Metamorphosis

Pina Colada Pie

It is about dessert, again! I was thinking about making a Pina Colada smoothie. After blending together the coconut water and meat to make coconut milk, I changed my mind. It was so thick and delicious it was dessert worthy. I looked through Cafe Gratitude "Raw World of Desserts". Couldn't find any recipe calling for coconut milk that didn't also call for massive amounts of cashews and nut milks. Threw aside any doubts in my tastes and abilities and made up my own recipe.

2 cups coconut milk
juice of 1 big orange (about 1 cup?)
1 cup of cashews, soaked 1 hour
1/4 of a big pineapple (would have used more if I had it)
1/3 cup farm honey
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
pinch pink salt

Blend together in Vita-Mix until smooth

While continuing to blend add:

3/4 to 1 cup coconut oil, melted
2 Tablespoons liquid lecithin

Blend another minute or so until oil is well incorporated.

I poured it into an 8" pie crust with enough left over to fill 3 dessert cups.

The crust I used was 1 cup macadamia, 1/2 cup almonds, ground in food processor and left chunky. Added 5 dried turkish figs (dates would have been good, too). Added a pinch of salt and a Tablespoon or so of agave to help it stick together.

I like it in the crust. The fig seeds gave it a little crunch. I like it even more in the dessert cups with no crust.

This texture is different from any dessert I have made (or eaten) before. It must be the pineapple...? Or is it the coconut milk and orange juice...? You can see the texture in the picture. It is slightly crumbly, just like a "real" cheesecake. Tastes like a real cheesecake, too, though much lighter. It melts in your mouth with a zing of pineapple.

I gave pieces to 4 people. I got word back from each. They all loved it!

:)

Today I was scouting around the fridge and found the other cup of coconut milk I had set aside. I had some Irish moss soaked. I started out thinking I was making a "whip cream" for the pie. Again, I could not find a recipe using just coconut milk. Had to make up my own. If I remember correctly it went like this:

3/4 oz soaked Irish moss
1/2 to 3/4 cup water

Blend until smooth, scrape down sides of blender often.

Add:

1 cup coconut milk
2 to 4 Tablespoons agave
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
pinch pink salt

Blend until smooth. Pour into a shallow glass pan, cover and put in fridge for at least 6 hours.

I didn't use it as cream topping for the pie. The pie didn't need any topping. And this is not really a whip cream at all. It is a super delicious vanilla pudding.

Vanilla Pudding

Warning: The measurements for most of the ingredients listed here are my best recollection and may not be completely accurate. Remember when whipping up something on the fly, taste test and use your own judgement. And have fun with it.

:)