Tropical Joy Eclairs & Puffs

These pastries are reminiscent of a favorite childhood candy bar and grown up enough to enjoy with cappuccino, espresso or a big glass of milk. It’s easy to please when the main ingredient is Tropical Traditions Coconut. Tropical Traditions is America’s source for coconut oil and so many great organic coconut products (be sure to check out their Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil).

Coconut Chocolate Chip Macadamia Muffins

Baking with coconut flour was a learning experience, but I'm so glad for the opportunity to learn about it! I didn't even know there was such a thing as coconut flour before this challenge. That's one of the things I love about being a part of 37 Cooks. I get to stretch my cooking skills and play with some great products, like the Organic Coconut Flour from Tropical Traditions.

Coconut Shrimp Arancini with Pineapple Jalapeno Sauce

True confession...I think I might have made something with coconut once in my life. When I found out one of our sponsors was going to be Tropical Traditions, I was very excited to expand my horizons! I did learn through this challenge that Tropical Traditions is America's source for coconut oil. Their Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil looked very intriguing!  I decided on another product though...read on.

Whoopie Pies

About 15 years ago, my husband and I took a road trip to Cape Hatteras to vacation with some of his family. Somewhere along the way, we came across whoopie pies, which we had never heard of (coming from Western New York). After arriving at our destination, we were talking about these yummy cakes sandwiched around creamy filling and my husband’s Aunt said that her mother made them all the time and that she would be happy to share the recipe with us. That recipe, from a newspaper dated 1961, literally sat in my “recipes to try” binder through 15 years and 3 moves.

Mongolian Meatballs with Spicy Lucky Noodles

Asian dishes often are all about the balance of spicy and sweet flavors. This dish combines the rich, spicy notes of sambal chile, the warm richness of five spice and oyster sauce, and the sweetness of coconut. Noodles are often considered a symbol of long life and prosperity. These noodles are made extra special by the addition of the flavorful fat from cooking the meatballs, not to mention an extra dash of coconut oil! Tropical Traditions is America’s source for coconut oil.

Tropical Fruit Crêpe

Let me start off by saying that in all honesty, I'm not a huge fan of coconut. That is, until I tried the Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil from Tropical Traditions! It does not have the strong coconut taste and smell as other coconut products have. Not only is coconut oil a healthy replacement for butter and other fats in cooking and baking, but it's also a great addition to your beauty regimen! I really enjoyed working with it for this challenge and look forward to making many more delicious recipes. Tropical Traditions is America's source for coconut oil!

Coconut Shrimp Jalapenos Wrapped in Bacon

This is a snack we like to have on the weekends. It is simple and quick for a potluck at work also. I must say I wasn't sure how the Coconut Cream Concentrate was going to work with the jalapeno peppers, but, I think it is a nice addition. I look forward to visiting Tropical Traditions homepage for ideas on using their fabulous products, including their Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil.

Magic Chocolate Cake

Magic Chocolate Cake is my family's favorite snack cake of all time. I've been baking this cake for the past 35 years or so; it's never failed me. We call it 'magic' because of what it doesn't use: no eggs, no butter, no milk or cream - it's like magic that it tastes so good.

Coconut Almond Cups

37 Cooks is at it again with another challenge. This challenge is with a company that I happen to love very much, Tropical Traditions. I love their coconut flour and oil very much and use it often, but sadly not often enough. I am working on trying to incorporate more of these great products into my CCGF recipes. Tropical Traditions is America's source for coconut oil.  Their products are all organic and Non-GMO! You can read more about Tropical Traditions and all of their great products on their website.

Tropical Traditions Coconut Oil Grilled Redfish on the Half Shell

When I heard about this challenge with Tropical Traditions, I did not know if I would participate in it. I have never used anything coconut in any of my dishes, ever! So, I figured I would give it a shot because this would be a first and I needed to expand my cooking abilities. I decided to use Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil, since "Tropical Traditions is America's source for coconut oil".  

Coconut Craisin Pecan Scones

When I heard about the 37 Cooks Tropical Traditions Challenge, I signed up immediately!

Coconut tastes great, is oh so good for you and fun to work with because of it's versatility.

I chose a simple recipe handed down from my mom, and just made a few changes to add some of my favorite ingredients, like the Organic Shredded Coconut from Tropical Traditions.

