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12.14.2008

Coconut Island Bread For A Great Cause

A while back while I was on vacation,I was approached by SunshineMom if I wouldn't mind being tagged for the Breadline Africa Charity Project. All you know I am notorious for not following up with tags or memes. It's not that I don't appreciate or acknowledge them, It's just catching up with all and trying to just keep up with the business/hobby of blogging. I feel this is an excellent way to redeem myself. I first heard of this charity from Jeanne.For more information on Breadline Africa click here. I realize we are all pretty much strapped and pressured this holiday season. And in the Food Blog world you will find a lot of appeals , some more established, and some new ones to raise awareness to world hunger.All are excellent and each and every donation is appreciated. Africa is particularly close to my heart , because I am of African origin. My father was Nigerian born. While my fathers family is considered pretty well off and prominent,I still consider my blessings on the advantage of being born here in the United States. There are just so many things we take advantage of here. Whereas in many parts in the continent of Africa , life is a daily struggle. So while I worry about my stack of bills, payments on the German luxury car, debts, mortgage,etc., some are worrying about where their next meal is coming from, medicines, and basic human rights. We all have our struggles , but put in a proper perspective we need to start counting our blessings and imagine how our lives would be in some truly trying conditions. Case in point, look at President Elect Barack Obama, and how the media pulls distant relations from Kenya out of the woodwork. They are quick to show the disparity between his upbringing and opportunity to his half siblings and cousins. A simple twist of fate determines so much.The African diaspora has always done what they can to support their brothers and sisters back home.You cant turn your back to it and yet unfortunately you can't help everyone and solve all the world problems. But I believe in the small things and giving what you are able to. And giving can be done in so many ways...
"The Blogger Bake Off is an online campaign that challenges bloggers to get involved by baking bread, and then acting by donating to end poverty. And then, challenge their readers and five other bloggers to do the same. With the money raised, we will be supporting grass roots community projects aimed at ending poverty and hunger in Africa. We’ll be placing container kitchens, vegetable gardens and more in poor communities, sending emergency food relief where needed and helping these poor communities to help themselves.The rules for bloggers are outlined below:
If you are tagged, copy and paste the rules into your post.
Bake bread, do something you wouldn’t normally do, and blog about it. Upload your picture and recipe.
Give dough, donate to Breadline Africa and help us end poverty.
Tag five bloggers, and ping us so we know you’ve done so.
The person who raises the most funds will get to name a Breadline Africa community kitchen and win $500 Amazon Vouchers. There are also three minor prizes of $250 Amazon vouchers for people who receive the most votes in the following categories: Most Unusual Recipe; Most Nutritious Recipe and Most Traditional Recipe."

I created this bread inspired by this recipe. I had been meaning to make it all year. Unfortunately I was out of coconut milk, but had coconut water. So I adapted it , changed it all around, and gave it more of Caribbean flair than South Pacific. I was out of coconut milk, but had coconut water and condensed milk. I was also out of milk, and had to use heavy cream.Coconut water is what you find inside the coconut. Coconut milk is just the water processed with coconut pulp to give it its creamy texture.I still wanted the milk and egg components in this slightly sweet dough. The sweetness comes in from the sauce tipping the dough is basted in while baking. Condensed milk, banana rum,nutmeg, cinnamon,and more coconut water. Time is challenging so I formed my dough and let it slow rise overnight in the refrigerator.The morning of baking , I took the dough out, formed the balls like the style of a monkey bread, and let rise at room temp until doubled again. The dough was a firm, almost rubbery dough in the fridge. But the results baked up beautifully with a wonderful sauce for drizzling. This bread brings a dose of sunshine .
Coconut Island Bread
4 cups all purpose flour
3 tsp fresh yeast
1/4 cup sugar
4 tablespoons melted butter and extra for greasing pan and dough balls.
1 egg beaten
1 cup heavy cream
1 11.8 fl oz can of Coconut water( half for bread, and remaining for topping).
topping sauce
Coconut water( remaining half)
1tbsp Banana Rum
Nutmeg
Cinnamon
1 can condensed milk
Warm the heavy cream slightly and dissolve 1 teaspoon of sugar and all of the yeast. Out aside and let start to foam. Sift flour,remaining sugar into bowl of stand mixer. Add melted butter, egg, and yeast cream mixture. Add the 1/2 cup of coconut water. Mix with a dough hook until dough forms a ball and all is Incorporated. Knead in stand mixer with dough hook for a few minutes.If dough is dry add the remaining proportion of allocated coconut water until it is moist, but not sticky. Butter a container with lid and place dough. Cover and allow the dough to rise in the refrigerator overnight or until double in bulk.
Mix the remaining coconut water and can of condensed milk with the banana rum. Set aside. Take the dough and form walnut size balls, Butter your baking dish and dip each dough ball in melted butter. Arrange the balls to cover the dish and put the extra balls on top.Sprinkle with nutmeg and cinnamon.Place in a warm place until double in bulk( about 2 hours) .
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Pour about 1/3 of the topping sauce on top of dough( or as much as dough can handle) Bake and check periodically. Continue to baste the bread with the remaining sauce until all is absorbed. May take about 3- 4 pours. Cook until deep golden brown approx 50 minutes or so depending on your oven. Let cool. There will be some liquid formed on the bottom. Cut pieces and drizzle the sauce over the bread.

