PAPA RONI'S AND COCONUT BREAD...YUM!!!

i've been promising the kiddos delivery pizza for the past two weeks, however, the only pizza place around me that delivers is a mom and pop place called papa roni's and they haven't been delivering the past couple of weeks. so i left work a lil early to go pick one up before i got the kiddos.

that is the first time that i have been inside in such a long time. i love the whole small, quaint italian restaurant feel to it. in the bakery cases i saw cannoli shells, tarts, cheesecake,and cookies. the smells were devine and you are able to see them (the owner and her teenage kiddos) cooking up some yummies!

as i stand there on teepie-toes taking sneak peeks of what they are doing back there, i wish that i could work there. i wanna make pizza and cannoli. i almost think i am going to open up my mouth and ask if i can work one day a week. even if its just to make cannoli filling.

then that reminds me of my dream....my dream to bake all day long. before i got pregnant with mikey, i had received the application to attend a local culinary school. i was going to attend the culinary school, master in pastries, then one day have my own show on the food network. believe you me, i have plenty of practice. for as long as i can remember, when i would whip something up in the kitchen (and i did this quite a bit when i was little up until highschool...me and my bros were latch key kids) i would talk as if i was talking into a camera. i giggle now as i think about it.

but thats the dream.

to bake.

all.day.long.

maybe one day.

for now, i have the pleasure of baking for my wonderful family and the officers who visit my office on a regular basis.


chocolate cannoli


pizza delicioso


a loaf of tomato & basil bread for lunch tomorrow.

speaking of baking, i am completely addicted to baking sheet. while checking it out today at work, i came across a recipe for bills coconut bread. bill has quite a few restaurants in australia and a couple of cookbooks that i would like to get my hands on.

once i saw the recipe, i knew i had to try it. i did however have to adjust a few things based on what i had on hand (like i didn't have any milk, so i used coconut milk, and i don't know what caster sugar is (which i plan on looking up) so i used regular ol white sugar).

i've already tried a lil piece and it is devine. when i first read in nic's post, she mentioned that she couldn't wait to toast it in the a.m. and put butter on it. i kinda thought that that didn't sound real good, but after tasting the bread, i see how that would be delish. its sweet without being too sweet.

here's the recipe with my substitutions in ( ).

Bill's Coconut Bread

2 eggs
300ml (1 1/4 cups) milk (same amount, only coconut milk)
1 tsp vanilla
350g (2 1/2 cups) flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp cinnamon
225 g (1 cup and a bit) caster sugar (same amount, only white sugar)
150 g (2 cups) shredded coconut
75 g (1/3 cup) butter, melted


Preheat oven to 180C /350F.

Whisk together eggs, milk and vanilla.
Sift together flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon. Stir in sugar and coconut. Make a well in the center and pour in egg mixture. Stir until just combined.
Add butter and stir until just smooth, being careful not to overmix.
Pour into a greased and floured loaf pan and bake for 1 hour, or until tester comes out clean.
Cool in tin for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.

nic's notes: I have used lowfat milk to no ill effects in this recipe. I have also used sweetened coconut and reduced the amount of sugar slightly. Bill Granger suggests that this loaf will yield 8 slices, but I probably cut it into 12. Enjoy it plain, or toasted with butter!