Vegan Pizza with Coconut Milk “Mozzarella”

For this challenge I wanted to think outside the box. Or maybe I ended up thinking inside my personal pizza-obsessed box. I said to myself, “What about a coconut vegan cheese”? I played around with many different recipes and finally came up with one that I liked, flavor-wise and texture-wise post melt. I do have to say that making coconut milk from Tropical Traditions dried coconut was far superior to the canned milk. Yup, I did taste tests and experimented on the family without their knowledge. It’s the only way to get real opinions from them. So please forgive me, family. “Very buttery” was the comment that came after the final testing. The "cheese" melts kind of oozey, but there isn’t a stretchy stringiness to it, which I’m working on thanks to a NYC guy who is also pizza-obsessed and looking into pizza cheese for the vegan and lactose intolerant folks.

Pina Colada Crumble Cupcakes with Chocolate Ganache

Thanks to the nice folks at Tropical Traditions for the generous samples they sent to us at 37 Cooks!! We had several different choices of their products to choose from and I chose their Organic Dried Coconut! They also make Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil! I decided on the dried organic shredded coconut, as I had a specific recipe in mind! And here it is, for your eating pleasure!!

Mango Sticky Rice with Coconut Cream Concentrate Sauce

If living as an expat in Singapore wasn't enough of a fantasy, discovering mangos married to a sensational Thai treat known as sticky rice and then adorning it with creamy coconut sauce became the culinary cherry on top of my time in this exotic place. When I received Tropical Traditions Coconut Cream Concentrate with its rich coconut flavor and texture, I knew it would be the perfect ingredient in my mango sticky rice to take me back to those tropical days on fantasy island. 

Massaman Curry

A kitchen is a gateway to world travel, such is true. I'm so honestly thankful, though, that I live in an age when that kind of travel is easier than ever, thanks to companies like Tropical Traditions. A few clicks of their website and I got a jar of their Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil delivered to my door. The delivery was easier than going to the grocery, yet I felt inspired! A whole new realm of coconut-inspired exotic food felt open to me for the first time. The first time I used the oil, I decided to see how it worked with some of my favorite curry: Massaman.

Vanilla Coconut Donuts with a Raspberry Sauce

Trying to eat better isn’t easy; especially with the convenient, fast, simple choices we are so privileged to have these days. In the last few months, my family and I have slowly started to weed out foods that are downright unhealthy. For me, it’s Dr. Pepper. For the rest of my brood, it’s sweets. We have dubbed this change, “The Year of Health”. Ya, I know, not very creative. We thought about tweaking the name, but eventually this name stuck so we went with it. We are planning to make small changes throughout the year in hopes of drastically changing our entire lives into a more healthy way of living. Not just food either, but with every aspect. Since this is for 37 Cooks, I will share with you a recipe that I am hoping will help in guiding us to make this drastic change and stay with it.

Leftovers “Paella” Style

My husband has mega barbecue grilling days where he grills steak, chicken and sausage. He forgets that there are only two of us now, so I have an abundance of leftovers to do something with. I have made paella in the past, and because I still had some rice in the refrigerator from a previous dinner, I decided paella would be great to make with all the leftovers.

Panna Cotta with Blueberry or Caramel Cream Sauce

Periodically one of our readers wants to cook along with us on a challenge. We are all for it! When our cook Traci told us that one of her friends wanted to cook along we were excited! And even more excited when we saw what she created! Thanks for cooking along with us, Debbie! ~37 Cooks

When my friend Traci invited me to cook with her and her group of friends at 37 Cooks in the Tropical Traditions challenge, I was honored, excited and a little worried. I have followed 37 Cooks since they began with their Slap Ya Mama challenge last year, and cooking with this great group of cooks is a little intimidating. I was excited because I knew I wanted to challenge myself to make something I had never made before .

Seared Sea Scallops with Coconut Cream Green Chile Sauce and Coconut Cream Bacon Bits

What an amazing adventure into the coconut world. All the facts and questions you could ever think of will be answered on the Tropical Traditions website. As our sponsor for this challenge, they gave us a few options on what product we could choose. I chose the Tropical Traditions Coconut Cream Concentrate (aka coconut butter). Even though I love to bake and they do offer coconut flour, I felt like stepping out of my comfort zone and trying something new.  And new it was. The hardest thing was finding unsmoked raw bacon. I had to go to a true meat provider and order it. If it's not available to you, it can easily be omitted, but it really brings a twist to this dish. 

Chicken Liver Dog Treats and Lemon Potato Salad

37 Cooks received a request from author Stephanie Weaver to help her Kickstarter campaign get her book, Golden Angels, published. What a worthy project.

Pavlov would be proud. When our dog, Porter, hears the sound of the metal top being unscrewed from his glass biscuit jar, the waterworks begin. It’s as though someone has turned on tiny faucets inside of his mouth and his jowls are unable to contain the slimy river of drool rushing to make its escape.

