How to Toast Coconut

Raw shredded coconut, whether you prefer sweetened or unsweetened, has a sweet coconut taste and a chewy texture. Toasted coconut still has the same basic flavor, but it also has a caramelized nuttiness and a crisp-chewy texture that raw doesn’t offer. It’s easy to toast coconut at home and it’s a great way to maximize the coconut flavor in a recipe or to change the texture of a favorite coconut recipe, like macaroons, by switching raw and toasted.


You can toast coconut in the oven or on the stove top. To toast coconut in the oven, spread shredded coconut in a thin layer on a baking sheet. Bake at 300F for about 20 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes to make sure that the coconut browns evenly. To toast coconut on the stove top, spread shredded coconut into a large skillet (or small, if you only need a small amount) and cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until coconut is mostly golden brown. Coconut will probably brown a bit less evenly in a skillet than in the oven.


Before you start, keep in mind that coconut can burn very easily, so it’s better to take your time than to try and increase the heat and rush the toasting

How To: Bake Squash

Take a knife and stab holes sporadically around entire squash
Bake (or convect bake) whole at 375deg. for 45 min.
Turn over and bake another 45 min.
When finished, cut open squash and spoon out seeds. It is cooked perfectly and seeds come out so easily.

*This works the same for spaghetti squash. Baking the spaghetti squash whole is great because cutting a raw spaghetti squash is next to impossible*
*After cooking either butternut or spaghetti squash, you can scoop out the insides, place in zip-lock bags and it will freeze great. *

How to: Roast a Chicken

* My first go at roasting a chicken. It was much easier than I thought it would be. Don't over-think it :) *

Set your oven to 375 deg.

Open thawed chicken. Remove giblets and wash.

Pat dry and move to roasting pan.

Salt, Pepper, and Herb all sides. (you can basically use whatever you want here. I used poultry seasoning, seasoned salt, and Pepper)

Season WELL, under wings, inside cavity, etc.

Pour olive oil over and massage all over until it looks well oiled and seasoned.

Tuck in wings and tie legs.

Cover with foil and bake for 1 hour (at 375 deg)

Baste, raise temp to 400 deg and bake for another hour.

(Timing depends on size, use and internal read thermometer to check for doneness. 165-170 deg)