Oven Fries put Coconut Oil to the test

I found two brands of coconut oil in my local stores: Nutiva organic unrefined cold pressed extra virgin coconut oil and Spectrum expeller pressed organic coconut oil.
Spectrum says refined for medium high heat on the bottle. Nutiva is recommended for heat up to 350 degrees. I bought a jar of both to try. Both bottles have solid white oil in them. It actually looks a bit like what I remember the Crisco my mother used to use looked like.

Here is the test recipe:

Oven fries
3-4 yukon gold yellow potatoes cut into fry wedges
About two-three tablespoons of oil
Salt, pepper, garlic and rosemary to taste.
Place everything in an oven safe dish or pan. Toss the potatoes gently to fully coat with seasonings.
Place into the oven at 375 degrees for about 45 minutes until golden brown. Turn the potatoes over with a spatula once around the middle of the cooking time so they brown evenly.

I have previously made this simple recipe several times using other oils so I have some idea of what to expect.

I tried it with the Spectrum coconut oil first. These were great!! I think the coconut oil is a better recipe then any oil I previously tried! It doesn't leave any oil taste. You just taste the potatoes and whatever seasonings you have put on them. Yum!

I will have to try the Nutiva coconut oil next and will let you know the results. Since it says cook up to 350 degrees, the recipe will have to be modified slightly and may have a longer cooking time. But I'm sure it will taste delicious!

Slow Foodies

Slow Foodies
Take a look at this article on potential problems with soy products in our food. Soy has replaced the trans fats in a lot of prepared food.

Strawberries?

There is nothing like a strawberry shortcake dessert...whipped cream and sweet berries, yum! There is actually a wonderful you-pick strawberry field down the road that calls to me every berry season.

But the Environmental Working Group (see link below) has placed strawberries at #6 of their "Dirty Dozen" fruits and vegetables with the most pesticides. They recommend buying organic. There are hardly any organic strawberries in the grocery stores around me. And when they are there, they are usually little things that look like they are a few days past their prime.

A friend tells me that she just eats them and hopes her immune system will do it's job if there are any pesticides. When I break down and really must have them, I go to the you-pick them field (not organic but they tell me they use the least chemicals they can) and wash them really well.

What do you do? Do you use organic produce? Are there any fruits or vegetables you will only buy organic?

http://www.ewg.org/

Good Fats

I am reading Good Fat Cookbook by Fran McCullough. The book makes a strong case for coconut oil as a very healthy fat that is essential for your diet. It says most of the Western world has been brainwashed against coconut, but it actually prevents heart attacks/blood clots by inhibiting platelet stickiness. It also helps rev up your metabolism!

Good Fat Cookbook lists the following benefits under the heading "What's So Good About Coconut?"
It's low fat
Zero Cholesterol
Increases Metabolism rates
Excellent Fiber source
Used for energy, not easily converted to body fat
Contains luaric acid, antioexidants.


Hey, they had me at increases metabolism! Who couldn't use a faster metabolism?

Recommendations for a good coconut oil include Tropical Traditions, http://www.tropicaltraditions.com/
Virgin Oil de Coco-Creme, http:///www.virgincoconutoil.com/
and Spectrum, http://www.spectrumorganics.com/index.php.

There is a lot of info on the Tropical Traditions website plus some interesting pics of them processing the coconuts.

What Should We Eat?

I ask this question every day. I want to create a wholesome meal for me and my family, but what is good anymore? What has maximum nutrition, no trans fats, no pesticides, no growth hormones, no antibiotic residues, etc? Are we getting enough vitamins or too much sugar?

I grew up in a family that thought McDonalds was perfectly fine meal so I think I have a lot to learn.