I shared a childhood memory with my bechilded friends at work.
“When I was a kid I loved it when Mom would bring home coconuts. Dave and I would sit on the patio and hammer them open with the patio bricks. Then we’d gnaw on the dirty shards. It was the best thing ever. If I had a kid that’s what I would do with it.” (“It,” Libby snorted.)
When I found “sweet young coconuts” on sale at Dierbergs, I thought it strange they weren’t dark and hairy, and I thought it strange they only mentioned drinking the milk and not gnawing on the meat. I still bought one with the intent to make fresh home-made macaroons.
I invited Gary to join the fun of coconuts. Destruction and food, his favorites, just like a child.
He disappointed me. He decided to use tools like the chisel and hammer and two sizes of screwdrivers. He was able to puncture it but eventually gave up and left it to me.
I no longer have the patio bricks of my childhood, but I have a patio, trash bags, and centrifugal force.
The first swing of the bag on to the cement was disappointing. It bounced! That was all wrong. Eventually it opened up and I saw the dark hair I’d been missing on the inside of the nut, then inside that there was some nasty slimy coconut meat.
“ROTTED!” we cried and threw it away. Turns out, I should have hung it on a tree outside, because research showed I was trying to treat a “Sweet young coconut” like a hairy old coconut. I guess Dierbergs is selling the young ones for the milk. I did try the milk but it was greasy and vile.
Where can I find a hairy old coconut? To that point, where did Mom find them? St. Louisans, have you actually seen with your eyes hairy old brown coconuts at a store?
12 responses to “Coconut”
Try an Indo-Pak grocery store. They usually have both kinds.
When I was a kid, they were rare and seasonal. My grandmother bought them at the Safeway.
We slaughtered a coconut in the back yard with the kids when they were little. It was awesome. I’m with you. Also, yay for old hairy things being better than sweet young ones. Oh, am I overidentifying?
Daughter says we have the old hairy ones in most ordinary grocery stores around here. Shall I send you one?
The coconut’s tropic. This is a temperate zone.
Becs – That would be World FoodsAllison – Ha! Our meat is thicker, but it is more flavorful.~~Silk – No! What’s the fun in that? I must stalk one. Marcia – Are you suggesting coconuts migrate?
Marcia – But can it be carried by its husk?
It was a rotten green coconut. Ugh. We have two coconut trees but we deball them when they are still small, because they are in the driveway and falling nuts could conk people on the head.
Queen – Not at all. They could be carried.
Becs – Perhaps held under the dorsal guiding feathers.
Becs – A European swallow?Hattie – I remeber in Maui we were amazed to see men doing that, and for the same reason.Marcia – Or an African swallow?
Red, no! Bluuuuuuueeeeeee! (paraphrased, I don’t feel like checking)
Tami – no, the answer is “laden or unladen?”
The answer to *that* question, sure. I think *outside* the box! To another whole different scene in the same movie!