Yummy Homemade Coconut Cream Pie

Coconut Cream Pie by little blue hen @ flickr


From Denny: When it comes to holidays, new Spring weather and the coming summer, Southern cooks in my area often turn to making coconut cream pie. It's a real crowd pleaser and great for school functions, family gatherings and holidays.

If you don't have the time to make your own pie crust just purchase one from the refrigerated section of your grocery store as many of them are quite good. If you never have made your own, take the challenge and enjoy the fun of "making it from scratch" as the old cooks used to say.

If you don't like meringue to top the pie you can always use a whipped cream topping, preferably the real thing and not the imitation. Also, if you get in a hurry and forget to place the coconut on the topping to toast as it bakes just add toasted coconut later to each individual piece as you serve!





Coconut Cream Pie

From: Food writer Corinne Cook @ 2TheAdvocate

Makes: 1 ( 9-inch) pie

Ingredients:

1 (9-inch) pie crust, baked

Coconut Cream (or Custard) Filling:

2/3 cup sugar
3 tbls. cornstarch OR 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
Small pinch of salt
2 cups milk
3 large eggs, (separate whites from yolks and place in separate bowls)
1-1/2 tbls. butter
1 tsp. vanilla
3/4 cup grated coconut
1/2 cup grated coconut for topping

Meringue:

3 egg whites at room temperature
1/4 tsp. cream of tartar
6 tbls. sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

Directions:

Coconut Cream (or Custard) Filling:

1. Prepare pie crust and bake. Allow to cool completely.

2. In medium saucepan, combine sugar, cornstarch or flour and salt.

3. Gradually stir in the milk and mix well. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens and comes to a boil. Boil for about 1-1/2 minutes more, then remove from heat.

4. Beat egg yolks with a fork until they’re well blended. While stirring, slowly stir about 1 cup of the hot mixture into the beaten egg yolks; then add it back to the hot mixture. Cook, while constantly stirring, another 1 or 2 minutes or until thickened. Remove from heat.

5. Stir in the butter, vanilla and 3/4 cup grated coconut. Pour into baked pie shell which has cooled completely.


Directions for Meringue:

1. Using a mixer, beat egg whites and cream of tartar together until frothy. Gradually start adding sugar a little bit at a time. Beat until stiff and glossy and sugar is dissolved. Beat in vanilla.

2. Drop spoonfuls onto hot custard in pie shell and spread meringue to meet edges of crust to prevent shrinking and weeping. Make swirls or dab spoon on top of meringue to make points. Sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup coconut.

3. Bake in preheated 400-degree oven until lightly browned, about 7 to 9 minutes.


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Vancouver Olympics Indian Veggies Recipe, Coconut and Curry

Photo of a similar dish by Dyanna @ flickr

From Denny: The networks sure are cranking out the food stories, complete with recipes during this Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada! This is a little lovely for the vegetarian crowd from Vancouver's most famous Indian restaurant. You can easily make this Coconut Curried Vegetables dish at home to enjoy.

From NBC: Vancouver’s most famous Indian restaurant, Vij’s, doesn’t take reservations and doesn’t need to. But you don’t have to travel to Canada to taste what the fuss is all about. Here, the owners offer a recipe for coconut curried vegetables.

Coconut curried vegetables

From: Vikrim Vij, owner of Vij's


INGREDIENTS

• 1 med. cauliflower, cut into medium pieces
• 1 med. eggplant, cut in 1 1/2" cubes
• 2 lg. red bell peppers, cut in 1 1/2" cubes
• 2 lg. ripe tomatoes, diced
• 1 1/2 tsp black mustard seeds
• 1 lg. onion, finely chopped
• 2 lg. cloves garlic, chopped
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 level tsp turmeric
• 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 15 fresh curry leaves (available at most Indian grocers; they should be green, not brownish green)
• 1 can of pure coconut milk
• 1/2 cup chopped cilantro leaves
• 3-4 tablespoons canola oil


DIRECTIONS:

In large saucepan heat oil over medium heat for one minute and add curry leaves and mustard seeds. Wait until they start to sizzle and let sizzle for approximately 30 seconds or until a few start to pop. The curry leaves will cook and become shriveled. Immediately add garlic and onions. Sauté until onions are golden brown. Add tomatoes and all powdered spices. Continue to saute until the oil separates from the tomato “masala.”

Add coconut milk. Bring to a light boil, add eggplant, cover and simmer for 5 minutes. Add remaining vegetables, cover pan and cook to taste, approximately 15 minutes. Turn heat off, stir in cilantro.


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