The Whole Coconut Cookbook



Add more coconut!! Studies demonstrate anti-inflammatory and weight loss benefits from adding Medium Chain Triglyceride or MCT oils. One of my favorite fats, coconut oil and coconut butter, contains these fabulous fat-burning MCTs.


About The Book


This beautiful and inspiring recipe collection helps you incorporate nature’s perfect superfood—the coconut—into your everyday cooking. From tangy coconut yogurt for breakfast to creamy coconut curry for dinner, The Whole Coconut Cookbook showcases infinite ways to enjoy this nutrition-packed fruit.    

With all of their creamy goodness and adaptability, coconuts are an indispensable ingredient in many recipes, from smoothies and curries to cakes and salads. Moreover, they are an incredible superfood, providing essential nutrients and healthy fats in recipes that are naturally gluten-free and dairy-free. In The Whole Coconut Cookbook, this amazing fruit is celebrated in all its glory, from the familiar coconut water, coconut oil, and sugar, to creamy coconut milk and coconut aminos. These ingredients shine in delicious recipes like Coconut, Ginger, and Cilantro Mussels; Coconut Sesame Noodles with Baby Bok Choy and Tamarind Dressing; Spicy Coconut Chips; and Coconut Orange Cookies. With a primer on the different parts of the fruit and a guide for using fresh coconuts at home, this beautiful book is perfect for anyone looking to incorporate this nutritional powerhouse into their every day home cooking.

Product Details

  • Hardcover: 128 pages
  • Publisher: Ten Speed Press (January 26, 2016)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1607748053
  • ISBN-13: 978-1607748052


Fresh Coconut
photo credit: michael modzelewski
I am a coconut fan! When my husband lived on Maui he discovered all the health benefits to the mighty coconut. I have used fresh coconut in many of my homemade granola and cookie recipes. I do drink coconut milk now and then but find myself using coconut oil often. How about you? Now, the above photo is not from the cookbook but once you purchase a coconut from the store, have fun opening it up when you return home! :-)

The Friday #56

"This simple and flavorful vegan curry feels indulgent and satisfying. Well spiced, with ample amounts of ginger, paprika, cardamom, cinnamon, cayenne, and anti-inflammatory turmeric, it packs a lot of nutritional punch - and makes a great topping for cauliflower "couscous."


Book Review

A valuable resource guide to many coconut ingredients can be found at the beginning of this wonderful book. If you're new to cooking with coconut like me, you'll enjoy learning about and creating some fantastic recipes with fresh coconut. The delightful square shaped hardcover book is easily organized with breakfast dishes, main courses, salads and sides and snacks. I especially like the cook's note added at the end of some of the recipes. The author shares healthy insights of nutritional value and explains what types of ingredients are being used. I have tried a few recipes from each section so far and I have found them to be accurate in portion servings, as well as discovering delicious tastes and aromas from the kitchen to the table. I am impressed with the coconut and its products. I will be incorporating this mighty ingredient to my everyday cooking. I love the information found here and the author's fresh approach in sharing her expertise with us.

5/5 stars! Excellent book. Recommend.

Sweet Potato, Spinach And Chickpea Curry

1 TBL. coconut oil
1 tsp. cumin seeds
1 medium onion, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
1-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and minced
Sea salt
1 teaspoon ground turmeric
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon sweet paprika
1/2 teaspoon ground cardamon
1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 large sweet potato (about 1 1/2 pounds), peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
1 cup vegetable broth
1 1/2 cups coconut milk
1 cup cooked chickpeas
Black pepper
1 pound baby spinach
1/3 cup flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped

Serves 4 

Heat a Dutch oven over medium heat. Melt the coconut oil and add the cumin seeds. Toast the seeds, stirring often, until fragrant about 1 minute. Add the onion, garlic, and ginger with a pinch of salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is translucent, about 5 mins. Stir in the turmeric, cayenne, paprika, cardamon, cinnamon and 2 teaspoons of salt. Add the sweet potato, broth, and coconut milk and make  sure the sweet potatoes are immersed in the liquid by pushing them down with a wooden spoon. Raise the heat to medium-high, and bring to a boil. Redce the heat and simmer until almost tender, 10-15 mins. Stir in the chickpeas and add black pepper to taste. Add the spinach, in batches if necessary, and allow it to wilt. Do not overcook- keep it on the heat for 2 minutes. Stir in the parsley and serve immediately.

