The Spunky Coconuts Pumpkin Pie Recipe

Hiya Peeps,

Those of you that know me personally understand the depths of my sweet tooth. I saw this recipe on the urban bush babes blog and I thought it would be nice.


While I am not a vegan I do try to incoporate the minimum amount of animal products when cooking/baking. For the record I am not a baker I have been known to try. But not too successfully

Pumpkin Pie
(Egg-free, Gluten-free, No-bake, Dairy-free)

http://www.thespunkycoconut.com/

Last night I was like a kid on Christmas Eve. I couldn't sleep. I couldn't stop thinking about the egg-free no-bake pumpkin pie I had mentioned I was making on the Spunky Coconut Facebook Page . Would it turn out? Would it taste good? I have to tell you I have been trying to make an egg-free pumpkin pie for three years now, with no success... Until now =)

This morning I woke up before sunrise, anxious to see my pie. I laid in bed trying to forget about it and go back to sleep. It didn't work. Finally it was light enough outside. So I crept down the stairs in my robe, took the pumpkin pie from the fridge and cut it with a knife. I started getting excited. It looked right... I tasted it... Oh, joy! Delish!

And now I can hardly wait to share it with you! So without further ado...

Pumpkin Pie

Egg-free, Gluten-free, No-bake, Dairy-free

Pie Crust:

Add to bowl:

3 tbsp flax seed meal OR 1.5 tbsp Chia Seed meal

1/4 cup plus 2 tbsp applesauce

1 tbsp apple cider vinegar

8 drops vanilla liquid stevia

1 tbsp honey

1/4 cup coconut oil, liquified

Mix with electric mixer.

Add:

1 cup almond meal flour

1/2 cup coconut flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder (Grain-free Baking Powder Recipe)

Mix again.

Roll out the dough.

(I used a deep ceramic pie dish for this pumpkin pie)

See: Video on how to roll out and transfer this dough. Or flatten the dough out slightly, so it's about 6 inches wide, then put it in the dish, and press it the rest of the way out with your hands.

(I also lightly grease and flour my pie dish first, so the crust doesn't stick.)

Bake the crust at 350 degrees for about 12 to 14 minutes.

Allow the crust to cool.

Egg-free, Dairy-free, No-bake Filling:

Add to blender or food processor:

2 cups cooked pumpkin (I used one that I cooked from our garden)

1 cup coconut milk

1/3 cup coconut sugar

1/8 to 1/4 tsp vanilla liquid stevia (one or two droppers-full, or to your taste)

1 tsp vanilla

2 tsp pumpkin pie spice

3 tbsp Gelatin that has been completely dissolved into 1/4 cup boiling water

If you sub agar powder for the gelatin, please let us know, and how you did it in the comments! I'm guessing you would need half as much agar powder as gelatin. Thanks!

Puree.

Pour into baked crust. Refrigerate overnight.

Random Hair Pics (baby locs)

Hiya Peeps,

 Some random hair pics

Freshly Washed





That Crazy Bitch Sandy (Hurricane Part 2)

Hiya Peeps,

As promised, the second installment of my Hurrican Sandy experience.

 As the days went on and on I began to wonder when and if we would ever get electricity to blow wow. It became my daily routine to get up and get out and charge all my electrical equipment and use the internet in buildings that were using generators; and buy some food. (non perishables)

The electricity situation was compounded by the fact that water could not be pumped into the system as the pump is electric. During these days while in taxis and in shops I would hear people talking about the water situation which was a bigger issue than the lack of electricity. I mean how do you flush, take a shower, bubble a pot? I found out.  You do not flush when you urinate. You do not wash your clothes at home but travel a few miles to the local laundry mat (all town centres had their supply restored within a few days or used a generator) All sorts of meat was being seasoned, cooked and consumed at a frenzied rate in my home and that of my neighbours.  As a non meat eater I was left pretty hungry after the supplies ran low but I easily transitioned into an unhealthy diet of bulla cake, spiced bun and canned goods. There was a lot of food around as it all blew off the trees. So ask me why I was eating this crap. 1, I struggle to cook small portions, but usually store my concoctions in the fridge or freezer. 2, I didn’t even recognise most of the food being offered. As a fussy eater with the upset of the storm it was all too much so I reverted to child like eating habits.

