It is no secret that I am obsessed with coconut oil. Unless you are VERY new to my blog, you know that I use coconut oil in all of my cooking. While I do use butter liberally, I basically love my coconut oil too much to replace it with anything else.
I have long known that Tropical Traditions carries Organic PalmShortening. I see people talking about it in real food circles. I have seen some recipes that call for it. But honestly, I have had no desire to try it myself.
Ok, I will admit it, I was sort of scared of the stuff. Pretty ridiculous right?
Tropical Traditions offered me the opportunity to try out their Palm Shortening. I was pretty worried about it but decided to pull up my big-girl panties and try it out! I am actually pretty glad that I did.
If you are like me, you probably do not know nearly as much about palm shortening as you do other cooking fats. Palm shortening is derived from palm oil. In its natural state, palm oil is a mixture of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, with most of the unsaturated fat being monounsaturated fat. Palm shortening is palm oil that has some of its unsaturated fats removed, giving it a very firm texture, and high melting point (97 degrees) which makes it very shelf stable. It is NOT hydrogenised and contains NO trans fats! It is great for deep-fat frying and baking, and is not prone to rancidity. Since it has been separated from some of the unsaturated portion of the oil, it is colorless and odorless, and will not affect the taste of foods like Virgin Palm Oil does.
After the palm shortening arrived (and I stopped giving it the side eye), I set out trying to find a decent recipe that specifically called for palm shortening. I know I could have easily just friend up some fish in it, but I wanted to try something beyond just a fried food item.
I had a hard time finding a recipe that would suit our dietary requirements. It had to be GAPS legal (obviously gluten free) and dairy free. Can I just tell you how impossible this was?! So I did any real foodie would do. I whipped up something on my own!
I like to call these…
My Husband Calls Them Hippie Food Breakfast Muffins
Ingredients
- 1 cup coconut flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 12 medium eggs
- ¾ cup honey (or more to taste)
- ⅔ cup organic palm shortening
- 2 tablespoons vanilla or vanilla bean paste
- 1 cup pumpkin puree
- ½ cup shredded apples
- 1 cup diced crispy pecans or walnuts
- ⅓ cup raisins
- ⅓ cup chopped dates
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Grease muffins tins with coconut oil.
- In a small bowl, mix together coconut flour and baking soda.
- In a large bowl, mix together eggs, honey, palm shortening, and vanilla.
- Mix the dry ingredients with the wet till thoroughly mixed.
- Fold in pumpkin, and apples.
- Fold in the nuts, raisins, and dates.
- Bake for 20-30 minutes. They are done when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Makes 24 large muffins or 48 mini-muffins.
Before you run off and make this, let me warn you that this is a very nutritious and filling breakfast item but it does have a unique flavor. My husband likes to call it “essence de hippie.” I call it “earthy.” These are not your refined sugar sweetened muffins but trust me, the flavors do work together. Tiny is addicted to them!
The important part of all of this is that the shortening made a BEAUTIFUL muffin out of this! It was moist and slightly crumbly which I love.
I also did end up frying some salmon in the palm shortening. It turned out perfect! In fact, (I cannot believe I am about to write this), the palm shortening may have made a better friend salmon than coconut oil does.
Now, let’s talk about the elephant in the room shall we. I have gotten questions about this before and before anyone rakes me over the coals in the comments, let’s just get this out there.
The standard practice for harvesting palm trees for palm oil destroys tropical forests and habitats of endangered species. Tropical Traditions knows this and won’t stand for it. From their website:
Tropical Traditions Organic Palm Shortening comes from small scale family farms in South America. These farmers are certified by ProForest, which ensures that they meet strict social, environmental and technical criteria. With regard to environmental criteria, the assessments are carried out at the landscape and operational level at both the farms and processing facilities. These assessments cover environmental impact on the soil, water, air, biodiversity and local communities. The lands the farmers use are not lands that were deforested. The lands used to grow the palm fruit are lands previously used for agricultural purposes (cattle, rice, banana).
I trust Tropical Traditions and know that they are doing everything possible to ensure that they are not contributing to the degradation of tropical forests. So I feel good about using their palm shortening.
I would also like to direct you to some of the great information on the Tropical Traditions site about coconut oil (you know, since I am addicted to it and all). Visit their website to check on current sales and to read about all the advantages of buying coconut oil online. You can learn more about what virgin coconut oil actually is as well as how to use it! Tropical Traditions also carries other varieties of affordable high quality coconut oil including Green Label Coconut Oil, and Expeller Pressed Coconut Oil. FYI – the FDA does not want us to discuss the health benefits of coconut oil on a page where it is being sold or given away, here is the best website to read about the health benefits of coconut oil.
You can also watch the video they produced about
Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil:
Now onto the important item…
Tropical Traditions is generously giving away a 1 gallon pail of their Organic Palm Shortening!