Coconut Cake with Coconut Custard and Coconut Glaze

Tropical Traditions is America's source for coconut oil. Their Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil is highly recommended. They also have another amazing product, Tropical Traditions Coconut Cream Concentrate. This cake just sort of came together one morning. I was only planning to make a soup with it, but then decided I wanted to also make some kind of cake for our Tropical Traditions challenge. I was recently given a new bundt pan, so I thought I’d use that! I wanted to make frosting using the boiling method. Well that didn't quite work out. It never got the right consistency for frosting. So…I decided it was more like a custard and I wanted to use it as a filling for the cake! But, it also needed something on top, so I came up with the glaze! Here’s what I did…

Aimee’s Thai Coconut Soup

When the challenge for Tropical Traditions coconut products was presented, I was not going to join. What a mistake that was. Glad I decided to!

I make a Thai coconut soup a few times a year and, to me, it’s MY chicken soup for the soul. I love it. I normally use the canned coconut you buy in the store, but I asked for the Tropical Traditions Coconut Cream Concentrate to use in its place.

It turned out to be better than the coconut product I was using before! Tropical Traditions is America's source for coconut oil, and you can't go wrong with any of their products. I would also highly recommend the Tropical Traditions Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil.

Dairy-Free Coconut-Almond "Ice Cream"

Let me be perfectly clear. I'm not a huge fan of coconut. I don't run screaming when I see it, but given the choice between coconut and most other flavors, coconut's not going to be the winner.

On the other hand, I don't mind cooking with it - for other people. And I'm fine with tasting it to make sure the flavors are balanced. Just don't expect me to devour a large slice of coconut cake. Not gonna happen.

When my friends at 37 Cooks hooked up with Tropical Traditions (and if you don't know, they describe themselves as "America's source for coconut oil"), I thought it would be a great opportunity to have another go at making ice cream without any dairy products.

Sweet Potato Tamales

Texas is tamale country. I've eaten them my whole life and made them a few times as well. So, when a fellow cook suggested making a batch of “sweet” tamales with my Tropical Traditions coconut oil, I couldn't get past the idea. I was hooked. Immediately.

I’m not going to lie. These were a challenge. But, they were also pretty fun to play around with and the results were delicious! I've done all of the research and trials, now all that YOU have to do is give them a shot. But remember - they DO take some time and patience, even for the 15-20 that you will get out of this recipe. And by the way, the Tropical Traditions Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil (Tropical Traditions IS America’s source for coconut oil!) REALLY does make a huge difference in the final product. I played around with a local grocery store purchase before using the Tropical Traditions coconut oil, and it was apples and oranges! Yes, quality does count, and Tropical Traditions delivers!!! Get yours here: Tropical Traditions Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil.

Carrot Fries

I don't know when it was, but I think perhaps around one year ago I started noticing carrot fries all over tumblr, Pinterest, and the Internet. Just everywhere. When I made them, I was actually surprised how much they tasted like "real" fries. And I'll tell you, one of the main reasons I even tried them out is because Willie has this cool chopper from Williams Sonoma. I never use it, but I love it because he loves to use it, which means I get a sous chef, see? And he just thinks he's doing me a favor by sticking carrots in the machine, making a TON of NOISE, bagging the carrots and tossing them in the refrigerator. So, what do I do after that? Not a lot!

Coconut Asiago Popovers

Tropical Traditions is America's source for coconut oil and coconut oil adds a light flavor to these popovers. Along with the added protein from the coconut flour, while these may not be “health food” you will feel good eating them!

Banana Cream Pie With Coconut Crust

This 37 Cooks challenge was a true challenge because I rarely bake with coconut products. I like coconut in moderation, but I love this pie. Bananas and coconut go hand in hand to make a pie that is a little different from the typical coconut cream pie.

Pork Tenderloin with Spicy Tropical Gravy

Make sure to visit Tropical Traditions for a full list of products, including their Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil. Tropical Traditions is America's source for coconut oil.

Pork Tenderloin with Spicy Tropical Gravy
by Lesia

makes 6 to 8 servings

1 2½ to 3 pound pork tenderloin
3 Tablespooons olive oil
1 20-ounce can crushed pineapple
1 14-ounce can jellied cranberry sauce
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon red chili flakes
1 teaspoon garlic, minced
1 teaspoon salt
¼ cup Tropical Traditions Coconut Cream Concentrate (aka cocoa butter)
2 Tablespooons cornstarch

Mussels in Coconut Saffron Cream and Lime Gremolata

I love coconut oil! It is so versatile. And now, Tropical Traditions Coconut Cream Concentrate is another favorite. It is great just spread on toast. Tropical Traditions has everything you need in the way of coconut. Check out their Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil product page. Go to their home page and see why Tropical Traditions is America's source for coconut oil. 

