Tryed something new today

[Curtis]

Hi all,
Made an amazing discovery today. One of the food stores in town is starting to stock a lot more organic vegetables and fruits and I found the young coconuts Alissa talks about in her book. lol I could not believe I found it in a regular store! Anyway brought it home and put the milk and meat from it in my blender, and because blueberries are one of my favorite fruits added them to and blended it up. It was wonderful. :) Makes a really great smoothie.

[Analeah]

Mmmmm, that sounds so good Curtis! *Sigh* I wish there was somewhere I could find young coconuts! I really do miss them! I have been living with the mature coconuts which aren't so bad but there is nothing like a fresh young coconut and especially mixed with blueberries it sounds wonderful!

[Helen Of Tennessee]

Hi Curtis,

Would you share how you opened your coconut?

I have a young coconut in my frig that I'm going to attempt to open (for just the water at this time).

Thanks.

<>< Helen of Tennessee

[Curtis]

rofl, well since this was my first one used a knife until I got impatient and pulled out my trusty hammer. :D

[Helen Of Tennessee]

Thanks Curtis,

I guess it's trial and error. I've asked a few more people and they right now a screwdriver and hammer are the most popular with a machette knife coming in second.

Here are a couple of links on opening a coconut:

Opening a young coconut (http://www.thaitable.com/Thai/recipes/Rshow.asp?C='Thai'&R='Coconut%20Juice')

Another link on opening a young coconut (http://www.living-foods.com/articles/youngcoconuts.html)

I don't know if these will help, but might.

I opened one young coconut. I used 6 or 7 different tools (my DH's), probably spent 20-30 minutes opening it, didn't like it and threw it out and then spent 20 minutes cleaning all the tools and mess on the counter. :o

I'm hoping for a shorter time in opening this one.

<>< Helen of Tennessee

[ConsciousCuisine]

I get mine open in three whacks from a really good Henkels Cleaver, intended for "Meat" and "Bones"...

[mwjeepster]

that's what my dh did, first he screwed a hole into it (this was a mature coconut) with an electric screwdriver, then we drained out the water, then he took it out on to the back deck and hacked the bejingles out of it with a clever and came back with three large pieces of coconut. Poor coconut!

Hey Curtis - glad to hear you liked the young coconut. I haven't found any here yet, but I haven't really looked for one in earnest either. What I discovered today was given to me by my vegan friend - a tiiiiiiiny little yellow tomato - the size of your thumbnail, wrapped in a parchment-like leaf - it was a bit sweet and very strange tasting... I don't know what they're called... she also gave me a watermelon radish. I didn't care for it - I'm not into bitter or spicy things at all - and this burned my mouth out!!!!

Love to all,
Melissa

[Analeah]

I used to open the young coconut with a big strong knife, either a butcher knife or something else similar. I hacked a small circle on the top around the point (maybe about the size of a tennis ball or a little larger) then give it one big hack and the top part will come off. Then you can neatly pour all the water out and then scrape the fleshy part out with the top part of the coconut. I had a machete too and tried opening it with that but honestly I don't think it works as well as using a butcher knife.

[Jeanne]

At least one of the three indentaion type holes on one end is very soft and pokes right through. I found two soft ones that I poked through and this let the water come out easily.
My son holds the coconut in one hand and hammers it. It never shatters, just sort of cracks and caves in a bit.

[flutterfly]

Sounds yummy. I need to go shopping for a young coconut

[smasty]

Hi Guys!!! I find it so inspiring that people are out there trying new things.
Jeanne, young coconuts don't have eyes (kind of like puppies http://www.click-smilies.de/sammlung0304/lachen/laughing-smiley-015.gif )

I cut away the softer white part from the peak, jam a big knife in to just bury the point, then use leverage to kind of slide the knife around the top. When I'm done, I've got a perfect 3" whole all around the top, big enough to scape out the meat. Do a couple and you'll find your own technique.

[Rawkinlocs]

At my local fruit market, I've seen coconuts that look like the ones in the pictures of young coconuts, but they call them Thai coconuts...are they the same?

Thanks

[Analeah]

Yes Thai coconuts are (as far as I know) the exact same thing as what is sometimes called young coconuts.

