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Magic Maple Coconut Jelly

Magic Maple Coconut Jelly

by Em · Apr 17, 2018

Maple Coconut Jelly: Make this gut-healing, muscle fueling, skin soothing snack that tastes amazing!

Maple coconut jelly squares are simply delicious and just the thing you need to refuel after a workout! They’re packed with collagen protein and healthy fats that love up your skin, guts and muscles. Super creamy and rich-tasting, while still being light means you won’t need a nap after treating yourself.

I’ve been eating some form of these for the entirety of my existence. My great grandma, Masao, would serve a similar version of these whenever we visited her in Oahu. I’m sure she’d be delighted that I’m continuing the tradition with a slightly modified recipe; I use grass-fed gelatin and replaced the refined cane sugar with pure maple syrup.  

What makes these squares magic? Besides being simple, quick to make and delicious, the jelly magically sets into two layers: a clear base with a creamy top layer — Voilà!

Maple Coconut Jelly: Make this gut-healing, muscle fueling, skin soothing snack that tastes amazing!

For suggestions on what brands of coconut milk and gelatin I use and love, check out my Favorite Products list!

Maple Coconut Jelly: Make this gut-healing, muscle fueling, skin soothing snack that tastes amazing!
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Magic Maple Coconut Jelly

This homemade coconut jelly is super creamy while still being light. You'll love the rich coconut flavor and the softly-set texture, and they couldn't be easier to make.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Setting Time 3 hours
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 16 small squares

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp grass-fed gelatin
  • 1 3/4 cups full-fat coconut milk
  • 2 1/4 cups filtered water
  • 1/2 cup maple syrup — or raw honey (local if possible) or 1 tsp stevia powder
  • a pinch unrefined sea salt
  • 1 tsp raw vanilla powder — optional , or vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp avocado oil or coconut oil — for greasing the pan

Tools

  • a medium-sized sauce pan
  • a 8" x 8" cake pan — in glass or food-grade silicone
  • a wire whisk
  • measuring cups & spoons
  • bee's wrap or another food wrap — to cover
  • a knife — for cutting into squares

Instructions

  1. Start by placing a medium saucepan on the cold burner of your stove. Add in the coconut milk and water. Then, sprinkle the gelatin over the top of the liquids and whisk well until the gelatin is fully incorporated with no visible clumps. Set the burner to medium-high and bring the mixture to a boil, whisking occasionally to keep the mixture smooth.
  2. Meanwhile, get out a 8"x8" cake pan and very lightly grease it with a bit of avocado oil or coconut oil. This step is important to ensure the jelly doesn’t stick to the pan. NOTE: Don’t use too much or the excess will float to the top of the jelly.
  3. Once the mixture has come to a gentle boil, take it off the burner, and whisk in the salt, maple syrup, and vanilla (if using.)
  4. Whisk for a couple minutes and then pour the mixture into the greased cake pan. If you want the jelly perfectly smooth on top, skim off any surface bubbles with a spoon.
  5. Cover the top of the pan tightly, while avoiding any contact between the cover and the jelly. Chill for at least 3-4 hours until jelly is fully set. Once set, you can cut the jelly into squares and store them in an airtight container in the fridge. Eat within 4-5 days. Makes approximately 8-10 squares.

Recipe Notes

NOTE: If using raw honey, after stirring in salt & vanilla (step #3), set a timer for 10 minutes. This allows the mixture to cool enough to preserve the raw honey’s enzymes when we add it in. After 10 minutes, whisk in the raw honey until fully dissolved.

Prefer thinner squares? Or fun shapes? You can do it all with this recipe:

  • 9" x 13" pan for thinner squares
  • food-grade silicone molds for fun shapes
  • ice cube trays for little bites (food-grade silicone works best)

Prefer firmer jelly? I like my coconut jelly on the side of just-set, like a panna cotta. If you prefer the texture of a firmer jelly, or need your jelly to be resilient to travel or slicing, start with small adjustments. Try adding just a little more gelatin, 1-1.5 tsp should work just fine.

