Coconut Lentil Soup

1 tbsp vegetable oil
I medium onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 teaspoons cumin
1 teaspoon coriander
1/4 teaspoon cayenne
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper, optional
2 tbsp ginger, minced
1 1/2 cups lentils, rinsed
4 cups vegetable broth or water
14 oz can of coconut milk
Juice of half a lemon

Delicious served with rice. Garnish with a cilantro or mint sprig.

To make, saute' onion and garlic until tender. Stir in cumin, coriander, cayenne, salt, ginger, and optional pepper. Cook for one minute more. Add the lentils, vegetable broth, and coconut milk. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until lentils are soft (about 20 minutes). Remove from heat. Stir in lemon juice. Serve with rice and cilantro or mint.

Serves: 5

Coconut Cream Pie

Super simple, but really delicious and exotic tasting!

3 1/2 cups vanilla flavored rice milk
1/2 cup honey (or alternative sweetener of choice)
6 Tbsp. cornstarch
2 cups unsweetened coconut flakes
2 Tbsp. coconut extract

Save out 1/2 cup of the rice milk to blend with cornstarch for thickening. Bring the remaining ingredients to a slow boil and then add thickening. Cook until thick. Remove from heat and pour into a prepared pie shell.

*Pie shell ~ this is really good in a crushed walnut/oil crust that has been pre-baked until slightly toasty. No grains so it's gluten free.

Coconut Cream Pie

Here's one of my favorite "easy" dessert recipes that.  It says to pour it into a pie crust or graham cracker crust, but if you don't have time --- it makes a great custard pudding as well.  Simple and delicious!

Coconut Cream Pie

3 1/2 cup vanilla flavored rice milk*

1/2 cup honey (or alternative liquid sweetener)

6 Tbsp. cornstarch

2 cups coconut, unsweetened**

2 Tbsp. coconut extract

Save 1/2 cup of the rice milk to use with the cornstarch for thickening.  Bring the remaining ingredients to a slow boil and then add the cornstarch/milk mixture.  Stir constantly until a rolling boil

is achieved.  Remove from heat.  Pour into a baked graham cracker crust or pie shell.  Cool completely, then serve and enjoy.

* soymilk will work fine; if using unflavored, add a 1/2 tsp. of vanilla flavoring

**sweetened coconut will work as well

***for gluten-free option, use gluten free pie crust