Tropical Traditions Coconut Oil Review

Coconut oil has recently become VERY popular especially in the whole food blogging world! It has many beneficial health benefits and is a "healthier" fat to consume. Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil from Tropical Tradtions is the brand that I started with. I know there are many brands and kinds out there, but this seems to be one of the best, it's smooth and tastes great!

I first started using this actually on my son's diaper rash instead of traditional diaper creams as he was wearing cloth diapers at the time and this is safe for use on them. It cleared up beautifully...

I knew I could also cook or bake with it. But I'll be honest it took me a while to actually take that first step and try it out! But I'm learning still and finding all kinds of new things to make with it!

One night I decided to "fry" our homemade tater tots in it...it did have a slightly coconut taste to them, which did work, but not sure I will fry with it again unless it's for a sweet dish vs. a savory one.

I recently tried an AMAZING granola recipe...which called for canola oil. I instead decided to melt coconut oil and use that instead. It was the best granola we have ever had tasted. Much better than store bought. The coconut oil added that slight hint of coconut flavor and it wasn't over powering. This is the only granola recipe I make...and I only use coconut oil in it!

This past week, I decided to try it in baking. I have yet to be brave enough to try it, and I also wanted to make sure I was feeding it to people who liked coconut. I used my brownie recipe and used half coconut oil and half butter. No one could tell that I had used coconut oil in it, although I could. They knew something was different about it, but couldn't pin point it. The flavor was very subtle. The next day, I found the coconut flavor to be a bit more prominent, but the brownies still tasted delicious. I didn't mind the chocolate coconut flavor, but I know some people don't. The battle was still perfect and they baked up beautifully!

There are lots of ways and recipes to use coconut oil and there are lots of ideas found on Tropical Traditions website!

To read more about the great benefits of using and cooking with coconut oil be sure to check out Tropical Tradtions website as they have TONS of information on it! From how it is made and where it comes from!

**Disclaimer:I was contacted by Tropical Traditions and received a jar of their virgin coconut oil to review

Grilled Chicken Tzatziki

 I'm always looking for new way to make chicken and this sounded tasty and it combined yogurt with chicken for protein packed dinner!


Grilled Chicken Tzatziki-shared from Style At Home
Marinade:
1/2 cup plain greek yogurt
2 tbsp honey
2 tsp fresh lemon juice+2 tsp lemon zest
2 tsp hot sauce
1-2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp pepper
pinch of salt
4 boneless, skinless chicken breast

Place all ingredients except chicken in a zip top bag. Mix together until well combined. Add in chicken and cover completely with mixture. Squeeze air out, seal, and allow to marinate for up to 4 hours.

You can then go on to grill the chicken until no longer pink. I cooked it in a 350 degree oven for about 20-25 mins and then turned the broiler on for 5 mins to get the charcoal look!

Let chicken rest for about 5 mins and then slice. Serve as is. OR I took a pita, and spread on some hummus, topped it with some lettuce, and then the chicken and wrapped it up.


**This chicken was SO moist and flavorful! It was the best chicken I've had in a long time. I loved the kick the hot sauce added and the citrus tang. Definitely will be made again! YUM! Even the leftovers were still moist and flavorful!

Caramel Apple Cake with Apple Cider Frosting

 We had a few friends and family over this weekend for lunch. One of the guy's birthday was the following day so I told him I'd make a cake. I thought this sounded like the perfect fall birthday cake!

Caramel Apple Cake with Apple Cider Frosting-shared from A Hint Of Honey
Cake:
2 cups whole wheat pastry flour(used white whole wheat)
1 3/4 cup all purpose flour
1 tbsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups light brown sugar
3/4 cup oil
3/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
3/4 cup caramel sauce
2 tsp vanilla extract
3 eggs
1 1/2 cups buttermilk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour 2 8 or 9 inch round cake pans.