This jelly is endlessly adaptable and takes on flavors well. Here are a few of my favorites:

  • Vanilla Bean Coconut Jelly with Fresh Raspberries: Once you pour the hot jelly mixture into the pan, add in 1 1/2 to 2 cups of fresh raspberries, and proceed as usual. The sweet/tart addition of raspberries can't be beat!
  • Golden Milk Jelly: Add in turmeric, ginger, cinnamon and black pepper during step #1. It's all of the benefits of Golden Recovery Milk, in a snackable form.
  • Orange Creamsicle Jelly: Replace 1 cup of the filtered water with freshly pressed (pulp-free) orange juice and up the vanilla to 2 tsp. 
  • Hawai'ian Haupia Jelly: Toast coconut in the oven. Once toasted, toss with 1 tsp coconut sugar and a pinch of salt. When serving, top the already cut and plated squares with toasted coconut mixture. Although my great-grandma always served her jelly plain, in Hawai'i, coconut jelly is commonly served with toasted coconut. 

Maple Coconut Jelly: Make this gut-healing, muscle fueling, skin soothing snack that tastes amazing!

Filed Under: Desserts Tagged With: coconut, collagen, easy meal prep, eggless, gelatin, gluten-free, make ahead, meal prep, non-dairy, on the go, paleo

The Ultimate Vegan BLT

The Ultimate Vegan BLT

by Em · Jan 14, 2018

Do you ever experience real food cravings? I’m talking about fruits, vegetables, or whole-food animal products — foods that I’d call base ingredients: raw, simple and essential. Real food cravings are surprisingly common, and I’m sure you’ve experienced this feeling or know someone who has. For example, after months of not eating beets, I’ll suddenly want beets in a salad, hummus and a smoothie. Or I’ll wake up one morning and decide that I’ll want avocado for lunch, or steak for dinner.

To me, a “real food craving” feels like an intense hankering from the gut rather than the tongue. Unlike a sugar-monster craving or a caffeine headache, it’s a controllable feeling — a gentle, yet firm request, repeatedly asked for by the body. “Beets sound SO good right now…I wonder if that cafe has the beet salad on their menu right now…” I’ve learned to listen to this bodily signal and follow-through, and each time I’m met with a deep sense of satisfaction and restoration.

The latest real food craving came during lunchtime. Well actually, it was quite a bit past lunch time and I was verging on hangry territory. I wanted a meal that was as easy and delicious as it was nutritious. And I couldn’t get the idea of dulse out of my mind. I’d picked up a packet a few days before and didn’t make it out of the parking lot without snacking on a third of the bag. My body was in need. I took the dulse packet down from the cupboard and scanned the fridge for a possible pairing. I had fresh green lettuce, gluten-free bread, smoky tempeh bacon and ripe tomatoes. Lunch would be a BLT done-up vegan-style, and I wanted it clean yet verging on sloppy-good in the middle…

[Read more…] about The Ultimate Vegan BLT

Filed Under: Sandwiches and Wraps Tagged With: dairy-free, egg-free, fermented foods, gluten-free, sandwiches, vegan, vegetarian

The Holistic Shampoo that Restored my Hair and Scalp Health

The Holistic Shampoo that Restored my Hair and Scalp Health

by Em · Jun 28, 2017

My Favorite Holistic Shampoo | Super-Natural, Ultra-Nourishing, Effectively Cleanses | glow_notes @ http://glownotes.co

My favorite haircare line, Morrocco Method, covers all the bases: It’s all natural and really, truly establishes a balance between cleansing the hair and nourishing the scalp. If you’re looking for a shampoo that works with a healthy lifestyle, get out your green beauty bingo card and get ready, because these products are: Raw, Vegan, Paleo, Wildcrafted, Sulfate-Free, Gluten-Free, GMO-free, as well as non-foaming, cruelty-free, color-safe, and made in the USA. Bingo!

[Read more…] about The Holistic Shampoo that Restored my Hair and Scalp Health

Filed Under: Beauty Tagged With: cruelty-free, gluten-free, gmo-free, hair, haircare, made in the usa, paleo, raw, sulfate-free, vegan, wildcrafted

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