Vybz Kartel with Bulla cake

 The dark nights (from around 6pm) seemed to quiet the neighbourhood activities. No random neighbours stopping by to share news, no loud dance hall music playing, no old dudes playing dominoes  outside little neighbourhood stores etc... As for me I was all about talking on the phone when Digicel was actually bloody working  and of course sleeping. I must look like ive had a face lift the amount of shut eye I have had.  One thing this storm this has taught me is that next time mi hear seh storm ah come.  I will be making sure I have food, candles, kerosene, matches and a strong cutie to protect me from the elements. This weather and the candle light should be utilised. Ya heard!!!

This is the perfect storm music

 The overall thing that sandy has highlighted to me is the monopoly that the islands electric company JPS has over the island electrical supply.The Jamaican government only own around a twenty percent share in the business therefore it seems absurd after residing in cities where utility companies fight it out for your business and your cash that they should be allowed to run a service that can only be decribed as shockingly bad; and expensive to boot. I want to be able to put several companies into a price comparison website in order to secure the best deal. Further, why are the power cables above ground in a country that boasts storm seasoon for six months of the year? Why haven’t we got solar power?  Why in 2012 did my family have to wait 15 days to receive a return of electricity service.  Yes we know there is no money. but charge the customer. you do anyways. and at least this way it would actually be efficient.

What a bunch of theives

That Crazy Bitch Sandy (The Hurricane) Pt:1

Hiya Peeps,

I decided to spend a little longer than a holiday in Jamaica during the storm season, so tell me why I was shocked when hurricane Sandy came along and wreaked havoc in my new community. Personally when I heard about the impending storm I was not overly concerned as I had not experienced a tropical storm I really had no idea of what to expect.  I chillaxed with family while we discussed the possibility of the storm and what that could mean.

At around 4:00pm the electricity went out.  Despite the fact that the skies were dark and it had been raining heavily for two days with extreme winds; for me storm watch didn’t begin until the power cut out.  As the evening progressed so did the storm y conditions and we retreated from the veranda where we had been watching. It felt cinematic and slightly unreal but the fact that it was too dangerous to be outside made the experience very real.

 As the night went on and the storm worsened I felt less secure in our house. As we huddled around the battery operated radio and candle light while listening to the news of Bog Walk, St Catherine and Portland were experiencing extreme flooding. Fisherman and folk residing in costal regions were being warned by the government to take precautionary measures and leave there vessels, equipment and personal effects as secure as possible and retreat to safer locations. This created a big furore as people were afraid that their absence would encourage thieves. People who lived in properties that were unlikely to endure Sandy were advised to head to shelters. Many had no choice but to do so.

I was woken up by the sounds of Sandy around 11 pm.  I had been sleeping for some time since the lights had been out since around 4:00pm and both the land line and Digicel networks had failed let’s face it there wasn’t any-thing else to do.  As I could hear the zinc on the roof on the extension of my family home start to sway and the mango tree limb was lashing against the property I started to feel increased anxiety about my safety as the weather persons who had become our only source of information and comfort  told us that this level one hurricane would have left the island by now. My unease was compounded by the darkness of not only my house but all the neighbouring properties and the street. The following morning after a night of crashes, bangs and other sounds that I could not identify the morning revealed the devastation that had been left behind. Trees were uprooted the electricity lines were left exposed and tangled on the ground.

Many shop owners were left devastated by flooding. Peoples home were ravaged and left without roofs flooded or both.  We were lucky as most people in our community only lost food trees, and experienced some minor flood damage. Still the community started to move toward a clean-up effort almost immediately and we did the same. The thing that struck me was the independence of the little community I was staying in.  Had I been in London I would have expected to see the increased presence of the emergency services and government employees visibly moving around and I did see these individuals maybe a week after the initial events but in the days immediately after the storm it was individuals that were chopping up tress that had become an obstruction in the roads and making the way clear for cars.

Fridays Thoughts (Random Blog)

Hiya Peeps

I was chillaxing under the Caribbean sun (are you jelly?) while reading that fantastic blog The Daily Love.
(thedailylove.com)

One particular sentence just jumped out at me.  Without self belief, self help won't work.  Damn those people over there are soooooooooooooo talented. Just in case you were wondering I am a faithful groupie of this here blog.

This sentence has had me thinking, evaluating, and re-evalutiing all week.


Any of you experiencing a similar Oprah moment? If you have read, experienced, or watched something powerful this week. Share, share share.

Me being thoughtful? Okay,okay me with rum in me doing weired smile

 Coco kisses .xx

Novembers Frugal Faves

Hiya Peeps,

 This month will officially mark the beginning of Frugal Fave’s my new self imposed budget will mean that for the foreseeable future I will be working with favourite things that cost under a tenner.

1.       The Body Shop Vanilla fragrance oils. This oil smells divine and cost around £4. They are not as harsh as air fresheners but the house still smells good.  I have The Body Shop burner but any one will work fine. I always tend to buy a few when The Body Shop has an offer.

