Coconut-Lime Cupcakes

Ingredients

• 2 cups white sugar

• 1 cup butter

• 4 eggs

• 1 tablespoon coconut extract

• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

• 3 cups all-purpose flour

• 1 tablespoon baking powder

• ½ teaspoon baking powder

• ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg

• 1 cup buttermilk

• ½ cup fresh lime juice

• 2 cups sweetened shredded coconut

• 2 tablespoons freshly grated lime zest

Directions

• Step 1

  Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line 36 cupcake cups with paper liners.

• Step 2

  Beat sugar and butter together in the bowl of an electric stand mixer until fluffy, about 10 minutes. Beat in eggs, 1 at a time, adding coconut extract and vanilla extract with the last egg.

• Step 3

  Combine flour, 1 tablespoon plus 1/2 teaspoon baking powder, and nutmeg in another bowl. Beat into the egg mixture until thoroughly combined; beat in buttermilk and lime juice. Stir in coconut and lime zest.

• Step 4

  Fill each of the prepared cupcake cups with about 1/4 cup of batter using a large cookie scoop.

• Step 5

  Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool before serving.

Key Lime Pie

This recipe uses condensed milk and sour cream. Fabulously easy. . . a summertime favorite! If you have time, a homemade graham cracker crust is better! Garnish with whipped cream and thin slices of lime if you like.

Ingredients

• 1 (9 inch) prepared graham cracker crust

• 3 cups sweetened condensed milk

• 1/2 cup sour cream

• 3/4 cup key lime juice

• 1 tablespoon grated lime zest

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

2. In a medium bowl, combine condensed milk, sour cream, lime juice, and lime rind. Mix well and pour into graham cracker crust.

3. Bake in preheated oven for 5 to 8 minutes, until tiny pinhole bubbles burst on the surface of pie. DO NOT BROWN! Chill pie thoroughly before serving. Garnish with lime slices and whipped cream if desired.

Avocado Soup with Chicken and Lime

Thin strips of chicken breast are simmered in broth with jalapenos, onion, garlic and lime and then combined with avocado and topped with crisp corn tortilla strips in this spicy soup.

Ingredients

• 4 (6 inch) corn tortillas, julienned

• 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil

• 1 white onion, sliced thinly

• 8 cloves garlic, thinly sliced

• 4 fresh jalapeno peppers, sliced

• 8 ounces skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cut into thin strips

• 1 quart chicken broth

• 1/4 cup fresh lime juice

• 1 tomato, seeded and diced

• salt and pepper to taste

• 1 avocado - peeled, pitted and diced

• 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

2. Arrange tortilla strips on a baking sheet and bake in preheated oven until lightly browned, 3 to 5 minutes.

3. In a large saucepan over medium heat, cook onion, garlic and jalapenos in olive oil until lightly browned, 4 to 5 minutes. Stir in chicken, chicken broth, lime juice, tomato, salt and pepper. Gently simmer until chicken is cooked, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in avocado and cilantro and heat through. Adjust seasonings.

4. Ladle soup into bowls and sprinkle with tortilla strips to serve.

Lime Chicken Soft Tacos

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breast meat - cubed
• 1/8 cup red wine vinegar
• 1/2 lime, juiced
• 1 teaspoon white sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 2 green onions, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 10 (6 inch) flour tortillas
• 1 tomato, diced
• 1/4 cup shredded lettuce
• 1/4 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
• 1/4 cup salsa

Directions

1. Saute chicken in a medium saucepan over medium high heat for about 20 minutes. Add vinegar, lime juice, sugar, salt, pepper, green onion, garlic and oregano. Simmer for an extra 10 minutes.
2. Heat an iron skillet over medium heat. Place a tortilla in the pan, warm, and turn over to heat the other side. Repeat with remaining tortillas. Serve lime chicken mixture in warm tortillas topped with tomato, lettuce, cheese and salsa.