As some of you may know, I don’t really have a sweet tooth ;) Heaven knows I’ve said that often enough when commenting on your various sweet posts but hey, that does not prevent me from appreciating all those decadent goodies you make. In the strictest sense of the word I don’t have a sweet tooth. However, when it comes to any sweet made with coconut, I’m weak :) so coconut bread (aka sweet bread), coconut drops, coconut buns, coconut ice cream, salara… I’m there.
For sometime now, I’ve found it difficult to buy any of these things commercially made and the reason lies in the main ingredient – coconut. I’ve often found that there is usually not enough coconut or that all the moisture has been squeezed out of it thereby making the baked good dry and flavourless. All you get is the dry husk. Click here for the column if you’d like to read more about my love of all things coconut including the milk, the water and the jelly.
My favourite way to have sweet bread is with a cup of tea or a glass of ice-cold mauby or ginger beer.
Click here and I'll send you the recipe for the salara and or sweet bread. Here are the steps for making the salara.
When it comes to eating salara, I like to unfurl the roll and eat each layer by itself getting direct contact with the filling.
I’d be happy to send you the recipe for both or either of these goodies, just click here. And you can click here for the column.
Finally, my friend, Pat of Pat’s food blog bestowed upon me one of the nicest awards I have received and guess what? It’s the Nice Matters award! Thank you dear Pat. I am chuffed and honoured.
And for each one of you that reads this blog, this award is passed on to you. It's so nice of you everyweek to take time to stop by my blog and leave a kind word. Thank you so very much. Hugs.
112 comments:
I'm nuts for coconuts too! Those look so delicious! I even like to sneak coconut into cookies!
I am a South India, so coconut is a integral part of our lives.Bread and swirl loaf looks fabulous. Great Cynthia, have a great weekend and enjoy the award:))
That looks wonderful Cynthia..
true, there is something about coconut, so good in sweet as well as savory dishes! tender coconut icecream is one such delicacy :)
bread & salara looks very tempting :)
Cynthia, what else can I say I am completed bowled by this. I used to love eating sweet bread while is school,you inspire me to try it again
Not only do these look absolutely delicious, they look absolutely beautiful. I definitely need to try that coconut bread. It's not easy for me to get fresh coconut though, do you think it would be OK with shredded?
The salara bread is lovely.
I am a huge coconut fan, but since I live in the northeast US, fresh ones are very costly and are a real treat. Sadly, I've become a coconut oil/extract junkie.
cynthia.. it looks delicious.. it will be hard for me not to eat the whole loaf ;)
".....And the colour! Gosh I love that deep red colouring." You summed it up for me! Salara is so strikingly attractive!!! and like you, Keralites are also nuts about coconuts...We cant live without 'em :)
Shn
Cynthia......they look awesome...what a beautiful color........Loved the post dear :-)
Wow! I really marvel at yuor baked stuff! so tempting!We use coconut everyday!
My father used to get a large bun stuffed with a mixture of dryfruits and coconut,from karachi bakery, Hyderabad. Seeing your breads I am reminded of those days!
Congrats for the awards cynthia! I love the peaceful look on your face!
Congrats with your award.
Coconut Bread looks wonderfull.
I love coconut. I sometimes eat coconut with a piece of jagery.
Cynthia, Congrats on the award. The Red Coconut filling has me thinking fondly and wistfully of the Sweet coconut filled buns that we used to savor back home.
Gorgeous! I wouldn't be able to resist it!
Cynthia, this is my first comment on your blog. You have me hooked with those pics....Iam literally drooling. I come from the state of Kerala in India...and Kerala literally means the land of coconuts...so you can imagine how good i think this post of yours is!!!
Cynthia, I'm not a fan of coconut but love the colour of the salara. rarely, about once in two or three years, I crave a sticky coconut bun and indulge myself!
it's funny. i'm from a state in india where everything is doused in coconut, food is cooked in coconut oil, but i never really liked it. over the past couple of years, i'm warming up to it, and i have begun to love love love coconut-based sweets.
that salara is just too gorgeous to look at. must taste like bliss.
Cynthia, they look amazing! I am pretty much a sucker for all things coconut, savory, sweet, and even in drinks! Is there a season for coconuts for you there? Or are they just harvested all year?
Cynthia your coconut bread is courgeous, Ilove coconut very much but plese can you ezplain me what is the filling og salara?
Sorry I can't know it.
Kisses and love
Ady
Excuse me for some mistakes I'm tired tonight, on Otaly It's 21:30
Bye
Just my kinda gal u are Cyn... I am nuts of this nut too... I love the way u eat the salara, I'd do the same thing, if I ever got a hold of one... I've been collecting so many recipes from you, I just need to get off my lazy bum and start trying these treats out...:(
Oh, I adore coconuts. And I agree with you about people using dried, over-squeezed coconut in commercial products. It's like they make coconut milk and use the discarded dried out flesh. Sigh.
