I was very lucky to find the Old Coconuts and Fresh Coconuts. For the longest time, Old Coconuts became a rare find at some of the grocery stores. They only carry the fresh young coconuts.
If you didn't know, the old coconuts is usually brown - its husks have been shaved off. When coconut's husks are exposed to the air, they will eventually turn brown. Depending on the age of the coconuts and size, there maybe a little coconut 'milk' << clear liquid in it to drink. The white tender jelly like flesh also would turn firm and difficult to ply off from its shell.
Here is the picture of the Old coconut and young coconut. The young coconut is usually sold with thick white husk still attached. If you get to eat really fresh coconuts sold by the street vendor in Asia or in tropic, you will notice that there is hardly any 'hard' shell forming in the coconut. The vendor can use the machete to slice off the top after shaving off the husks and pour the 'milk' / juice right into a cup. With a large spoon, the soft jell like coconut fresh is scooped right out and served with the drink. Yum.... that brings back a good memory.
To open the coconut, locate its eyes. Poke it. Turn it over a cup or bowl with a filter to catch debris.
I like to use my micro coffee filter to re-filter the milk.
Drink some and save about a 1/2 C for making Coconut Cream.
To hammer open the coconut, place it in a plastic bag. Use a heavy hammer and crack it open.
Ply the coconut flesh away from the shell. Clean the peel off if you want to use it for cooking. To shred it to make your sweet shredded coconut. See the tool I used below.
I was able to find this Coconut shredder make in Thailand at one of the Asian market in San Jose. I was hoping to find the ones with a hole in the center and attached to a bar or made from a one piece metal with the shredder head at its one end. But this worked out fine,
You have to place one foot on the stool while sitting on a low stool. With a bowl underneath, you start scraping the coconut across the shredder.
Try not to shred too close to the shell; otherwise, the shell will be shredded and become part of the wonderfully shredded coconut flesh.
Spread the shredded coconuts over the parchment paper on a baking sheet. Sprinkle some sugar. Mix with fork in a raking motion .Taste it. Adjust the sweetness. Dry in oven set to the lowest available temperature. Rake it often until dry enough to store away in an air tight container.
I will post how to make the coconut cream later.
Chinese New Year Cake in November? Well, I just couldn't get over the good taste of it since I last made. Beside, I had those home made Taro fillings saved in the freezer that I want to use. It is so easy to make, and they are great for anytime snack.
Check the Ingredients and methods under previous posting of the Chinese New Year Cake.
Mix sweet rice powder - glutinous rice powder with water. Then filled the greased cake pan or heat proof pan that can take the steam.
Home made Taro Pastes formed into ball and saved in Freezer. Just take them out of the freezer and place on top of the mixed sweet rice.
Red Dates >>> JuJube dates
Fill the top of Taro and Dates more mixtures.
Tip: You see the greased was paper lining the cake mold. Do not do that. The best cake mold is the Non-stick spring release cake mold. *Wax paper will get stuck to the cake when done. Just cut around it to remove the wax paper, if you did not remove it right after the cake was taken out of the steamer.
Place in steamer basket and steam for 2+ hours.
See the difference in the original height and when the cake is fully steamed. The color is also translucent.
If you have time, remove the cake out of the mold and try to remove the wax paper. If it is stuck, then, might as well wait till it is fully cooled. Slice off the wax paper before heating.
If you are going to eat it after an hour while it is still warm, moisten the knife before cutting.
I visited Apple Hill back in November. Days go by so quick that I can't quite keep up with the interesting postings that I want to share. This is my second visit to the Apple Hills; however, I did not find "anything" of the advertised activities going on when I tried it last year. But this year, I was lucky, Families - by car or by bus loads arrived at the Apple Hills to enjoy the day. I find Apple Donuts and Apple this and that all very interesting. Here is my photo journal of my visit.
What to expect, if you go? Long lines to buy anything. So, decide what you want to taste and do it before you get too hungry or too tired. And have a plan how to transfer all the food from the purchasing window to the Full House Picnic area, if you are the only one in the line to buy food for the family. They do serve food over the tray. And people are very kind and willing to share the table, if you ask.
I ordered the Spicy Text Chili over Chips..... How was it? I think it needs more kicks. Or remove the word "Spicy" from the menu.
I also ordered BBQ chicken dinner combo. The BBQ chicken was really good. Apple Salad was very tasty.
Looks like I don't have the pictures of the Apple Fritters and dozen assorted Apple Donuts, but I say the Apple Fritters were good -- I was expecting a bit more chunks of Apples, however.. As for the assorted "Apple Donuts", I give it a B-. Likely because I thought may be there is a slice of apple wedged between the dough and fried or apples are hidden inside... but "no". Maybe the dough was mixed with Apple juice? thus Apple donuts? I will go with Apple Fritters only, the next time.
I watched families fishing in the pond and fun with face painting, and I took a hay ride. It was a nice balmy weather with beautiful hills of apples and grapes and laughter of children everywhere. I had fun.
