Granny's Bajan Sweet Bread
(A Russell Brooks Favorite)
2 lb Self Rising Flour
1 lb brown Sugar
3/4 lb Butter
1/4 lb Shortening (optional)
1 grated coconut (approx 3 cups)
1 tsp Salt
2 tsp Vanilla
1 tsp nutmeg
Raisins - Optional
Cherries - Optional
Makes approximately 3 medium sized breads
1/2 cup grated coconut
2 tbs Sugar
1 tsp essence
2 tbs water
• Put all ingredients in small pan & place on low fire
• Stir continuously for approximately 3 mins or until sugar is dissolved.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix all dry ingredients together (except fruit). Mix butter & Shortening into mixture, using fingers, until mixture resembles large bread crumbs. Add fruit to mixture. Use enough liquid to bind mixture together. This could be coconut water, milk or just plain water. Knead dough for a few minutes. The longer you need the dough, the firmer the bread becomes. Sweet bread is traditionally a firm bread, but some people like it soft & crumbly. The choice is yours. Grease & flour loaf pan. Fill pan halfway with dough. Place a slender line of coconut filling lengthwise down middle of dough. Put remaining dough on top. Cut light crisscross pattern on top with a knife for decoration (optional). Bake for 30-45 minutes or until an inserted knife comes out clean.
Tip
For a crisper top, place a small pan with water at bottom of oven while baking.
Chill Run – Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat and Think With Your Taste Buds Desserts
Eddie
bit down hard to avoid himself from trembling. The finger that his
father used to point at him came from the same hand that used to spank
him. Wait a minute. Why am I being scared? This is why I’m always on the ropes, because my father always instilled fear in me.
Edward’s eyes narrowed as he spoke. “You quit school, left this house
on your own, and got that little job at the bookstore. Now you’re
living from paycheck to paycheck, running around like a hamster in a
wheel. Running around and not going anywhere – that’s you. You
squandered everything that your mother and I invested in you. Once you
decide to do something meaningful and stop writing nonsense, then I’ll
help you.” He then finished off the last of his sweet potato. The
tightness at the back of Eddie’s throat suddenly went away. He felt his
pulse beating hard in his neck, something he never felt before. It was
bad enough to be kicked when he was down. But now his dad had crossed
the line. I stood up to Patrick at the bar, why shouldn’t I stand up to you?
“Dad, all I have to say to that is that I can respect you all the way.
You came from nothing and you became a pharmacist. You faced an uphill
battle to become what you wanted.” His father didn’t appear to hear what he said. He wasn’t landing his punches. “And that’s why you are so wrong, in every way.” Eddie felt the shock and awe around him at the table as everyone simultaneously stopped eating.
Eddie
Barrow, Jr. has finally confronted his father and stood up for
himself. Eddie had always wanted to be a writer but that wasn’t what
his parents, especially his father, wanted him to become. The lack of
support from his family is what caused him to move out of their home and
seek a life of his own. But, of course, independence came with its own
ups and downs.
Eddie’s
best friend Corey, who had once saved his life, became his roommate but
he had his own problems, mainly the lack of a job. So when Eddie lost
his own job there was nothing else to do but find another way to make
himself known and stop the rejection letters that were coming in from
the publishers after reading his manuscript. Through the help of
Corey’s girlfriend Jordyn, the perfect publicity stunt was set up and
put into action. They would never have guessed that this best laid plan
would end up in murder with Eddie, Corey and Jordyn all three running
for their lives.
Chill
Run is a fitting name for this book. The twists and turns will keep
the chills running as the trio has no choice but to find the real
killers and expose them. But how do you make that happen when the
person in the background pulling the strings has people in his pocket
that can prevent you from reporting what you know to the police?
Not
only does Chill Run have the action, suspense and a laugh now and then,
it also speaks to the reader. Eddie’s family has shown no support for
his choices in life. They insist that he follow their dreams for him
and not his own. For a determined person like Eddie, this gave him no
choice other than to do something he would have never even considered
otherwise. And now his only goal is to keep himself and his two best
friends alive, again without the support of his parents. Chill Run is a
story that will keep you turning the pages to see what happens next.
To enter Russell's contest to win a free copy of his book simply write a comment and leave your email address with your post, but hurry because the contest ends 11/30/2011. Russell will be giving away 10 copies of his book Chill Run.
To enter Russell's contest to win a free copy of his book simply write a comment and leave your email address with your post, but hurry because the contest ends 11/30/2011. Russell will be giving away 10 copies of his book Chill Run.