Practical Magic: Lime in the Coconut One of the iconic scenes from the movie "Practical Magic" involves a spell involving a lime in a coconut. This scene not only became a memorable moment in the film but also sparked curiosity and interest in this unique magical practice. In the movie, two sisters, Sally and Gillian Owens, come from a long line of witches and face various challenges related to their magical abilities. To solve a problem, they decide to perform a spell that involves a lime in a coconut. The purpose of this spell is to find true love. The spell itself is quite simple, requiring only a few ingredients: a lime, a coconut, and a piece of paper.
As they get older, free-spirited Gillian runs off with a boyfriend, while Sally stays home. One day, deciding Sally deserves happiness, the aunts cast a spell causing her to fall for a produce guy in town — thinking because it won’t be real love she’ll avoid the curse. Sally and her husband have two daughters, and then (shockingly) he dies in a truck accident. Sally is devastated and moves back in with the aunts, but vows never to do magic.
Then the party devolves into a more deranged drunken scene where the witches do shots around the dinner table and call each other increasingly mean and nasty names. The camera pans over the dark corner of the Owens family s yard near the rose bushes where Jimmy is buried and toads slither around the site, but the aunt s voices are overheard conjuring with a rhyme that riffs off Macbeth s Double, double, toil and trouble.
The spell itself is quite simple, requiring only a few ingredients: a lime, a coconut, and a piece of paper. The process begins by carving the initials of the person you desire onto the lime. Then, the lime is placed inside the hollowed-out coconut, and the coconut is buried in the ground.
Caroline Makes.
I'm taking part in Food 'n' Flix, which encourages bloggers to watch the film chosen for that month and cook something inspired by the story, location or characters. This month the film is Practical Magic starring Sandra Bullock and Nicola Kidman; I'd seen it several years ago but decided to watch it again. The film centres around two sisters (Bullock and Kidman) brought up by their aunts (played by Stockard Channing and Dianne Wiest), who are all witches. They also live a relatively bohemian lifestyle and are something of outcasts in the community. The sisters also believe there is a family curse - that the men they fall in love with suffer an untimely death. The curse appears to be true when Sally (Sandra Bullock) is widowed at a young age, and she is wary of falling in love again. However, this is a romantic comedy and does of course have a happy ending.
When Sally is a child she makes a wish or casts a spell to protect herself from falling in love (and therefore protect anyone who might love her from dying) and makes a list of qualities her husband must have, that she thinks are too far-fetched to come true - one quality being that he will have one green eye and one blue, and also that he will be able to toss pancakes. When the investigator Gary arrives to look into a mysterious death, Sally realises he does have one green eye one blue. Soon, he seems to be falling for Sally, and there's a moment when the viewer realises he must be 'the one' as he is tossing pancakes with her children.
As pancakes were something of a motif in this film I was going to choose that as my dish to make, but I didn't think it was particularly exciting (at least, not the kind of breakfast pancakes they eat in the film) and at the same time, there was another scene I couldn't get out of my head. The sisters and their aunts are drinking and getting merry on tequila and end up dancing around the kitchen singing a song called "Coconut", with a particularly catchy line that goes "put the lime in the coconut". I had to look the song up and discovered it was by a guy called Harry Nilsson in 1972, but that Dannii Minogue also recorded a cover version, which I can't quite imagine! But I found myself humming that line over and over and eventually decided to give up the idea of pancakes and instead make something where I could "put the lime in the coconut".
I found a Delia Smith recipe online for a lime and coconut chicken curry which looked perfect. It's also really easy to make, as it only uses a few ingredients.
Chop two chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces. Place in a bowl with the zest and juice of a lime. Leave for at least an hour to marinate.
Chop half a red chilli - Delia says to use a green chilli but I only had red.
Stir-fry the chicken, adding the marinade to the pan as well, until the chicken cooked and then add the chilli. Add half a tin of coconut milk and cook for a few minutes over a medium heat.
You're supposed to add spring onions but I didn't have any and my boyfriend doesn't like them anyway. I did add some chopped coriander just before serving.
Serve with rice - and in this case broccoli and beansprouts.
Food n Flix this month is hosted by Can't Believe We Ate and the main page can be found here.
Screenshot/Village Roadshow Pictures and Warner Bros.
The belief is that as the coconut tree grows, true love will come to the person who performed the spell. While this spell is fictional and created for the movie, it incorporates elements of real-life magical practices. The use of limes and coconuts in spellwork can be found in various cultural and spiritual traditions around the world. Limes are often associated with love, healing, and purification, while coconuts are linked to fertility, protection, and bringing blessings. Combining these two ingredients in a spell may symbolize the blending of different energies to manifest a desired outcome. It's important to note that magic, or witchcraft, is a complex and diverse practice that varies across cultures and individuals. Spells, rituals, and ingredients can differ greatly, and what works for one person may not necessarily work for another. Hence, it's crucial to approach any magical practice with respect, understanding, and caution. Moreover, it's worth mentioning that in the movie "Practical Magic," the lime in the coconut spell carries both positive and negative consequences for the characters. This serves as a reminder that magic, like any other power, can have unexpected outcomes and may require careful consideration. In conclusion, while the spell involving a lime in a coconut is a fictional creation, it highlights the fascination and enchantment associated with magic and rituals. The use of limes and coconuts in spellwork draws upon cultural symbolism and the belief that certain ingredients possess specific energies. Whether one believes in magic or not, this spell remains a memorable and intriguing aspect of the movie "Practical Magic.".
Reviews for "Unlocking the Power of Lime and Coconut in Your Garden"
- Jane - 1/5 - I was really disappointed with "Practicall Magic Lime in the Coconut". The storyline was weak and predictable, and the characters were not well-developed. I found it hard to connect with any of them, which made it difficult for me to care about what happened to them. The dialogue felt forced and unnatural, and the overall writing style was lacking in depth and complexity. I had high hopes for this book, but it fell far short of my expectations. I would not recommend it to others.
- Mark - 2/5 - I had mixed feelings about "Practicall Magic Lime in the Coconut". While there were some aspects of the book that I enjoyed, such as the descriptive writing and the setting, I ultimately found it to be a bit underwhelming. The plot seemed like it had potential, but it didn't go anywhere particularly interesting or unexpected. The characters were also quite forgettable, and I struggled to stay engaged with their stories. Overall, it was an okay read, but not one that left a lasting impression on me.
- Sarah - 2/5 - "Practicall Magic Lime in the Coconut" was not my cup of tea. The writing style was confusing and disjointed, making it hard for me to follow along with the plot. Additionally, the pacing was off, with long periods of inaction followed by rushed and underdeveloped moments of climax. I didn't find any of the characters particularly compelling or relatable, which made it difficult for me to be invested in their journey. Unfortunately, this book just didn't resonate with me and I wouldn't recommend it to others.