coconut

Easter Sweets: Butterfinger Panna Cotta with Easter Egg Nests

by liz · Mar 2, 2019

One of my favorite Easter sweets is panna cotta, or Italian “cooked cream.” It’s an eggless custard that is silky-smooth and so easy to make. In fact, David Lebovitz writes that if it takes you more than 5 minutes to put it together, you’re doing something wrong. If you haven’t yet tried to make custard, crème brulée or flan, panna cotta is the recipe to try first.

Our easy version for Easter, Butterfinger Panna Cotta Nests, uses items you already have in your pantry, since it replaces the cream with evaporated milk. That also lowers the fat and increases the nutrients! This dish has to be made in advance so it can set in the refrigerator, leaving you free on the day of the meal to entertain or cook other dishes. Putting the ingredients together and warming them in a pan are a snap, and the shredded coconut egg nests on top are perfect for a pretty Easter table.

Panna cotta is also an extremely versatile recipe. You can experiment and make your own version by adding lemon or orange zest, almond extract or even spices like saffron, pepper or rosemary. Here are some panna cotta recipes we love using chocolate and amaretto, as well as pumpkin spice and chocolate pistachio.

Happy Easter!

Butterfinger Panna Cotta Nests from Meals.com

Ingredients for 4 servings:

PANNA COTTA

3 tablespoons water
1 envelope (7 grams) unflavored gelatin
1 can (12 fluid ounces) Evaporated Milk
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/3 cup crushed BUTTERFINGER BITES Candy

NESTS

1 cup shredded sweetened coconut
4 drops green liquid food coloring
2 drops yellow liquid food coloring
BUTTERFINGER NestEggs

Directions:

FOR PANNA COTTA:
GREASE four 6-ounce or six 4-ounce ramekins or custard cups.

PLACE water in a small bowl; add gelatin and let stand to soften.

PLACE evaporated milk, sugar and vanilla extract in a small saucepan. Heat over medium heat, stirring frequently, for about 5 minutes or until sugar is dissolved. Turn off heat. Add gelatin mixture; stir gently to dissolve gelatin.

POUR into prepared ramekins; sprinkle with crushed Butterfinger.

REFRIGERATE for 2 hours or until panna cottas are firm.

FOR NESTS:
PLACE coconut in a resealable bag. Add green and yellow food coloring; seal bag and shake to thoroughly mix. If necessary, add 1 to 2 teaspoons of water to help color mix.

TOP panna cottas with coconut “grass”; top with 1 to 2 unwrapped Nestlé NestEggs.

Butterfinger Panna Cotta with Easter Egg Nests

Author: Meals.com

Recipe type: Dessert

Serves: 4

Scrumptious Italian dessert with chocolate for spring or Easter!

Ingredients

PANNA COTTA:
3 tablespoons water
1 envelope (7 grams) unflavored gelatin
1 can (12 fluid ounces) Evaporated Milk
¼ cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
⅓ cup crushed BUTTERFINGER BITES Candy
NESTS:
1 cup shredded sweetened coconut
4 drops green liquid food coloring
2 drops yellow liquid food coloring
BUTTERFINGER NestEggs

Instructions

FOR PANNA COTTA:
GREASE four 6-ounce or six 4-ounce ramekins or custard cups.
PLACE water in a small bowl; add gelatin and let stand to soften.
PLACE evaporated milk, sugar and vanilla extract in a small saucepan. Heat over medium heat, stirring frequently, for about 5 minutes or until sugar is dissolved. Turn off heat. Add gelatin mixture; stir gently to dissolve gelatin.
POUR into prepared ramekins; sprinkle with crushed Butterfinger.
REFRIGERATE for 2 hours or until panna cottas are firm.
FOR NESTS:
PLACE coconut in a resealable bag. Add green and yellow food coloring; seal bag and shake to thoroughly mix. If necessary, add 1 to 2 teaspoons of water to help color mix.
TOP panna cottas with coconut “grass”; top with 1 to 2 unwrapped Nestlé NestEggs.

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Cooking Light Recipe Makeover: Low Fat Piña Colada

by liz · Jun 12, 2018

Written by Liz –

The June issue of Cooking Light features a recipe makeover for that refreshing summertime treat: Low Fat Piña Coladas, shown above (photos by Randy Mayor, recipe and content by Cooking Light). They use Carnation evaporated milk to help lower fat but keep the creamy flavor:

“You’ll like our way of losing almost all the sat fat while keeping the delicious coconutty goodness. Freezing the pineapple adds a velvety texture and keeps the cocktail frozen longer. The riper the pineapple, the more concentrated the flavor will be.”

Sounds good to us! Excerpt below is from June 2012 issue of Cooking Light.

Lighter Piña Coladas

Nothing says “escape” like a creamy, ice-cold piña colada: cocktail in hand, feet in the sand, music in the background (hopefully not that dreadful piña colada song, the last #1 hit of the 1970s, unless it’s a guilty pleasure). Unfortunately, nothing says “better head to the gym” like a piña colada, too: 425 calories, 8 grams of saturated fat, most of which comes from the mysterious goo known as cream of coconut. We’ll show you how we kept the vacation-worthy flavor while slashing fat and calories. At just 158 calories, it’s all pleasure, no guilt.

Tip #1: Homemade Coconut Milk

We make our own infused coconut milk to replace heavy, sugary cream of coconut. This cuts 176 calories and 8 grams of sat fat per drink. Save day-of prep time by doing this step (step 1) the night before.

Tip #2: Fresh Pineapple

Pineapple peaks in summer; it’s sweet, slightly tart, and juicy. Sub fresh fruit for some of the canned juice and save 44 calories per drink. A splash of juice adds more acidity.

