Coconuts

Today I cracked open a fresh coconut. It’s not as easy as it sounds.

First, poke holes in the three hole-shaped areas at the bottom of the coconut.

The directions in Joy of Cooking say to use a hammer and screwdriver. That led to my first question … Phillips or flathead? I went with the Phillips.

Then you can drain the coconut milk and drink it, if you want. If the juice smells sour, throw it and the coconut away. You’ve got a bad coconut.

Next you put the coconut on a pan and bake it for 20 to 25 minutes in a 375 degree oven until the coconut cracks.

Then you let the coconut cool. When you can touch it, you take your hammer and pound away on the crack. Eventually the shell loosens and you get to the meat.

And then I put the coconut pieces in a container with some water to keep them moist. I’ll be munching on coconut this week!