All About Rachel

Welcome to Coconut & Lime! I'm Rachel Rappaport, 7th generation Baltimorean, dog owner, reader, movie-watcher, sunglass-wearer and food lover.

I wasn't always a food writer and recipe developer. I actually have a BA in Urban History and MA in Education. I started Coconut & Lime in 2004 as a way to keep track of recipes I made and to share them with friends. Back then, there were few food blogs and I had no idea so many people would read my blog or that food blogging would become so popular. I am glad it did! I am now a full time recipe blogger, professional recipe developer, food columnist, two-time cookbook author and amateur food photographer.

All of the recipes that appear on this site are my own original recipes created right here in my small kitchen in Baltimore City. No recipes from magazines, newspapers, books or blogs ever appear on Coconut & Lime.

And, yes, we actually eat the food I made, normally about 2 minutes after I snap a picture!

Since starting my blog I have appeared in a wide range of online and print publications, webcasts, television and radio.

My first cookbook, the Everything Healthy Slow Cooker Cookbook features 300  new recipes from a wide range of cuisines and absolutely no canned soup. It is shipping out now from Amazon.com and is available in bookstores worldwide.

My second cookbook, the Everything Whole Foods Cookbook, featuring 300 new recipes using whole ingredients,  is available in stores and online now. 

I contributed several recipes to  Good Bite Weeknight Meals: Delicious Made Easy and  Ramps: Cooking with the Best Kept Secret of the Appalachian Trail which are available now!


I was on a reality show hosted by Andrew Dan-Jumbo.

I organized Baltimore's First Cupcake Camp and several Baltimore Food Blogger meet ups.

I did a live cooking segment about  bananas on Fox 45 Baltimore on behalf of Dole.

I judged the chocolate contest at the Maryland State Fair.


I love to can and create new recipes using what I canned.

I don't eat: ketchup, pumpkin pie or cantaloupe.

I eat: pretty much everything else.

I also love pie.

You can read my full portfolio here to see all of the other places my work has been published.

You can email me at coconutlimeblogATgmailDOTcom.

Social Media:

My Facebook profile
My Google+ Page
Coconut & Lime's Facebook Fan Page
Coconut & Lime's Google Plus Page
The Coconut & Lime flickr group has pictures of food made from recipes found here.
Follow me on Twitter where I mostly talk about food, movies and my dogs.
Follow me on Instagram