2.       The Daily Love. This blog was introduced to me by my home girl V and had become an essential part of my day to day routine. If I do not have access to internet for some reason or other I miss it so much.  TheDailyLove@thedailylove.com

3.       Whats App. I love this phone app. It has become one of my most favourite things since my recent relocation. As it keeps me up to the minute with the girls and I really feel like I’m a part of their daily lives. www.whatsapp.com

4.       Barry M make-up line. I especially enjoy the lipsticks and the nail polishes. The colour range is really vibrant and varies from dark and moody to light and lovely. The new lines are always bang on trend and give even the most cash strapped fashionista up to the minute make- up options.

5.       Organic Root Stimulator edge gel. This stuff is a really nice alternative to gel and it doesn’t feel greasy after application. Please be mindful that this product worked amazingly well in the UK however if you hail from warmer climes or you want to add it to your holiday stash please note that I have had less success with this product in the heat.

6.     Klorane make-up remover, I have it on good authority that this stuff is the truth. Please give me feedback on this.

£8

 

7.       H&M I love this store for multiple reasons. The sales are always really good value for money. Like most stores that carry budget friendly clothing that also boast good quality.  You do need to be aware that the quality does not stretch across all the ranges. Their holiday clothes and basics ranges are very decent. I particularly like their graphic tee’s. Parker  macs. Their lint rollers go for only £0.99. Their knickers are super cute (never tried the bras) and I like their make up brushes as a cheap alternative to superdrug. And who can forget their Versace range last season.

8.       Dove speed stick. This deodorant is so nice it smells good goes on powdery and does not make your black t-shirts look like a skating rink. Magic.

 

9.       I just bought some-one special a card from www.moonpig.com. While I haven’t seen the card myself they were thrilled with the results. I have seen others that I ordered and I have always been pleased. Please be mindful that you do need more than the 24 hour delivery time quoted. As it may come in the time frame but often does not so it's always worth giving at least two days for arrival.

10.   Johhny Cochrans Autobiography borrowed this book from my local library and I found it to be a really It to be a really good read. It is written in clear but interesting language that makes it a page turner therefore do not be intimidated by the size. As I knew nothing behind the brilliant legal career of Mr. Cochran it was eye opening but not shocking or scandalous read. So the gossip hunter may not be impressed.

My Loc Journey (Month 4)

Hiya Peeps,

This month has probably been my hardest hair month to date in my loc journey thus far...

This my go to look at the moment

So last month I journeyed to Jamaica to some extended time here.  Every-time I have spent extended periods away from the city one of the secondary considerations will be where will I get my hair/nails/ waxing done. This was especially true during the relaxed years. Thankfully I feel that this particular hair journey had freed me from the burden of seeking out a good stylist before my next process is due. Not to mention the invaluable information provided by other blogs, and You Tube. So in my last update I had visited my beloved salon Locstafari with the intention to maintain my hair myself once in Jamaica.

 Within days of arriving the heat reeked havoc on my hair. I sweat from the head at the best of times but during those first few week here I felt like lost a 5^th of my body weight to the heat. My hair responded by shrinking like crazy. So hair that could previously go into a pony tail comfortably couldn’t any more my situation was compounded by the fact that the natural oil that I used liberally and successfully in London made my hair smell rancid in the heat. So i was forced to wash my hair a week and a half after my maintenance.

Side View

Front View

Now because my hair was natural for around two years prior to my loc journey I thought I knew my texture pretty well. Only to find that hair that I would have previously called 4b with some 4a in places seems to have to responded to the reduced manipulation of locking and the soft Jamaican water by becoming softer than ever. My hair has decided that in this environment it only needs water on a daily basis and the occasional use of oils but no more than once a week.  My hair also has to be washed more frequently due to the heat. At the moment i’m working with every other week.  So now my roots are crazy due to the softness and look like I have a a two inch mini afro with my baby locs clinging on to the ends. Im not going to lie my attempts at re-twist with the Organic Root Stimulator gel did improve there appearance but i was sick of the bull- shitting around with my hair for ages every-time I had to go out especially for business or a big social event. I succumbed to vanity and visited a stylist recommended to me by a friend. I did something that I thought I would never would. I bypassed the palm roll method due to the heat and humidity and interlocked my entire head. I love it. It looks neat and tidy and will look good for around  three to four weeks rather than the  two weeks max from my beloved palm roll method. it cost me around £20.

a few days after interlocking

Please comment. Your support is keeping me smiling