Usually, I am a very quiet and composed person. When my internet suddenly refused to function today, I calmly strolled over to the router, checking the lights. Thirty minutes later, no amount of unplugging, rebooting, and resetting would give me the signal I needed. Six attempts later, I finally dialed the help line of my cable company.
The list of problems we’ve had with our cable/internet provider can’t even be counted on ten fingers. There was a point when the New York manager must have had my name and address memorized. So, I wasn’t looking forward to making yet another phone call to customer service, and well, my voice may have gone up a few decibels today. After four transfers to the “appropriate” technical agent, the signal finally returned early this evening.
So, let’s just leave the usual photo post for tomorrow, okay? :)
Luckily, I had the perfect task set ahead of me to release my aggression.
I’ve been meaning to attack a coconut for a while, but fear of losing an arm in the process of cracking one has held me back. I think that was a valid phobia, but as it turns out, it was unwarranted. All I had to do was pull up a trusty coconut tutorial, place one hand firmly behind my back, and hope that my hand-eye coordination had improved since the last time I put it to the test.
I kind of wanted to close my eyes, but that didn’t seem like an intelligent idea.
Success! [Ok, I missed on the first blow, as you can see]. After scraping out the meat, I developed this very complex recipe:
chilled red pepper and coconut soup
- meat of one young coconut
- one red bell pepper
- 1/4 c fresh cilantro
Combine ingredients in blender. Refrigerate minimum one hour.
Served alongside a salad of red chard, kidney beans, and raw sweet corn (a random pairing with the soup – sometimes I can’t decide what I’m in the mood for).
The soup was so good. Often when creating a new dish, I determine the initial ingredients and add a couple extra as I go along. Once this one was blended, I tasted the mixture, expecting it would be missing a little something. But the simple elements combined perfectly: it was rich, deep in flavor, and absolutely delicious.
What’s the worst technical difficulty you’ve ever had to deal with?
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Ugh, no internet? Terrible! How did you function? I am much impressed by your coconut wrangling skills, and eventual taming + consuming of said coconut!
holy crap! now you can be on “LOST!”
Ack, technology is wonderful…when it WORKS! I think my worst was when I moved into this apartment. I had a pre-paid wireless thing (like a cellphone) for my laptop and it suddenly died. Turned out, within 2 days, I had gone almost $500 over the limit and they never warned me! I had no idea! I move on Friday and am going to be without internet and phone for the first few days, and my cellphone gets no reception in the new place. More than a little worried about it!
I LOVE fresh coconut :D
I’d love to try fresh coconut! The soup youmade with it looks so good.
COMPUTER PROBLEMS!
I get frustrated and impatient–unlike you–you were so patient and good! :)
My work is in IT so we deal with “technical problems”.
Eeep! I love fresh coconuts but have never opened one on my own. We had trees growing on our yard in the province. It was a thrill watching the men climb the tall trees and avoiding the coconuts as they dropped them to the ground. They would then shell and open them for us. I love the almost transluscent, very young coconut flesh.
Your cold soup looks very creamy and delicious. Your creations always give me new ideas.
I love your simple soup, and I am intensely proud of your first coconut experience :)
How did you do it?!!!! I tried this once and my whole family attempted even using a hammer and electric knife (true story, all massive fails).