About The Author


Nathalie Fraise is a natural foods chef and nutrition educator, and the creator of the cooking app and food blog Vanille Verte where she shares tasty and healthy, nutrient-dense recipes. Her mission is to inspire people to reclaim their kitchen and cook for themselves and their families, as she firmly believes that this is the very best road to health and vibrancy.
Author Website: www.vanilleverte.com


"I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review."


Skywatch Friday

Snow capped mountains: LadyD Books

February skies in SoCal. San Gregornio Mountain in background.







“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me." C. S. Lewis
© copyright 2015 – All rights reserved
LadyD Books
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Being A Captain Is Hard Work: Review


Being A Captain Is Hard Work: Review l LadyD Books

First, I love the book dedication:

For Halle, you are the calm in stormy seas, a voice of reason in chaos.

About the Book


Captain No Beard is determined to travel to Dew Rite Volcano. He won't listen when Mongo predicts a storm or Linus indicates they are headed in the wrong direction. He insists Polly cook in the galley even though the seas are getting rough. What's a crew to do with a stubborn, know-it-all captain? 
Will they convince the captain he is barreling headlong into danger, or will Captain No Beard jeopardize both his safety and the crew’s with his single-minded determination to go where he wants?



The Friday #56


The flag lay on the floor. It was torn and limp.
The crew looked at the crumbled heap, then to Dew Rite Volcano, and finally at the captain. They were not happy.
Being A Captain Is Hard Work: Bonnie Lemaire Illustrator l LadyD Books


Book Review


Very entertaining and educational, too. It's a great book for the little ones who love pirate stories, from preschool to early elementary school. What a winning combination, to have a fun story line woven with wonderful, exciting illustrations! I might add, the book is very engaging for the children to point to so many wonderful animals. There's Linus the lion, Mongo the monkey, Fribbet the frog and Polly the parrot. I especially like the creative artistry the author has in choosing many visual descriptive words that families will enjoy reading aloud. Example:

Captain No Beard
Captain of the Flying Dragon
Dew Rite Volcano

The crew is about these characters, Halle, Cayla and Zachary. While working hard, Polly Parrot brings them pretzels! The author has my grandchildren's attention (huge connection) from the beginning! Then introducing kids to types of clouds in the end notes is the best learning part of the story. Farther along, the captain and crew face a raging storm.  You will want to read about how the conflict is resolved and discover a fantastic truth, a life principle towards success. My favorite line, "But I'm the captain. I know everything!" Oh, really? You've got to read on concerning the stubborn little boy! We love the book and it's great for gift giving! 

5/5 stars! Highly recommend!


About The Author




Named to Kirkus Reviews' Best of 2012 for her first book, award winning author Carole P. Roman started writing as a dare from one of her sons. Using an imaginary game she played with her grandson as a base, Captain No Beard was born."Captain No Beard- An Imaginary Tale of a Pirate's Life" has not only been named to Kirkus Best of 2012, it received the Star of Exceptional Merit, and won the Pinnacle Award for 2012. "Pepper Parrot's Problem with Patience" Book 2 in the series, received 5 Stars from The ForeWord Review The Clarion Review. Strangers on the High Seas has won second place in the Rebecca's Reads Choice Awards 2013. It has followed with six more books to the series. This year, Captain No Beard and the Aurora Borealis was named to Kirkus Best 2015. The entire cultural non-fiction series If You Were Me and Lived in... was named Best Series by Shelf Unbound. She has begun work on two new series that will be released in early 2016.
Motivated by her love of yoga, Roman has written a book that not only teaches four poses, but shows how easy and accessible yoga can be. 
Her new non fiction series, "If You Were Me and Lived in..." combines her teaching past with her love of exploration and interest in the world around us. The debut book in the series, "If You Were Me and Lived in...Mexico" has won the Pinnacle Award for Best in Children's Non Fiction 2012. France, South Korea, and Norway. Rebecca's Reads has given If You Were Me and Lived in...Norway an honorable mention in the 2013 Choice Awards. If You Were Me and lived in ...France won second place. ForeWord Review has nominated If You Were Me and Lived in...France for best in children's non fiction literature 2013. They will be followed with Kenya, Turkey, India, and Australia. She plans to do Portugal, Greece, and Argentina next year.
Writing for children has opened up a whole second act for her. While she is still working in her family business, this has enabled her to share her sense of humor as well as love for history and culture with the audience she adores. Roman lives on Long Island with her husband and near her children.



Skywatch Friday: LadyD Books

Lovely February sky from the Oceanside Pier. Enjoying the view of the Pacific Ocean.

