Vanilla Bean Coconut Cream Mousse

What do you do when you intended to get more done in a weekend than was really humanly possible (but you were delusional and totally thought is was)?

Well, you post a recipe that you made when you were procrastinating.

This one is great. I have just a few containers of Wilderness Family Naturals Coconut Cream left (and a few set aside for my friend Mel!)…so I thought I’d re-visit the coconut cream mousse idea, and add vanilla bean (because while I was packing up my kitchen, I found one…and I don’t want to waste it–those things are expensive!). I also added dark chocolate balsamic, but that really is optional. I was kind of nervous that it would ruin the whole thing, so I only added a little, and I didn’t detect it in the end product.

This was my one last hurrah with the KitchenAid stand mixer before it goes into storage too…that’s just sad.

Vanilla Bean Coconut Cream Mousse

4 (8 oz) containers of coconut cream
1 tsp liquid *stevia (I used NuNaturals)
5 scoops vanilla protein powder (I used Jay Robb egg white protein—you could use a vegan powder probably if you’re into that)
2 Tbsp dark chocolate balsamic (I used F. Oliver’s), optional
contents of one vanilla bean

Mix on high until well combined.

Put the mixer on a medium setting and drizzle in: 4 Tbsp melted coconut oil

Mix on high just to make sure the coconut oil is well-blended into the mousse.

Put it in the fridge for a couple hours. I mean, taste it first, but realize that this gets even more amazing when it is really cold. The texture is awesome, and the flavor is great too.

*If you don’t like stevia, use another sweetener, like maple syrup, to taste.

The protein powder may seem like a strange addition here, but I’ve made it with and without, and for some reason, the texture of the mousse is so smooth and amazing with the powder….and it’s kind of lumpy without it. You can make smaller batches of this too (I usually do–I was just trying to use up some ingredients and figured I’d share it…so far I haven’t shared any).

News/Notes: I really did get a lot done this weekend, but moving is weird—I feel like I’m done packing most of my stuff, and there are still odds and ends everywhere. I really don’t have a lot of stuff, but when I’m forced to touch everything and move it into a box…well, it makes me want to burn it all and start over! Not really…but I do think I’ll be really satisfied with the end result of downsizing.

Shirley and I went to Durand Eastman Park on Saturday to work out, and her sister-in-law came along and took pics of us. It was a lot of fun, even though it was SO hot. I put some of the pics on facebook if you’re interested in looking at them. www.facebook.com/fitbodystyle

I’m off to get things done! I have two weeks left …and a lot of loose ends to tie up!