[Helen Of Tennessee]

Thanks everyone for your tips in opening a coconut.

Tomorrow, Saturday, is a pretty free day for me (for a change) and I'll see how it goes. I'll report back tomorrow after I conquer my young coconut!

<>< Helen of Tennessee

[Kristi]

Alissa's video shows how to open them and I've tried it and it works. I take the corner of a large knife (close to the handle) and pound around in a circle until I can pry it up with my fingers. Pour out the water and blend it up.

[Helen Of Tennessee]

Hi all,

I still haven't tried to open my coconut, but someone brought this link to my attention and I thought I would share it:

Thai Coconuts - treated (http://www.vegsource.com/talk/raw/messages/13758.html)

<>< Helen of Tennessee

[Kristi]

The link isn't working.

[Helen Of Tennessee]

Thanks Kristi for bringing to my attention that the link didn't work. I re-did it and tried it and it worked this time.

I also wanted to let you know that I read your story/testimony. Boy you sure have come a long ways!!!!!! I'm so proud of what you are doing in improving your health. I'm sure you can really see it in how you perform in your karate! More endurance???? That's one of my weaknesses still, along with the weak wrists.

<>< Helen of Tennessee

[ConsciousCuisine]

Yes, Helen, the info on the link is correct...and don't forget that they are irradiated as well... :(

[Analeah]

Argh, that is so disappointing! I suppose mature coconuts are even worse :mad: I would be interesting to see any information on testing of the food to see what effects it has. What about avocados and other food from overseas?

[Kristi]

I'm sure you can really see it in how you perform in your karate! More endurance???? That's one of my weaknesses still, along with the weak wrists.

The endurance has improved dramatically recently but I really haven't changed anything.....it's like it is all coming together. My wrists improved when I started doing knuckle pushups!

[Helen Of Tennessee]

Hi Kristi,

Before I got sick I was able to do 50 knuckle push-ups (from my knees). I can currently, if I really struggle, do 3. I will have to work extra hard to strengthen my wrists. 2 years of not being to use my wrists (couldn't even push a shopping cart, I used my forearms) has really made them extremely weak. I can do about 10 push-ups flat handed. Trying to rebuild from the illness and being almost 51, it is going to take me a little longer, but I will conquer it. I worked out in a seminar last night and kept up with the class, although I was sure glad when the class was over!!!!!

I find when I'm eat all raw or almost all raw, I have no joint pain and can bent my knee way down, or go down on my knee (in weapon katas) with no problems. But if I eat too much cooked/processed, especially grains, I can't get down to the floor. My endurance is also less.

I'm still self-concious in hitting the bag in front of others that don't know about my illness. Sometimes my wrist will just bent right over when I hit the bag. In general, if someone saw me running a kata, either open hand or weapons, they would not have any idea that I have any problems. I'm not too far from being back to normal. I know the closer I am to 100% raw, the faster my body will heal itself.

<>< Helen of Tennessee

[Kristi]

My instructor says that I'm way ahead of people that don't even have the courage to try.....same for you! I'm proud of you!!!!!

[Helen Of Tennessee]

Hi all,

I finally opened my young (yes Thai) coconut. I'm not sure what I'm going to do since reading the post over on VegSource. I may post over there and see if Dr. Doug did anymore research on if the Thai cocnuts were really chemically treated and the effects it might have.

Anyway, it's 75 degrees and sunny here. I went out on my deck, in my swimsuit (been sunbathing) and took out my largest knife and tried the technique mentioned above of cutting a 3" circle on top by using the point of the blade, nearest the handle. I did this and it took all the white and the stringy brown stuff off. This took about 3-4 minutes. I then used a phillips screw driver and a hammer and it only took to hits of the hammer for each hole. I poured the water out and tasted it. It wasn't too bad. Sweet. Something I would probably have to learn to like, like I had to learn to like carrot juice.

Thanks to all for the tips. Until I get a larger knife, the screw driver and hammer seems to be the easiest for me. I wonder if the coconut isn't good as many people who eat them on a regular basis say they have it down to opening them in 5 minutes, yet it took just 2 hits with the hammer for me.

<>< Helen of Tennessee

[Curtis]

Helen,
I personally liked it. I decided to scrap the meat off the inside and blend together with the milk, yum. :)