Happy reading and Skywatching!







“You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me." C. S. Lewis
© copyright 2015 – All rights reserved
LadyD Books
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All Aboard the Ark: Book Review


All Aboard the Ark

Book Description

All Aboard the Ark pairs simple rhyming text with charming watercolor illustrations in this delightful board book perfect for little ones.

Keep in mind that I have 5 adorable grandchildren who love to hear a good story!  Naturally we read lots of kid's books around my house. I have reviewed lots of board books over time, so you can take a peek towards the end of this post if you're interested.

The Friday #56


With the format of a  board book only having 24 pages with very little text, here is my favorite rhyme at the very beginning:

"Sun is high. Rain is coming.
God calls out. We come running."

My Thoughts


An adorable board book for young children, ages 2-4 and 4-8. It's a quick read with short rhymes to memorize. Just right for a bedtime story. So many animals will keep young children's attention, especially seeing the many pastel illustrations of animals. You'll find kids engaging with purple elephants, lavender giraffes and pink bunnies! Plus, there's some more fun loving animals with warm smiling faces. Everyone seems warm and content inside the ark that produces a feeling and sense of security that all is well. The story itself is a stream lined version of the Bible account of Noah's Ark for young minds to discover and learn from an animal perspective. The animals come running into the ark, they take a bath in a wooden tub and it's at this point you'll hear the children giggle! Once all 5 animals see the birdie with the leaf, they step outside 2 by 2 and dance under the rainbow sign in the sky of God's forever love. Soon they all fall fast asleep under the starry skies. Cute book! My favorite part of the book is the opening rhyme. The book is best suited for preschool. Keep in mind, it leaves out so much more from a Biblical account for the K-1st grade children.

4/5 stars. Recommend for home and church library. Good one for gift giving, too. Liked it!

**Disclosure** This book was sent to me free of charge by BookLook Bloggers in exchange for my honest review. Affiliate links in post.


More Board Book Reviews










What book have you been enjoying this week?



Skywatch Friday


storm coming: LadyD Books

Double rainbow: LadyD Books

Rainbow: God's forever love l LadyD Books


Another storm has passed, leaving us with more hopeful rainbow promises of a new day!


Happy reading and skywatching!






 “You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me." C. S. Lewis
© copyright 2015 – All rights reserved
LadyD Books
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No Need To Walk It Alone


Go To Church: LadyD Books


And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. -- Hebrews 10:24-25 (Bible Gateway)
LadyD as a child: LadyD Books

As an only child (yes, that's me!) I struggled with fitting in. Belonging to a small family and sitting at my piano and playing for hours was my comfort zone. As I started to experience friendships with many playmates as a little girl, I connected more and more with other families. By the time I reached high school and sang in the choir, I gleaned an understanding of contentment. By that I mean, it was well with my soul to belong to something that was much bigger than myself with other people.

Having known the Lord now for 40 years, and just celebrated our 40th anniversary, it is my experience that we really were not meant to go it alone. It is a blessing to belong to the family of God and merge (grow) with a community of believers. In fact, God tells us to go! You see, the invite is in His word... 'not giving up meeting together.' Once you have seen and felt corporate worship, you will never be the same. Again I think it's belonging to something huge and it makes you feel good inside. (happy)

I believe God has gifted you with a story. Actually, it's His story that He's writing through the testimony of your life. He wants you to share your life story with others. We are called to shine the light wherever we go. What better place than to go to your local church and start the first day of the week resting, hearing the word and having fellowship with God's people.

So, what is keeping you from going? Why walk alone? My heart hurts to think of so many people that feel very inadequate and live in isolation. You know, God has loving care and compassion for you. He promises not to abandon you. He will always remember you! Gen.30.22 (Bible Gateway)

Having played the keyboard on various worship teams for over 30 years, I love all the beautiful songs about God's amazing grace. How he gives us a second chance, forgives us and lifts our guilt when we are deeply sorry for doing things are own way. The invitation for God's eternal plan of salvation is to come, just as you are.

Once you have made the right decision to follow Christ, then gather around all the other team players. No, no one is perfect but you'll find love, support, encouragement and prayer partners. Honestly, we really need accountability and that's a good thing. Now you can reach out to others who are weary in walking alone, feeling depressed and hopeless. Read about How To Defeat Discouragement.

We (collectively) have found hope in Jesus. We can sparkle for Him. No need to walk it alone... Won't you attend church?

Blessings,






 “You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me." C. S. Lewis
© copyright 2015 – All rights reserved
LadyD Books