But coconut ice cream is my favourite. And a really good sweetbread or bake. And drops :-) Any dessert with coconut will be my choice on a buffet - competing even with chocolate!
How gorgeous these breads look!
I'm a sucker for coconut too ;)
I love coconut too. I was wondering if you could tell me what you do with the milk? I drink it as is but I bet you do something much yummier :) Your breads look great btw.
Great article on coconuts Cyn and fantastic photos as usual! I too like cocnutty things, but I hate breaking the nut and grating the flesh. I always manage to damage my fingers! Just last week I was privileged to nibble on some sugar cakes made by a friend's mom. They were delish with lots of cinnamon... I know I've got you thinking!
And congratulations on your Nice Matters Award.
Cynthia, the salara looks absolutely fabulous! OMG! that red is sooooooo red:-)
Congrats on the award :)
These breads look so delicious, and pretty...really great pictures!
I would love the first one!! looks yummy. might plan to make it for coffee's event! congrats on the award dear.
Cythia, wow! The vivid red contrasted with the white cake in your salara looks beautiful! I had not heard of salara before, so I did a quick Google search to get me up to speed! I love the pretty colors in your coconut bread too. Everything you make always looks so appetizing. And as for the award, it is well deserved. :-)
Oh me oh my... that swirl loaf looks incredible!
I love dishes with coconuts. Coconut chutney tastes great with dosa.
Bread looks so delicious. Wonderful pictures!
Love you blog. A foodie can't go wrong here in any way. Excellent blog!
I'm nuts about coconuts too....love the pics!
Cynthia, you are so nice that is why I gave you the award!!! You are soooooooo sweet!!! And your lovely coconut bread and bread roll look yummy!!! But I don't know what Salara is, have never heard of it before. Thanks for widening my horizons!!!!
Oh my! What a fabulous recipe Cynthia. The two tones look so striking and it sounds absolutely delicious. Coconuts are so versatile. Who knew they could be used so many ways!
Wow, Cynthia, that salara makes me wish I were still nearby and could have a sample! Beautiful photos as always ;-)
I like coconut because is a versatile fruit,and I use a lot coconut milk is sweet and salted dishes ,i suppose from the north Brazilian influence,where is so usefully.This bread looks amazing.And congratulations for the beautiful award
A baking bird now Cynthia. Lovely bread and swirls looks so cute and realy tempting. Enjoy the award. Viji
count me in for coconuts...where I come from, it is a very integral part of our lives...no auspicious occasion is complete without them...love those swirls... looks heavenly.
Cynthia, I have come back so many time, just to drool on the coconut bread & swirl. I have sent you an email for the recipe :)
These look great and lovely to see you display your Nice Matters Award which is truly deserved!! x
You've made it once again....just beautifull and delicious.
Wow, what a showstopper bread! I've never heard of salara before. Does that refer to the entire sweet bread itself or just the coconut filling? I really enjoyed the article too.
PS
Cynthia, you are one of the nicest bloggers around.
Cynthia, excuse! But now I have that to come all the weekends to see the food that in you present them. It is always good, exactly to only see... Congratulations
You are one popular lady Cynthia, how many comments?! Looking at this though, I know how, looks delicious, a bit like one of jam roly poly puddings over here in the cold north! Not many salara growing over here I must say....
All the best
David
Wow Cynthia! The color of that salara is just wonderful! I have never seen anything like that - except red velvet cake which is pretty big here in the South.
I share your devotion to coconut!
I've got a raging sweet tooth - it's a creature that must be fed sugar!
I love coconut too, and your loaves a roll both look superb, oh yum!
Well done with your award, well deserved =)
KJxx
Cynthia- The breads look scrumptious! I've had coconut on my mind lately, too. I'm going to post a "Coconut Banana Cream Pie" tomorrow.
The pictures are beautiful! Keep up the good work.
I feel like patting for those incredible recipes with coconut. I can imagine why u were going nutty +_+
nice post n pics Cynthia
I love coconut, too! :) And I love love the look of your swirl loaf! Excellent.
And you're saying you don't have a sweet tooth? I don't think so. :p
omg..this is a first..and what a wonderful delight inside!..im drooling..
I love coconuts! I used to have this cake when I was younger that was chocolate layered with sour cream and coconut ... I'll have to call my mom for the recipe now :)
wow...beautiful one! Looks so delicious!! I wish im near you..
cynthia,
this looks delicious.
hope my rss feed is working for u now.:)
Congratulations on your award! I'm one of the sad souls who has never had fresh coconut. : (
I've only had packaged, but I do love it. And I loved your column. Those horrible coconut posers must be stopped! LOL! ; )
Querida Cynthia,
El coco es una de las frutas que mas me gusta. tiene una funcionalidad grande, se ve delicioso ese pan.
Felicitaciones por el premio.
