Über coconut muffins

Adapted from http://wholelifestylenutrition.com/recipes/coconut-pumpkin-bread/

I found this recipe and thought to myself, "this bread could be coconuttier." And I was right. Boy, was I right.  I made some initial changes and then thought of some more that would be even better. So here's what I highly recommend you try:

3/4 C coconut flour
1/4 C almond meal
1/2 t Kosher salt
1 t baking soda
3-4 T unsweetened coconut shreds
3 T coconut sugar, divided
4 large eggs
1 cup coconut milk (regular, not light, shaken or stirred well)
1 T to 1/4 cup coconut oil (melted and cooled, since coconut milk is fatty, you could get away with very little oil IMO)

Preheat oven to 350°F. If you're not using a non-stick muffin tin, grease your tin. I recommend a giant-muffin tin for 6 large muffins. Whisk together everything through the coconut shreds and 2 T of the coconut sugar, making sure to crush any lumps in the flours or sugar. Make a well in the center and add the wet ingredients to it. Discard your whisk - it will not for for this next part! Using a large spoon, stir everything together really well. Divide into muffin tins and dust with the remaining 1 T of coconut sugar. Bake for 25 min, until the edges are golden and a toothpick comes out clean.

Nutrition facts will depend on how much coconut oil and shredded coconut you use, but here's an estimate for 3 eggs (I think 4 would be best after all), 2 T coconut sugar (needs more sweetness), 1/4 C coconut oil, and 3 T unsweetened coconut shreds, with the rest the same.

Makes 6 muffins.

Ch ch ch ch changes (and granola!)

This blog is turning over a new leaf. The recipes contained hereafter in this blog will be delicious and also healthy. Let me clarify that by healthy, I mean good for the body and good for the soul... I mean real food for real people. I don't mean "this week eggs are bad," or "fat-free cream cheese," or "gluten-free," or "paleo/primal/caveman/throwawayyourflourAAAAH!"

Let me start with something simple. I've been making my own granola, loosely based on Alton Brown's recipe. Store-bought granola is expensive and can be full of sugar and calories (and cinnamon GROSS). My coconut & black sesame granola is none of those things.

Coconut & Black Sesame Granola
3 C (240 g) old fashioned rolled oats 
50 g black sesame seeds* 
45 g unsweetened coconut shreds 
1/2 C date puree** 
1/4 C coconut milk*** 
big pinch of salt 

Mix everything together in a big bowl (use your hands to make sure everything is well-incorporated), then spread it out on a cookie sheet and bake at 250°F for 1 hour and 15 minutes, turning occasionally. It's not very sweet, but it's delicious, especially with some Greek yogurt and fruit (banana, pineapple, and/or mango in particular!).

Makes 10 servings. 

* You can find black sesame seeds for a great price at international markets!
** Date puree from http://healthykitchenguide.com/using-medjool-dates-instead-of-sugar-in-recipes/ (I made about 2 cups and keep what's left in the fridge). 
*** I used light coconut milk this time because it's what I happened to have on hand... because for some reason, Trader Joe's only carries light. /grumblegrumble