January "Coconut" Dinner

Well, it's 2012 and we are off to a great start!  Paprika hosted the January Dinner Club and picked Coconut as her ingredient of choice!  Kudos to both Paprika and Saucy for using Coconuts from scratch!!  After struggling with knives, hammers, ice picks and screwdrivers they soon discovered the need for the quintessential kitchen tool:  The Machete!

 Paprika started us off with "shots" of Coconut water and a slice (hack) of coconut meat. 

We forgot to come armed with our Coconut Dinner Facts, so Paprika and Couscous improvised from their trip to Punta Cana last year.  Coconut water is a natural replacement of electrolytes!  Better than Gatorade because it doesn't contain all the artificial sugar and calories!

Saucy made a tantalizing appetizer of toasted coconut slices (hacks), accompanied by coconut cheese balls.  The scrumptious cheese balls were comprised of cream cheese, macadamia nuts, coconut flakes and cinnamon rolled in coconut flakes.  We truly couldn't stop eating this!

Saucy's wine accompaniment was Vego Murilla red varietal.  As it's impossible to find coconut wine! 

This wine fit the theme because the little swirls look like coconuts (squint a bit, you'll see it).

Paprika's entree was chicken tenders and tofu 

(yes, she has mastered the art of tofu - firm; Extra Extra Extra firm!),

with a garlic, coconut, and panko coating.  

She paired it with basmati rice and a warm coconut milk and mayo sauce.

Weird combo for the sauce you say? But it was oh so yummy!

Couscous brought another varietal wine which fit the coconut theme because this is what you would see if a coconut hit you on the head! (Hard to see in this picture, but the label is a crazy swirl!)

True fact: Coconuts have killed more people in the Dominican Republic than Malaria!

Couscous' side dish was a Thai Coconut Rice: 

Jasmine rice made with coconut milk and flaked coconut topped with toasted coconut.

Finally, Grapes rounded out the evening with a delectable dessert:

Crescent rolls filled with Nutella, banana and coconut and baked.  Oooey, gooey goodness!

We had a ball at our first dinner club of the year and are planning a field trip to

Cabela's Hunting Store for Machetes.

 

Wonder what other "kitchen" tools we will need for upcoming dinners!  Stay tuned!