Enter using the Rafflecopter entry form below.
This giveaway opens today, Saturday, September 22, 2012 and closes on Friday, October 5, 2012 at 11:59pm PST. Winner will be selected via random.org. I will email you and you will have 48 hours to respond before another winner is selected.
Good Luck!
If you order by clicking on any of my links and have never ordered from Tropical Traditions in the past, you will receive a free book on Virgin Coconut Oil, and I will receive a discount coupon for referring you.
I would so love to try this! Thanks for sharing the contest!
Love your blog!! I, like you, have not delved into the world of palm oil. What a great way to try it! I hear/read so much wonderful stuff… and how can you go wrong with Tropical Traditions?? Thank you for such a great giveaway!
I found your blog post called “My 3 ½ Year Old Breastfeeds As Much As A Newborn – And That Is Fine By Me” really interesting. I’ve always wondered how it works nursing older children and if they need it or do it for comfort. Your daughter sounds like a very good soul and I think it’s interesting that you say she processes life at night. I wonder what she says.
I liked the exploding fido jar post. It is good to be aware of what is going on with your water kefir. I now keep it in the closet to make it safer, but I think “exploding fido” though a correct used of the word explode, was misleading. The Fido bottle held up to the pressue and didnt break, but the lid did pop off. It still attests to the quality of the fido glass.
Oops, my comment was through my gmail but my rafflecopter is through yahoo. Same name, jennymoonstar.
I really enjoyed your article about Childhood Fevers. Thanks!
I liked the article about the different ways to consume coconut oil.
this post was VERY helpful to me: Exploding Fidos and Grolsch Bottles Gone Wild
I’m new to your blog, but so far I like what I see. Thanks!
I love the blog about the different way use coconut oil. It is such amazing stuff!
debrahankins@comcast.net
I liked your post not too long ago about ANDI score. I’ve seen those ratings at WF but didn’t really know what they mean. The uses for coconut oil was also interesting, and I have since bought some coconut oil for regular use!
333 Uses For Coconut Oil is one of my favorite posts because I have tons of coconut oil!
I love making my own skincare products with the oil and finding more ways I can use it! : )
givenmay@yahoo.com
I would love to try palm oil. I use coconut oil all the time, this is a great opportunity to learn how to use palm oil!
Would love to try this!
Jenn Lalonde
Hi, I have been interested in trying palm shortening for awhile and would love to win this.
I like the post about
Your Thyroid Health.
I have a thyroid problem and found this very informative.
I like your 333 Uses for Coconut Oil
I love all your posts!
especially ones about fermentation!
I love your post about how frequently Tiny still breastfeeds. Mine is about 15 months and still nurses super frequently unless she’s distracted…I also don’t see it ending anytime soon!
So, who couldn’t use some more FAT in their kitchen??
I enjoy your posts about how to use coconut oil!
I like the post 333 uses for coconut oil, cause it has uses never knew about coconut oil
Have GOT to love coconut oil!
I liked your article “Natural oils as Sun Protection”. I have been looking for natural alternatives to the chemical laden products. Thank you fr sharing your articles with us.
I was amazed when I read that coconut oil is 90% effective in treating head lice. Great to know! I am guardian of my 2 year old Granddaughter, so I’ll not forget. Wish I’d known this when my 2 children were in grade school!!!
I would so love to try this : )
I like your post on 50 ways to connect with Nature with your children. Great list–this was so important to me with my kids and now with my grandkids.
“Your Thyroid Health.” was very informative.
I really liked (and so commented) on your list of resources. I’m new to cooking and using coconut oil, but the stabilization of my blood glucose level was nothing short of miraculous – over the period of one week, incorporating only a coconut-based, gluten-free muffin at dinner time. Truly a miracle, healing food! Organic, from Tropical Traditions, of course!
Your article on the ANDI score for produce at the whole foods store really caught my attention. I agree with you that it is not the best way to judge the nutrition of a vegetable. Thanks for the giveaway. I have never tried palm oil before. Good luck everyone.
The different ways to use coconut oil. I am new to it so it was helpful
…No matter how after virgin coconut oil, palm oil shortening is the best to cook with and so we take advantage on that what our creator ,the most High ,the true God,who rose Himself over His Throne in a way which suits Him ,created this as a favor for His creations, to be grateful to Him. In His Name we eat & drink!
I’m new to this blog, so I haven’t read alot. But, I am loving the blog on all the uses for coconut oil.
tabeloe37@yahoo.com
I set out trying to find a decent recipe that specifically called for palm shortening Proscalpin . I know I could have easily just friend up some fish in it, but I wanted to try something beyond just a fried food item.
So excited : ) thank you I cannot wait to try it! I have heard and read good things!