Da Cove Bowl, Brah
THE HEAT HAS ARRIVED, winter is now over and Avalon and I are recreating our summer trips to Hawai’i.
One of the most refreshing snacks we love to get there is a cold, sweet, crunchy and healthy ‘Da Cove Bowl.’ It’s a glorified smoothie with fruit and granola, and it’s sooo good.
As memory serves me:
After a morning run around Kapi’olani Park, followed by a swim and sun session across the street at San Souci, we’re ready for that short walk to fetch one at Da Cove health bar. Its a local spot tucked away on Monserrat Avenue where slippers and tans are mandatory if you want to feel like a Kama’aina. Although the “bowl” seems to take forever for them to make, I have to realize I’m on island time again. No one is in a rush. We all can afford to slow down and hurry up to wait. But, only in Hawaii.
Here, we can whip it up fast. The base of the smoothie is acai berry. Touted as the most potent South American antioxidant fruit etc., etc., etc., The puree comes frozen in smoothie packs which you can get in the nutrition center at Fred Meyer, or Food Front. I haven’t checked other possibilities. Just blend one up with a splash of soy milk or yogurt and a banana, then pour it in a bowl and add granola and fresh strawberries, raspberries and more banana.
There are two styles of frozen puree-one is sweetened, the other not. If you buy the unsweetened variety, you’ll want to drizzle on some honey perhaps.
Since not all granolas are created equal, here is my favorite one that I revised from Pebble Beach.
Pebble Beach Granola – revised
Rolled oats 4 cups
Shredded coconut 3 cups
Sesame seeds 1 ½ cups
Sunflower seeds 2 ½ cups
Slivered almonds 2 ½ cups
ground golden flaxseed 1/2 cup
Salad oil (canola) 1 cup
Honey 1 ¼ cup
Vanilla 1 T
Brown sugar ¾ cup
Granulated sugar ¾ cup
ground cinnamon 2 t.
Mix dry ingredients together in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, mix wet ingredients together then pour over the dry and mix well. Spread out on baking sheet and bake at 300 degrees for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until golden brown. This may take longer. Granola will harden as it cools.
Raisins, dried cranberries or cherries are a great addition after the granola has cooled.