The second challenge for Project Food Blog is called “The Classics”. You are supposed to choose a classic dish from another culture, something that’s outside your comfort zone.
Since my comfort zone is obviously eating chocolate almond butter right out of the jar I figured pretty much anything that required me to actually cook would be game. 
Actually, I think Mexican food is my comfort zone so I wanted something different from that.
I brainstormed a few ideas, and finally decided to make something that uses coconut since I’m married to a coconut addict. It’s a real disease and he needs help.
I made Tom Kha Gai – Thai Coconut soup. Since I wanted to make it authentic I had to make a trip to our local Asian market to get the ingredients. Shopping is usually my specialty, but it helps if you can read the labels. 
I also got distracted by this cleaning product. What is a Pon Pon and why have I not been washing mine? 
Luckily I was able to recognize coconuts and the other required ingredients by sight and a little help from the workers. Bonus: Fresh coconuts were on sale! 
And apparently you can buy dead porcupines here?
Anyways, I walked out of the market with everything I needed to make an amazing Thai classic.
The next problem was figuring out how to cook with these new ingredients. The recipe I used didn’t explain how exactly to cut the lemon grass. I took a guess and cut it in half to infuse the broth.
Despite my efforts to get away from my usual Mexican dishes, it seems a key ingredient in this soup is from Mexico. Represent! 
I chopped up the goods and added them to the broth. This dish was surprisingly easy to make once I got past the “thinly slice the ginger” part. I’m bad at slicing. 
I’m also bad at hacking apart coconuts. I had to call in some help for that part. I wanted to use it as a serving bowl for my soup and this required a little extra arm power. 
Basically, you slice up the ingredients; juice the limes and simmer everything until all the flavors have melded together.
I garnished the soup with cilatro and served it in a coconut bowl. 
I left the coconut meat in the coconut on purpose. I was hoping it would infuse the soup with a little extra flavor and it did!
My first attempt at a Thai Classic, Tom Kha Gai was a success!
But, I think the resident coconut lover should be the judge of that…
I’ll take the empty coconut bowl as his approval 🙂
If you like my attempt at this dish you can vote here. Thanks!
You totally should have bought that durian!! Great job on the soup, awesome presentation!
This is one of my favorite dishes, you’ve got my vote.
Also, coconut addiction is a gift and a curse, and it’s not to be taken lightly… unless we’re talking about a souffle with coconut.
Lick My Spoon
I went to an Asian store for my ingredients too – they are always so fun. I wish I had my camera – definitely lots of random stuff there.
PS – just voted for you 🙂
Great post and definitely lovely pictures and presentation! You’ve definitely got my vote!
LOVE that you served it IN a coconut! Score!
Definitely an enjoyable post to read. 🙂
Awe, you’re so cute! You served it all up in a coconut shell! Okay, this definitely deserves my vote 🙂
You are married to a coconut lover? I’m engage and going to marry a coconut hater.
I think I recognize that Asian store and I think that fruit you are carrying is called Durian 🙂 I love Thai food, especially their soups. I can’t wait to try this once it cools off around here.
I don’t know what a Pon Pon is either?
Hilarious! I’m not sure what a Pon Pon is either!! LOL! You totally have my vote! 🙂
I think it’s great you went out of your comfort zone and tried something new! I love Asian markets. They have good stuff!
I love your idea! One of the best round 2’s I’ve seen 🙂 And I appreciate your Asian supermarket humor as well!
Looks delicious! Just a quick question- How long did it take you to make the soup (minus the fancy coconut bowl)?
About 30 minutes because the flavors have to simmer together, but it was super easy 🙂
I feel like I’m the only person in the world who can’t stand coconut. lol
But it looks so cool!
I don’t really like coconut either! This soup is one of the few things I’ll eat with coconut as a main ingredient.
Nice work! And love the coconut bowl. You got my vote.
You’re much more adventurous than I would ever be. Looks yummy!
yum!!!!! This looks great, I will definitely be voting for you tomorrow 🙂
Thanks! I’ve gotta give you a vote for your Greek masterpiece too 🙂
Good work on the soup!
I don’t like those durians….in my opinion they taste as bad as they smell!
Your blog is very funny! (like in a really good way…) I kind of recently discovered it. I have been a loyal blog follower of a few blogs for awhile that I read all the time… Definitely adding yours to my list. Very relatable and funny….
Thanks Ashley! Welcome 🙂
I love your sense of humor! I appreciate reading your blog everyday.
Thank you! I really appreciate this 🙂
Laughed the whole way through your post after the “Pon Pon” comment!!
I’m right there with your hubby as a coconut lover. Way to nail this dish on the first try! It looks delicious 🙂
lol@ the durian. When I was little I used to thing they were dead puffer fish because they were in those little nets XP
Ha! Dead puffer fish is just as bad as how I thought it was a porcupine.
All of these posts are so fun to read. 🙂 How creative that you served it in the coconut bowl.
That looks like a beautiful dish! What a lucky lady to have such a supportive hus:)
Monica! I am so impressed! As a lover of eating foods in jars with fingers as well, this recipe would definitely qualify being out of my comfort zone. Y’all even got out the power tools! Excellent.
The power tools part was all Ben 🙂 I would have def cut myself.
I love that you served it from a coconut bowl! So cute!
So cool! I’m with Ben in coconut-loving. You definitely went out of your comfort zone and for that will be getting my vote 🙂