I have such a wonderful guest post for y’all today! I can’t even begin to tell you how amazed I am at the outpouring of love our family has received from family and friends, both near and far over the past month. Michaela, from An Affair from The Heart, is one of my wonderful blogger friends that has REALLY been here for me throughout this whole ordeal. She kept my page going, sent me gifts to lift my spirits, offered to write this amazing guest post and has been here for me to vent when I was discouraged! My sister-in-law heard a preacher say if you can count 5 real friends in your adult life, then you are truly blessed, well I am very, very blessed.
Here is Michaela with the post that made me cry:
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When someone is sick, or hurting and I don’t know what to do, I bake or cook; Making a meal or something as simple as a loaf of fresh bread to be enjoyed together can be healing. It’s hard when the person that is hurting or ailing is far away. How do you make a home cooked meal for someone who is 1,000 miles away?
Recently, I felt this helplessness. My dear friend, and fellow food blogger, Brandi, had been in the hospital and unable to cook for her family. Had I lived close to her, I would be preparing meals, asking to help with the kids, etc. Instead, I asked to help admin her food pages while she recovered, and post a guest post for her blog, to give her some more time to rest and get well.
Being a part of the foodie community is very rewarding. We are a close knit group, and we do what we can to help each other out. The support she has had has been phenomenal. You see, that’s because karma is at work here. I truly believe that when you put good things out into the universe, you will get good things in return. Brandi is always sharing and promoting for her blogger friends. Just recently, I needed her help. She was the admin for my food pages and did a guest post for me on my blog, An Affair from the Heart. The Lemon Basil Pasta Salad she shared was so delicious, and was a hit among my readers!
Trying to decide what to make was the challenge. I have gotten to know Brandi pretty well, and her likes and dislikes when it comes to food. I know that she loves to cook, but she’s not of a fan of baking. So, I knew I wanted to “bake her something.” I know that she LOVES coconut (especially coconut popsicles!) but isn’t crazy about it when it’s combined with chocolate. She had recently commented on a post I did for Key Lime Fizz co*cktails, and told me how much she loves the taste of fresh lime, and so… This bread was born!
I sent her a video clip of Harry Nilsson song “Lime in the Coconut” as a recipe teaser while I was baking. (you can thank me later for having that song stuck in your head all day! *wink* ) We chatted later when I showed her the photos, and I gave her a “plain name” and a “quirky name” and she said QUIRKY all the way!! (see why I like her so much??)
So, I present to you, Brandi’s {put the} Lime {in the} Coconut Bread!
This bread has a mellow fresh lime taste, not too sweet, just right really. It has cream cheese and coconut swirled through the middle, and it’s glazed with a coconut icing and topped with toasted coconut. I hope that you enjoy it, we sure did!
{put the} Lime {in the} Coconut Bread
Ingredients:
Bread:
1 cup sugar
1 stick butter (unsalted)
2 eggs
1 ½ teaspoons rum extract
½ cup milk
3 Tablespoons Fresh Lime Juice
1 Tablespoons Lime Zest
1¾ Cup Flour
1 teaspoon Baking Powder
¼ teaspoon Salt
*I used one large lime and had the perfect amount for both zest and juice*
Filling:
¾ Cup Sweetened Coconut, toasted
3 ounces Cream Cheese, softened
3 Tablespoons Powdered Sugar
Glaze:
½ Cup Powdered Sugar
2 Tablespoons Milk
1 teaspoon coconut extract
Instructions:
Preheat oven 350 degrees.
Grease and flour a 8X4 Loaf Pan.
Reserve 2 Tablespoons of toasted Coconut and set aside. Combine Cream Cheese with 3 Tablespoons Powdered Sugar, and remaining Coconut. Set aside.
In a mixer, combine Sugar, Butter and eggs at medium speed.
Add milk, rum extract, lime juice and lime zest, mix till well combined.
Slowly incorporate Flour, Baking Powder and Salt.
Pour half Batter into the prepared loaf pan.
Drop Tablespoon sized portions of filling over the top and spread evenly.
Top with next half of batter.
Bake 50-55 minutes or until top is deep golden brown.
Cool in pan for 10 minutes, transfer to cooling rack and allow to cool completely.
Mix ½ Cup Powdered Sugar, milk and coconut extract to make glaze.
Drizzle the glaze over the bread and top with toasted coconut.
Feel better my friend! I am here for you, whatever you need!
Michaela
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How amazing is she? You can find more from Michaela here:
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/michaelaaafth/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/affair_heart