I am also submitting this recipe for this months special Royal Food Joust. Its a special joust asking for Caribbean inspired recipes to showcase Cynthia Nelsons My Caribbean Cookbook. As its a crazy time for everyone, and many bloggers I know are over committed, I am asking for at least 5 of you readers to follow this lead and bake for Breadline Africa.If you read this but never comment, come out and bake along!As you bake your holiday creations, think of adapting your post to support to this cause and make a donation. Happy Holidays everyone. I will see you next year.
Please Make a Donation to Project Breadline Africa as I plan to do.


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42 comments:

Judy@nofearentertaining said...

The bread looks wonderful and what a great cause!!! I also think it's a great entry for the RFJ! Very clever.

Darius T. Williams said...

OMG - this is great - I love cooking for causes!

Thistlemoon said...

This is awesome! Thanks so much for entering this yummy recipe in the Joust. I feel so honored!

Rosa's Yummy Yums said...

Delightful and for a great cause!

Cheers,

Rosa

Clumbsy Cookie said...

A great bread for a greater cause. Must be wonderful!

Jen said...

This looks amazing, Courtney! I'm hoping to join when things settle down on my end.

Chou said...

Only (native) thing I ate in my entire Caribbean research tour was coconut bread, and it was wonderful. This is an interesting meme. I will look into it.

Heather said...

how beautiful is this bread?!?! what lovely memories and wonderful cause!

Emily said...

Yummy! I want some of that bread!

Christine said...

It's nice of you to take time out of your busy schedule and bake for this cause. Little acts that go a long way. =)

I love drinking coconut water, and I like that this recipe uses it. Sounds really good!

Sunshinemom said...

Thanks, Courtney! This does look very tasty! Enjoy your trip.

The Caked Crusader said...

Great looking bread (you had me at "coconute"!) and great cause

Anonymous said...

Wow - I loved reading your post. Thanks for joining our campaign!

Sarah @ Breadline Africa

Peter M said...

Courtney, this has the look of bread pudding and condensed milk, i'm convinced it's been sent from the devil...too good!

Unknown said...

Wow baking for a good cause! I am so inspired! Let me see if I could bake anything decent T_T

Deborah said...

I love the blog world and all of the different events that are created here - for such worthy causes! And this bread sounds like such a treat!

Anonymous said...

ooo..nice bread. So different. I like that!

Dharm said...

Great Cause and an even greater recipe!! Well done Courtney!!

Dee said...

You did a great job in promoting an excellent cause. I'm also drooling over your brandy snaps. Drool. Drool. Drool. Your blog is looking especially delicious these days.

Merry Xmas Courtney!

Jeanne said...

Oh wow - this sounds wonderful! Isn't it funny how the taste of coconut brings to mind the sun (something that we are sadly lacking here in London!!)? Thrilled that you got a chance to take part in the bake-off!

nyc/caribbean ragazza said...

What a great bread for a great cause.

Nina Timm said...

Oh wow, I love the look of this! Save me a piece, pls!

Half Baked said...

Great looking bread! really great cause!!

Cynthia said...

Darling! I have bookmarked and will definitely be trying it.

Happy Holidays to you and CS!

Anonymous said...

This sounds like such a yummy bread!

Navita (Gupta) Hakim said...

Hi..found u thru the Forum...loved this place and share ur sentiment.
Stopped by to say hi..and would love to entertain u as well at my lil place.
:)

Anonymous said...

a really excellent post, courtney. really thought provoking. thanks for this. the bread really does look delicious as well. we all have alot to be thankful for!

Anonymous said...

Wonderful post! Wonderful cause!

Paz

anudivya said...

Wow! I need to make this... I have tons of canned coconut milk at hand... It looks beautiful
And baking for a wonderful cause! Cheers to you.

Anonymous said...

WOW girl ! this coconut bread looks divine !

G said...

Merry Christmas Coco! See you in the New Year. :)

Chou said...

Happy holidays Courtney! I hope you're having a wonderful season. :)

Julius said...

Looks delicious.

Happy Holidays!

~ Julius
from Occasional Baker

Heather said...

What a wonderful dessert for a wonderful cause. I donated this year to World Food Programme, but I will think about blogging for this event, too.

Happy holidays, honey! Hope you and CS are having a nice winter.

Anonymous said...

Delicious looking coconut bread!
Hope you and cs had a wonderful Christmas!

Lori Lynn said...

Great cause. Great bread.
Love the COCOnut.

Hope you are enjoying the holidays Courtney!
Lori Lynn

Anonymous said...

i will most certainly agree with you on being a slacker on following up on memes! i so appreciate them but just have a hard time getting them done.

and don't we all have roots in Africa??

your bread looks amazing.

breadchick said...

Those breads look fantastic Courtney. And what a wonderful cause.

Happy New Year and here's to baking together again this upcoming year.

~~louise~~ said...

Happy New Year to you and certain someone Courtney!!!!

Just a Girl said...

OMG, we make something very similar to this but we add the sweetness right into the bread and bake it into a loaf. Having spent LOTS of time on Cat Island, coconut bread is something we would buy from the locals all the time and we crave it so bad now that we dont go there anymore. I can't wait to try your recipe, it looks so moist and sweet!

Anonymous said...

This is an amazing recipe. First time I see coconut water being used in a recipe and I must say it's pretty intriguing...

Anonymous said...

Hi there, thanks so much for keeping the Blogger Bake Off alive! Your post is great and the recipe too! :-)
I have posted your blog to our Facebook group (Blogger Bake Off: Bake Bread; Give Dough) - check us out.
If you get a sec please sign up to our newsletter on bloggerbakeoff.com - we've got alot to say in 2009 about feeding Africa.
Thanks again.
Tamsin - Breadline Africa (South Africa)