Whisk dry ingredients together except sugar. In another large mixing bowl combine sugar, oil, applesauce, caramel, and vanilla, beat until well combined.Add eggs in one at a time and beat well after each addition. Add flour mixture in 3 parts, alternating with buttermilk, and continue to mix until well combined.

Pour batter into cake pans and bake until golden brown and toothpick comes out clean, about 35-40 minutes. Set aside to cool for 10 minutes and then gently remove cake from pan. Let cool completely.

Apple Cider Frosting:
about 6 cups powdered sugar*
1 1/2 sticks butter, softened
1/2 cup apple cider
3/4 tsp ground cinnamon
pinch of salt

*the original recipe called for 7 1/2-8 cups sugar, but I found at 6 it was plenty sweet enough

Place all ingredients in mixer and beat until light and fluffy.

Place cake on cake plate and trim if needed. Place about 1 cup of sugar on top and spread out. Lay second layer on top and frost cake with remaining frosting. Allow frosting to set before serving!


**This cake was PHENOMENAL!! It was moist and not to sweet. The frosting had a nice cinnamon taste to it and added a nice touch to the cake. Everyone loved it!

Menu Plan...on Wednesday

I know it's a few days late...but here is this week's menu!

I don't really have anything planned as far as baking or breakfast this week. Nothing new anyway..but I'd love some high protein breakfast ideas as I'm getting into a slump...I usually have eggs or greek yogurt and well I need some more variety!

Dinner:
-Creamy Chicken Marsala Pasta
-Black Bean Taquitos
-Sloppy Johnnies
-Thai Beef with Chilis and Coconut Rice
-Peanut Satay Pork Chops

Tasty Tuesday

Cranberry Orange Ginger Bread-Sweet As Sugar Cookies
Crock Pot Turkey White Bean Pumpkin Chili-GIna's Skinny Recipes
THick and Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies-Teacher Turned Mommy
Cake Filled Peanut Butter Cups-Vanilla Sugar
Mexican Beer Slow Cooker Chicken-Creatively Domestic
Biscoff Cookie Dough Dip-Mo'Betta
Asiago Garlic Rolls-Frugal Antics of a Harried Housewife
Breakfast Meatballs-Budget Gourmet Mom
Sausage and Spinach Gnocci Toss-apples to zucchini

Cake Batter Waffles

 I think this will definitely be a new tradition in our house for birthdays!! I meant to get a vanilla cake mix because K doesn't like chocolate in the morning...but then I remembered it was MY birthday and not his, and I LOVE chocolate cake! This is quite simple to make and delicious!

Cake Batter Waffles-found on pinterest
cake mix
extra ingredients needed found on cake mix box(i did use applesauce instead of oil)
Toppings: homemade whipped cream, ice cream, sprinkles(we had whipped cream)

Preheat waffle maker. Make cake mix as directed on package.  Laddle onto hot griddle and cook according to waffle maker's directions.

Serve waffles with a dollop of whipped cream or ice cream and sprinkled with some festive sprinkles!

**These were delicious and I loved how easy they were! They also made for a fun birthday breakfast! Next time I may try a homemade batter, I was just trying to keep it low key!

Menu Plan Monday

Over the weekend was my birthday and to celebrate I made some cake batter waffles...delicious and easy! We also went out for Thai with my aunt also tasty!

Breakfast:
-Cake Batter Waffles
-Greek Yogurt and Granola
-Egg McMuffins


Dinner:
-Balsamic Garlic Crusted Pork Tenderloin, veggies
-Zuppa Toscana Soup
-Chicken Tzitaki Wraps with homemade flat bread
-Spaghetti Squash Lasagna

I am hosting a lunch on Sunday but I'm having a hard time deciding what to serve with ham...we have a family coming who is vegetarian, so what do you suggest I serve with it?I need something with protein in it, I plan to do a creamy quinoa dish, along with mashed potatoes, and some veggies, perhaps a salad, but want a hot dish as well!