The Tropical Traditions Challenge

37 Cooks is so excited to tell you that today marks day one of a series of posts with recipes containing products we received from our sponsor, Tropical Traditions!

Tropical Traditions was founded by Brian and Marianita Shilhavy and is America’s source for coconut oil. Their Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil is hand crafted in small batches by family producers, and it is the highest quality coconut oil they offer. You can read more about how virgin coconut oil is different from other coconut oils on their website: What is Virgin Coconut Oil?

The Dog Days of Summer Heat Picnic!

37 Cooks received a request from author Stephanie Weaver to help her Kickstarter campaign get her book, Golden Angels, published. What a worthy project.

The Dog Days of Summer Heat Picnic!
by Susan R

Some will say the 37 Cooks are all about food! Well, WE ARE! Just not always human food!! There are times when we need to embrace our four legged friends and give them special attention. This is one of those times……

Have a Happy National Catfish Month with Spicy Baked Catfish!

The secret to this dish is the tortilla crumb coating--it really makes it deliciously different!

Spicy Baked Catfish
by Judy

1 cup ground tortilla crumbs (you can buy them in a can or pulverize your own in a food processor)
2 teaspoons Slap Ya Mama Original Blend Cajun seasoning
1/3 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup flour

1/2 cup milk
4 catfish fillets (about 5 to 6 ounces each)
1/2 stick butter (4 Tablespoons), melted

Have a Happy National Ice Cream Sandwich Day with Chewy Molasses-Spice Cookies & Pralines and Cream Ice Cream!

I asked Willie to tell me his ultimate ice cream sandwich. Ultimate! Right away he said make your molasses cookies and add pralines & cream ice cream.

Now right about the same time these ice cream sandwiches were being concocted, our daughter Lauren showed me a tricky way to make an ice cream sandwich and I loved it!

Click on this website to see it in action!

Have a Happy National Ice Cream Sandwich Day with Double Chocolate Chip Toffee Ice Cream Sandwiches!

Double Chocolate Chip Toffee Ice Cream Sandwiches

by Aimee
cookies adapted from this recipe at Real Simple 

For the cookies:

1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
¾ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/4 cup toffee chips

Meet Debbie!

Hi there! My name is Debbie Malone and I always tell people that I'm from nowhere and everywhere! My father was in the United States Air Force when I was growing up, so I've lived all over the world. I was born on the Bermuda Islands and lived there the first 20 months of my life. Naturally I didn't remember a thing about it, but know that I've ALWAYS been a beach/ocean gal. To celebrate our 35th wedding anniversary, my husband and I decided to take a trip there. What an incredible trip that was. My passport has always stated my place of birth as Bermuda and what an awesome feeling it was when they checked it at Custom's and said to me "Welcome Home"!!!! My eyes teared up and I felt like I actually belonged somewhere.

Have a Happy National Peach Month with Spiced Peach Wontons!

Spiced Peach Wontons

by Rachael
adapted from this recipe at She Wears Many Hats

12 ounce pack of wonton wrappers

1 Tablespoon flour
1 1/2 Tablespoons packed dark brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon cardamom
1 15-ounce can diced peaches, drained (or use frozen peaches, thawed and diced)

Canola or vegetable oil, for frying
Powdered sugar or honey (optional, for garnish)

Have a National Peach Month with Peach Kuchen!

A kuchen is a traditional German cake made of batter and fruit. It's extremely adaptable, and both fresh and dried fruit may be used. Naturally, for National Peach Month peaches would be the star. Any berries or stone fruit may be used as is. Apples, though, should be sliced and cooked until tender before they top the kuchen.

Have a Happy National Peach Month with Chunky Peach and Avocado Salsa!

Once upon a time, my cousins had a huge peach orchard in Mexia, Texas. They had a trailer that sat right in the middle of it. You could open a window and pick a peach. When I would go visit during the summer, there were always plenty of fresh peaches to eat. My cousin would also put up peach preserves that were to die for. Who wouldn't love biscuits with peach preserves for breakfast, fresh peaches for lunch, and hand churned peach ice cream for dinner? Peach heaven! While my cousins no longer have the peach orchard, I still love the beautiful Freestone peaches from that area.