Tip #3: Gold Rum

We opted for the darker variety, with its hints of caramel and molasses, which better complement the creamy coconut and tart pineapple.

Piña Colada Recipe for Success

Freezing the pineapple adds a velvety texture and keeps the cocktail frozen longer. The riper the pineapple, the more concentrated the flavor will be. Get the recipe here.

Links:

Related better-for-you frozen cocktail recipes:

Green Jalapeño Margarita

Frosty Strawberry Margaritas

Natural Coconut Granola: the Best Granola in the World

by liz · Feb 27, 2014

So this is the best granola in the world. I know because I asked everyone I know to try it and they became immediately addicted. So, now I’m writing this up so they can all have the recipe and I won’t have to supply them anymore.

I got the base recipe from this Coco-Nutty Granola recipe at MindBodyGreen.com (I love this website!) and I’ve been experimenting with different ingredients and quantities. I have fun looking in my cupboards and using things I find to change up the combination every time, but I also think I’ve found the magic combination of whole foods (check out recipe below).

This all-natural, all-organic granola is not low-calorie by any means, but it is made of 100% super foods that are gluten-free and you can control the sugar. And if you need a low-sugar delicious green smoothie to go along with it, try this one!

Natural Coconut Granola: the Best Granola in the World

Author: Liz

This scrumptious coconut granola will keep you satisfied and full of wholesome foods, even if you don't like coconut!

Ingredients

5 tablespoons coconut oil, melted
2 cups coconut flakes (use large flakes, not shredded coconut)
2 cups organic quick oats
2 cups nuts (almonds, cashews, pecans, walnuts, etc.) or seeds (pumpkin, pepita, pine nuts, etc.), chopped roughly - I like to use a combination
½ cup organic flaxseed
½ cup chia seeds
1 or 2 teaspoons cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground cloves, ginger or other spice of your choice
¼ to ½ cup coconut sugar, evaporated cane juice or honey, to taste - the amount of sweetener is up to you

Instructions

Preheat oven to 275 degrees.
In large mixing bowl, combine all ingredients and stir until well combined. Place parchment paper in a cookie or cake pan big enough for one layer of granola.
Pour granola mixture into pan and spread evenly. Bake for 20 minutes or until golden. Stir granola or turn the pan halfway through cooking time.
If you like it crunchier, let it cook to a darker color. Just keep checking & stirring until you get your perfect crunch!

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Happy German Chocolate Cake Day & Early Father’s Day

by liz · Jun 11, 2013

My dad’s favorite cake has always been German chocolate cake. Early in this cake’s life, that meant using Samuel German’s baking chocolate to make a light-bodied chocolate layer cake, then adding coconut, caramel and pecan icing or glaze in between the layers and on top. You can see why he liked it so much!

When I was young, this was not my favorite cake to eat (no nuts or coconut for this girl, thank you) and it wasn’t the easiest cake to make either. My dad sometimes received a leaning tower of cake mess, other times a whole new version of the cake without layers or coconut or nuts after misreading the salt measurement — I accidentally switched the salt and sugar amounts — and dumping the entire first attempt into the creek behind our house. And for this, he should be thankful.

Today, I join my dad in loving German chocolate cake. And even though I now know how to make chocolate layer cakes, I really love to make these German Chocolate Cake Ice Cream Sundaes instead. It’s easy and satisfying and I don’t even have to turn on my oven! The ice cream even has little bites of chocolate cake in it (and if you can’t find the special German Chocolate Cake summertime flavor, any chocolate ice cream with brownie chunks will do). The flavor takes me right back to countless Father’s Days and birthdays for my dad, which I can now make taste richer and creamier.

Here’s to you dad!

German Chocolate Cake Ice Cream Sundaes

Ingredients:

1/2 cup Evaporated Milk
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg yolk, beaten
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into pieces
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup toasted chopped pecans
1/2 cup flaked coconut
6 scoops German Chocolate Cake Spectacular Ice Cream
1/3 cup whipped cream (optional)
6 maraschino cherries (optional)

Directions:

COMBINE evaporated milk, sugar, egg yolk and butter in a large saucepan. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, for about 5 minutes or until thickened, as shown above.

Remove from heat; stir in vanilla extract, pecans and coconut. Pour into a bowl; cool to room temperature.

PLACE scoop of ice cream into each of 6 bowls; drizzle with topping. Garnish with whipped cream and cherries, if desired as shown above. Serve immediately.

Happy German Chocolate Cake Day & Early Father's Day

Author: Meals.com

Recipe type: Dessert

Prep time: 5 mins

Total time: 5 mins

Serves: 6 servings

My dad's favorite cake has always been German chocolate cake. Today, I join my dad in loving German chocolate cake. And even though I now know how to make chocolate layer cakes, I really love to make these German Chocolate Cake Ice Cream Sundaes instead. It's easy and satisfying and I don't even have to turn on my oven!

Ingredients

½ cup Evaporated Milk
½ cup granulated sugar
1 large egg yolk, beaten
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into pieces
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ cup toasted chopped pecans
½ cup flaked coconut
6 scoops German Chocolate Cake Spectacular Ice Cream
⅓ cup whipped cream (optional)
6 maraschino cherries (optional)

Instructions

COMBINE evaporated milk, sugar, egg yolk and butter in a large saucepan. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, for about 5 minutes or until thickened. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla extract, pecans and coconut. Pour into a bowl; cool to room temperature.
PLACE scoop of ice cream into each of 6 bowls; drizzle with topping. Garnish with whipped cream and cherries, if desired. Serve immediately.

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