Steep trails, slick rocks, and sticky red mud… Sound dangerous? Yeah, I thought so too. But we and 17,000 other tourists ignored our common sense and set aside a day to hike the Nā Pali Coast.
Located on the west side of Kauai, the sheer cliffs can only be accessed by helicopter, boat, or on foot. They hold lots of hiding gems, which lure visitors in to experience their beauty. Last year, we hiked 8 miles to play in the waterfall from Jurassic Park, but since it hurt to sit for two days after, I cut this year’s hike short to minimize the soreness!
Mom and I stopped at the beach 2 miles into the trail and waved good-bye to the other three as we snacked on M&Ms. After an hour of snapping photos and brushing ants off our feet, we started the hot climb back to the trailhead.
Eight bug bites and two mud tattoos later, my legs finally found level ground in the parking lot. As we dashed to the bathrooms (we definitely stayed hydrated!), I spotted two guys whacking the tops off of coconuts with a machete and selling the fresh drinks with a straw. They also offered guava popsicles—two of my favorite tropical flavors! (Which I ironically had already combined into my own dessert…)
Two of my favorite tropical flavors! Serve with vanilla ice cream for a cool summer treat.
- Preheat the oven to 350°, and lightly coat an 8”-square baking pan with nonstick cooking spray.
- To prepare the crust, cut the coconut oil into the brown sugar using the back of a fork in a medium bowl. Stir in the salt, milk, and coconut extract. Mix in the coconut flour, and let the mixture sit for 5 minutes. Press into the bottom of the prepared pan, and cover the pan with tin foil. Bake at 350° for 12 minutes covered. Uncover and continue baking for another 8 minutes. Cool completely.
- To prepare the filling, whisk together the Ener-G and water (or lightly beat the egg whites). Whisk in the remaining ingredients. Pour on top of the cooled crust, and bake at 350° for 18-20 minutes, or until the filling barely jiggles when shaken. Cool to room temperature before cutting into squares.
Note: If the crust is too soggy and falls apart when removing the bars from the pan, place the pan in the freezer for up to 1 hour to firm up the crust.
I would tolerate being sore for a week to see the Jurassic Park waterfall! What a great day trip. And as always these bars look YUM!
Thanks Brittany! I will admit, the waterfall was pretty magnificent last year… But the water was FREEZING! I couldn’t believe how many people were swimming in the pond. My toes would’ve turned blue the second I jumped in!
What is Ener-g – looked it up and it looks like a brand for a whole bunch of ______-free products. Did you just use the egg replacement?
I’m sorry about the confusion Meg! Yes, I used their egg replacement. Works like a charm in almost everything!