Homemade Coconut Milk

Living in a country far away from palm-trees and coconuts, having a husband who does not like coconut milk/cream available in cans from supermarkets. What to do when a recipe calls for coconut milk/cream? When Christmas time comes around, I can buy real coconuts. The seed is surrounded by a buoyant and impervious fibrous husk. I have tried to break through that hard husk once. I am not going to do it again. What a mess! Three "eyes" on the husk suggest a monkey´s face, hence the genius name Cocos, which is the Portuguese word for "grinning face".

How about making your own from coconut flakes? (French: Noix de coco rapée; German: Kokosraspel)














METHOD I
1. Bring 3 dl (300 ml) whipping cream and 3 dl (300 ml) milk to a boil.
2. Pour in 200 grams (ab. 650-700 ml) of coconut flakes.
3. Stir and set aside for ab. 5 minutes.
4. Pour mixture into a blender and run.
5. Strain through a piece of muslin cloth, gather the ends of the cloth together and squeeze it in your fist to extract the liquid OR strain through a siever by pressing with the backside of a spoon.
6. If necessary, add water to make an amount of 4 dl (400 ml)

METHOD II
1. Cook equal parts of coconut flakes and milk.
2. Set aside until the next day.
3. Strain and use the liquid.

Ready to use!

This milk is ideal for stews, sauces, ice creams and drinks such as Piña Colada, but of course also in Thai and Indian dishes.

The Piña Colada is a cocktail which now consists of Rum, Pineapple and Coconut. According to Wiki, the Piña Colada started life as a non-alcoholic drink, which was either served "colada" (strained) or "sin colar" (without straining). The Piña Colada was also alternatively known as a Piña Fria, or Piña Fria Colada.

My Piña Colada
1 glass

* 1 dl (100 ml) pineapple juice
* ½ dl (50 ml) homemade coconut milk
* 2/3 (ab. 60-70 ml) Bacardi Rum
* ½ dl (50 ml) crushed ice cubes

METHOD:
1. Run pineapple juice, coconut milk and rum in a blender until mixed.
2. Pour into a glass filled with some crushed ice and garnish with a pineapple spear or slice.

For a refreshing non-alcoholic drink substitute the rum with ice cream.

Holiday
Today, the 1st of May, it is public holiday in Sweden. Yesterday it was Walpurgis Night, associated in German folklore with the witches´sabbath on the Brocken, a peak in the Harz Mountains.

This night was originally dedicated to St.Walburga ("Valborg" in Swedish). She died 779 and was born in Devonshire, England. She accompanied St. Boniface on his mission to the Germans. She became abbess of the double monastery of Heidenheim, Bavaria, succeeding her brother St. Wunibald. In the Finnish, German and Swedish calendar, Walpurga´s feast day is May 1.

That was history. Now we light large bonfires and sing songs of spring. We celebrate the end of the winter. But where is spring? It is still freezing cold! Cheers anyway! Spring is probably right around the corner, waiting ...