I couldn’t believe my eyes when I looked at my bathroom scales this morning. I lost weight! A good 2 kilos. What I’ve been trying to achieve through exercise and self restraint in pastry matters, without luck..I achieved through a few weeks of medical tests and doctor visits. If you remember this post where I shared some health concerns with you, my nightmare is finally over. I completed the last of the tests this week and to my utmost relief I was assured that I did not have the dreaded disease. I do not have cancer!
My eyes well up at the thought of what I had to put my family through during this phase. The fear, the unknown, the unspoken, the unthinkable. The horror of lying inside closed machines (has anyone experienced an MRI machine?), learning to cope without food and water every other day of the week whilst cooking for others because most tests require you to do that. The one verdict that could have changed my world..and so many more that are intertwined with mine. It’s over at last! Leaving me a bit more in love with my life and the precious beings in it.
So I am trying to bring my life back on track again. Trying to put my heart and mind in things that I love to do. This recent experience has left me so exhausted that I am finding it hard to get back the creative flow of my work. Ideas that would take me a moment to turn into a recipe earlier are a struggle to give shape to. I am hoping this is just a phase and it will pass away soon.
I’ve been meaning to make a tart with coconut cream in it since I discovered the ease and deliciousness of whipped coconut cream in this recipe. Top it with fresh strawberries and you have an amazing dessert in your hands. The tart pastry is quite easy to make because there is no need to roll out the dough. You just make the dough in the processor and press it with your fingers on the base and sides of your pan. Using dessicated coconut in the shell, not only gives it an extra crunch but is also a delight for any coconut lover. It is really an easy recipe that you can whip up without any fancy ingredients or a great deal of time. I have used part coconut cream and part whipped heavy cream for the recipe because I did not want the resulting cream to be too strong in coconut flavor. But if you are a coconut fan, by all means double up on the coconut cream by using two cans of coconut milk.
Fresh Strawberry And Whipped Coconut Cream Tart
Yields an 8-inch round tart
To make the coconut tart shell (adapted from Epicurious)
Coconut cream from this recipe (If you would like a strong coconut flavour, double up and use two cans of coconut milk/cream)
1 cup heavy cream, whipped to stiff peaks with 1/2 tsp vanilla essence and 3 tbsp castor sugar. Refrigerate until needed
Fresh strawberries, cleaned, hulled and quartered
Toasted coconut chips/flaked coconut
Icing sugar to dust
Pulse together flour, coconut, butter, confectioners sugar, and salt in a food processor until dough just begins to form a ball. Press dough onto bottom and up side of an 8 inch tart pan with floured fingers, then freeze until firm, about 10 minutes. Bake in pan on a baking sheet in middle of oven until golden, about 25 minutes, then cool completely in pan on a rack.
Gently fold in the coconut cream into the whipped cream mixture. Refrigerate until needed. Once the tart shell has cooled, spoon the cream into the shell. Top with fresh strawberries and coconut chips. You can store in the fridge until serving. Dust with icing sugar just before serving.
Congratulations.. CONGRATULATIONS.. CONGRATULATIONNNNNNNNS
I am so HAPPY to hear that everything went well, and you are now truly able to enjoy life without cancer again. If I live close by, I will definitely rush out to give you huge hugs. Phew!!! What a relieve!!!!
Despite all that, love this wonderful & gorgeous dessert. Can’t wait to see more & more of your posts.
P.S. Congratulations for your ‘lost’ as well 😛
I am so relieved to hear this good news. I know your life must have been turned upside down the unknown is always the hardest to deal with. Sometimes it is these unexpected things in our life that prompt positive change so hoping you have the energy to move forward. Your fresh strawberry and whipped coconut cream tart looks dreamy. Sharing and pinning!!!
That is so nice to hear! It is great to know that everything is okay 🙂 Love this tart, especially with coconut cream!
What an enormous sigh of relief for you and your family. I am so happy for you, yet so sorry you all went through such a wrenching experience. I’m sure you will fine your natural rhythm soon. Thank you for sharing this luscious recipe. Cheers, Ardith
Hi Sonali, I know exactly how you felt, I have had very close encounters with the disease in my family. Glad that is all behind you now. Oh, did I tell you I spend countless hours feasting my eyes over your pictures? You are my inspiration!
Great job and congrats on the weight loss! Being surrounded by food, our environment isn’t making everything easy for us :D…Look at how plump and juicy those strawberries are. And yes, we do love coconut. So, two birds in one stone! Thanks for the great recipe!
Julie & Alesah
Gourmet Getaways xx
So happy to hear all is well. It’s not an easy thing to live through, just the testing and meds alone can wreak havoc with daily life. To answer your question, yes. I’ve been inside an MRI machine when I went through a similar scare years back. I am claustrophobic, you can imagine my fear! To this day I cannot listen to Steve Winwood’s Higher Love, because it was playing through my headphones when the machine was drumming at my head.
ANYWAY, tart looks beautiful. A bit summery for your season isn’t it ;)?
It must be for us Northerners 🙂
Thank you,
Oh my gosh – just so so happy for you that everything is clear and you are healthy! There is nothing more important than your health. What a huge relief!
Here’s to things heading back to normal (take your time) and enjoying every little thing. This tart is beautiful!
Congratulations on your weight loss! I love, love coconut. This tart looks beautiful and irresistible!
So happy to hear the wonderful news and that you have a clean slate of health, and lighter! So want a piece of the tart, very in season here.
Coconut whipped cream is one of my favorites and works so well with strawberries. A tart that shines in its simplicity and brilliant flavor combination. Well done!
Wow. Great blog with good information on strawberry and coconut cream.
Very glad to hear you’ve been given a clean bill of health! And this tart looks absolutely divine, strawberry and coconut is one of my favourite flavour combinations