I've got a lovely bunch ...

I remember when coconuts were found in fairgrounds, in Bounty bars and in my mum's baking; melting moments, coconut macaroons and sprinkled over the icing on buns and cakes. To be honest, I was never a lover but now find myself using it in its many forms.

- Coconut milk is a favourite in overnight oats, especially teamed with vanilla and raspberries

- Coconut water is a refreshing drink containing potassium, manganese, magnesium, folate, calcium and selenium and is low in calories

- Coconut rice is a combination which seems to go hand in hand

- Coconut oil used in baking and cooking has many benefits and can also be used as a moisturiser for hair and skin

- Coconut flour is gluten free, contains protein and less is used than conventional flour as it absorbs 3 X its weight in liquid.

- Dessicated coconut in veggie chillis and curries adds flavour and texture

- Tinned Coconut milk adds a creaminess to curries.  

My top tip is to use tinned coconut milk when making butternut squash lasagne. Again, a delicious pairing giving a silky smooth texture.

So don't be too shy shy - have a go at using coconuts. 

Winner Winner Veggie Dinner

July and my garden is looking colourful in some areas but a little sad in others. Many plants have been and gone; at their best at the end of May/early June. A trip to Tatton Park Flower Show was required for a little inspiration.

The picnic and Pimms were consumed on arrival and then it was time for a walk around the show gardens, stalls, pavilion and plant stands. The flowers were bountiful and beautiful and the gardens illuminating.

Inside the pavilion were wonderful displays of plants from growers around the country. I was particularly  impressed with the vegetable stand. Literally a work of art. My own vegetable garden gave way to a new patio a couple of years ago and I miss going out to pull up veggies and pick beans and berries. There is something very satisfying about producing your own meal from start to finish. 

I am currently looking for a new area of the garden to covert for veggies or fruit. I'll find that space so you can watch this space.

Banana-drama

As one of my 5-a-day I almost always eat a banana. They are my go-to in overnight oats, on porridge or mashed on toast. I eat them straight from the skin after a run or blend them in a smoothie. Almost always they are the healthy option with potassium, magnesium, fibre, protein and vitamins B6 and B12. They contain anti-oxidants and are believed to help prevent strokes and even some cancers.

As well as the above health reasons for eating bananas, they are sweet and satisfying without being acidy like some fruits. 

For a sweet treat they can be used in cakes, puddings and desserts. The other day I went for brunch and opted for banana bread. Little did I know it would be a work of art on a plate. Yes a piece of delicious banana bread sat in the middle on top of which were slices of caramelised banana. On the side was a small dish of mascarpone, a jar of honey, three kinds of berries and the whole thing scattered with edible flowers. So pretty and so delicious. 

Bananas are shaped like a sunny yellow smile and are thought to contain serotonin and help prevent depression. So versatile and so many benefits; you just have to smile.

Not always a Cake-walk

My baking career began with my first child's birthday. A fellow mum loaned me the recipe and cake tin to make a huge number 1 cake. It tasted pretty bad and didn't look that great either. By Jack's second birthday I had improved greatly and made my own version of a Jack-in-a-box cake. A pirate party for his third birthday and I made a lighthouse cake which proved to be more like the leaning tower of Pisa. A magic party complete with magician and my husband making wands for the party bags; I made a black and white cake decorated with stars and moons. Just after his fourth birthday I gave birth to our daughter. On her first birthday I was exhausted and ran to the supermarket to buy her a Snowman cake so that I could plonk a single candle into his orange nose. My indignant five year old son moaned "how come she gets a bought cake?"

In the years that have followed we have had a mixture of home made cakes and, quite often, shop bought offerings.

Jack has this week graduated with a first class honours degree. Colin the Caterpillar was never going to (excuse the pun) make the cut. I couldn't resist making and decorating my own. Love is cooked and baked into food and this time, a large dollop of pride.

Capers in Cape Cod

Leaving Bean Town behind, aka Boston, (and I thought Chicago was the Windy City!) and moving on to Cape Cod. Menus here are awash with seafood but I did manage a couple of lovely vegetarian meals.

In West Chatham they substituted the coriander blackened tuna for aubergine with chilled chilli lime lo mein noodles with snap peas, scallions, shimeji mushrooms, crispy wontons and gingered plum salsa. Heaven on a plate! This was after eating a delicious starter of pumpkin pasta. Definitely my best stateside meal.

In Provincetown I enjoyed a fabulous veggie toastie accompanied by cucumber spring water. The temperature was scorchio on the street but the delightful shady garden of Canteen leading on to the beach was a welcome retreat. Sitting around a communal table it was casual dining at its best. In the evening we stopped at Macs Shack in Wellfleet where I had (my first) Thai veggie sushi whilst the family tucked into oysters before watching the sun set by the harbour.

A more basic lunch of peanut butter and jelly sandwich with Cape Cod crisps and beer was just the energy booster needed for a cycle ride around Nantucket.

Boston Tea Party

 Welcome to Boston and a tea party of sorts. Here there were no dainty sandwiches, scones with jam and cream and copious cups of tea. No. Here we were to learn how the Americans relish their independence from we Brits and how it all came about.

Boston is also known as Beantown which refers to the regional dish of baked beans (cooked in molasses back in colonial days). I have to say we didn't find anywhere serving this dish. The Boston cream pie is a favourite sweet treat but the city seems most famous for its lobster rolls; obviously not a vegetarian option! Whilst the family tucked in to lobby rolls I enjoyed another American favourite - Mac 'n' cheese cooked right in front of me in Quincy Market. Rich and Delish. My worst meal in Boston was a veggie burger made from beans, rice and beetroot. It was the colour of pink flesh and looked like raw mincemeat. Ew! I asked the waiter if I could offer some feedback and said the colour was particularly off putting for vegetarians. He thanked me and took away my barely touched food and then proceeded to charge me for it! I guess there was nothing really wrong with it in their eyes.

Boston is home to the TV show Cheers and a popular drink here is a pint of Samuel Adams ( the namesake being one of the sons of Liberty). I enjoyed the light summer variety. 

Cheers indeed!

The Big Apple

All aboard the Amtrak destined for Boston and leaving behind The City of Dreams. 

I had researched popular New York food and the list was mainly sugar-high, fat-loaded carbs. Yes I enjoyed some fabulous breakfasts; stack of pancakes - tick; cream cheese bagel - tick, but also steel-milled oats with banana and walnuts and Greek yogurt with honey and muesli, not to mention a Starbucks almond croissant!

The best discovery has been the small health food supermarkets with self-serve salad and fruit bars, cooked dishes and ingredients which can be stir-fried to order. Coming off the High Line we grabbed a salad box each and set off for a picnic on Governors Island with views of the Statue of Liberty and the New York Skyline. Another time we ate inside; a well deserved brunch after a run around Central Park.

For dinner I have to confess we ate Italian on two occasions and enjoyed veggie chilli at Hartland Brewery as we came down the Empire State Building. Whilst the family tucked in to burgers and hotdogs at the Mets game I was pleased to see veggie dogs were an option. For me though, a box of nachos knocked it out of the park!