float in the ocean and provide a sterile source of water. They are full of vitamins and minerals and have a natural sweetness.

Coconut Smoothie:

1 young coconut
¼ teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon vanilla

The most difficult part of this recipe is opening the coconut!! There are many step-by-step guides online, such as http://www.rawguru.com/html/openyoungcoconut.html, but basically I took my biggest knife and started hacking at it! Carefully of course! Once you pierce the inside shell, you will want to drain the water into a bowl. Then continue to cut the rest of the top of the coconut off. You will then be able to scoop out the coconut flesh with a spoon. Add the coconut flesh, water, cinnamon and vanilla to a blender and blend!! And that’s it, you have your very own, natural, refreshing coconut drink. Enjoy!