In praise of the Coconut

When I think of coconut trees and coconuts, I imagine palm trees swishing in the breeze and white sandy beaches below with aquamarine water not far away.  Coconuts have been a staple food  of  the Hawaiian's for eons.  They have massaged with it, drank its juice, cooked with it, fermented it for drinks, used its flesh for edible products and generally revered it for it's wonderful nourishing qualities.  Like bananas, I think you could just about live off it for quite some time if you were stranded on a desert Island!

I remember going to the Whitsundays a few years back and on one of our strolls, found a few coconuts which we brought back and opened. Mind you it did take me about half an hour to open just one, but they were so delicious and great for exercising the teeth and gums!  Sitting on the beach watching the sun go down and enjoying that fresh taste was a magic moment.  When I think of that spot I remember the delightful coconuts we ate.

Here's a recipe which has coconut and banana, it may just take you off to the tropical islands for a bit.

COCONUT BANANA PANCAKES

1 cup coconut milk
2 eggs or replacer
1 cup flour
1/2 cup grated coconut
1 tablespoon sugar
2 teaspns baking owder
1/2 tspn salt
1 banana, sliced and quartered
1/2 teaspn almond or vanilla extract

In a medium bowl beat together coconut milk, eggs and extract.  In a separate bowl, mix flour, grated coconut, sugar, b powder and salt.  Combine the wet and dry mixing them.  Cut bananas into small quarters and fold into batter. Heat coconut oil in pan, drop into pan and flip when bubbles appear.
Flip.
Goes well with Coconut Sauce. (below)
1 can coconut milk
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup cornflour
1/2 teaspn imitation coconut extract (optional)
Mix together coconut milk, sugar and cornflour in a saucepan.  Bring to a boil, reduce heat, simmer for 5 minutes, stirring constantly.  Mixture will thicken.  Add extract, Serve lukewarm over pancakes.
It will keep in fridge for a week.
Recipe from Coconut Lovers Cookbook, B. Fife.

Aloha.

Stress and A Way to Change it.

Transforming Stress:
Virtually everything we do causes stress and that's quite natural.  Thoughts, emotions, physical activity, food, environmental conditions, - all naturally cause stress. What isn't natural, as opposed to normal is sustained stress.  The natural flow of life is a repeating cycle of stress-tension-release-relaxation-stress and so on.  The unnatural flow is something like this:-
stress-tension-release-relaxaation
stress-tension-release-stress-tension-rel-stress-tension-stress
As the release and relaxation parts of the cycle are inhibited, the stress continues to build. When the tension=stress reaches a certain point, which varies in each individual, the body begins to break down.
Five things happen simultaneously:
1 Sugar is released in the bloodstream.
2. The thymus gland contracts.
3. Muscles tense.
4. Capillaries dilate.
5. Cells release toxins.
The effect of stress described occurs all over the body to some degree.  Since all conditions of sickness in the body are stress related, according to Hawaiian sharman teaching, knowing the source of stress will be highly useful in helping bring about healing.
The source of stress is resistance.Ku'e, meaning to stand apart.
There are 4 kinds of resistance.
Physical resistance. emotional resistance, mental resistance and spiritual resistance.
The Magic Touch:
Here is an extremely simple way for someone to feel good. It consists of lightly touching a person's body while they are standing, sitting, or lying down. When done with the right attitude,  this is a willingness, from the receiver or giver, it feels amazingly nice. Stand in front of the receiver and touch him or her with fingers of alternating hands for about the length of 2 heartbeats on the crown, throat, chest, solar plexus and navel. Then use both hands on either side of the body and touch jaws, shoulders, elbows, wrists, hips, knees, ankles and toes. Finish by raising your arms out to your sides and above your head, and sweeping your hands palm upwards, down in front of the receiver to hip level.
Enjoy giving and receiving this way when life gets too involved and the release will keep you on track.
Excerpts from Urban Shaman - Serge Kahili King.
Aloha......