Un abrazo muy fuerte.
i looooooooooooove coconut tooo... love yur coconut bread recipe....great post
Please Cynthia, send me the recipes of salara and the sweet bread. I am so curious about the ingredients. In December there will be fresh coconuts available.
kirene(a)spray.se.
Hi Cynthia! This cakes like very delicious. I want a big piece of them :-P
Congrats on your award, you soooo deserve it. The cake looks.. you know.. I need not even type that word!!!lol, U have a wonderful day!
I love coconut too. Sadly, my husband won't touch it, so I don't get to cook with it as much as I would like. Last year, on our yearly vacation in Belize, I discovered coconut icecream - I was in heaven.
Nice cakes and rolls! I have a recipe for bread swirls in one of my Caribbean cookbooks...
Your posts always delight me!
Congratulations on the award, Cynthia! You absolutely deserve it, and it's so wonderful to have an award like that circulating - the anonymity of the web can breed some pretty awful behavior in my opinion!
These breads look heavenly. When we're in the Bahamas, my family practically lives on coconut bread. It's so delicate when done right - and I crave it the rest of the year!
That swirl bread is fantastic.
I love coconut as well. Both of these looks amazing!!!
I love coconut too. I agree, fresh coconut is the best. I haven't found a good commercial brand but I've read that soaking coconut in milk for 15 minutes can really help re-invigorate it.
The salara looks amazing! It looks like the filling is still nice and moist on the inside.
Valerie, Asha, Srivalli, Richa, Urban Vegan, Rajitha, Shn, Sirisha, Latha, Happy Cook, Indo, ValentinA, Roopa, TBC, Meeso, Kristen, Kumudha, Jyothsna, Truffle, Sylvia, Viji, Sunita, Amanda, David Santos, Jenn, Kelly-Jane, Emilie, Padma, Anh, Joe, Rachna, Francesca, Adama, Rosa, Sandeepa & Deborah
Sreelu - please do!
Elly - I sent you an email. If you have any further questions, do let me know.
Jayashree - thanks for your compliments and a very warm welcome to you. Thanks also for that trivia info on Kerala.
Sra - what about the by-products? Do you use any of those?
Bee - it really tastes good. I guess sometimes when there's too much of something around, our minds can turn from it.
Andy - all year round. You'd love it here!
Ady - the filling is freshly grated coconut to which is added, sugar, ground cinnamon, vanilla essence and red food colouring. I'll send you the recipe.
Please, there is no need to apologise for anything.
Sig - maybe you should plan a trip to Barbados and we can make them together. :)
Chennette - the first time I had coconut ice cream was in Trinidad, gosh that was such a long time ago... I really need to try making your coconut bake.
maryann - I'll email you. :)
Cheryl - I think that's the part most people do not like, the grating! You know you've got me thinking and thank you!
Sharmi - I've sent you the recipe. Thank you.
Belinda - it is also known as a coconut roll. Thank you dearest.
Zippiknits - what a lovely thing to say! Thank you and a hearty welcome!
Pat - thank you so very much! You are too kind. It is also known as coconut roll.
Jennifer - well, to quote someone you know very well, "It's your own darn fault you're not here!" (lol) I have some in the fridge, if only...
Shankari - thanks hon. Hope you like it.
Sue - Salara refers to the swirled bread with coconut filling.
A show stopper?! Now you have me giggling :D and thank you!
David - Don't make me blush, I've just done giggling from Sue's comments :D Yes, it is very similar in essence to the jam roly poly puddings. I recently got a recipe from East Meets West for swiss roll which I love and have not had in years. Decent swiss roll I mean.
Tigerfish - I don't, I don't - am I protesting too much ? :D
Kelly - and you're gonna make it for us?
Jackson - thank you and a warm Caribbean welcome. If you were near, you could have the half roll that's in my fridge.
Prajushathanks dearest, yes it is working well now.
Anali - we have to do something about that! There must West Indian or Indian store/market in Boston.
Soraya - yes it is indded very versatile. Thank you very much, for everything.
Karin - sent and can't wait to see your creations.
Janet - did your husband try the ice cream too? It's sooooo good isn't it?
Amanda - you are so right. The camraderie and generosity is very touching.
Ah! you've hit the right note: when they are done right.
Nirmala - that's interesting and sounds like a good tip!
Kevin - it is still moist inside and that was the point I was trying to make in the column that often, people (vendors) when they make it, squeeze all the juice out of it and just leave the dry husk!
I forget to write thank you! - to all the wonderful people I have listed at the top of my response comments. Thank you! :D
Ohh Ohh..coconut....thats my fav ingredient. We cant live without it...And your creations are beautiful(as always).
wowowowow!! lovely! its amazing how much pain you take to make such things :)
btw, i have been trying the link to ur site from mine and it didnt work.. now coming from ur comment in someone else's blog. so i guess the link needs updation. will do that :)
This salara thingy reminds me of our traditional strudel.. we make a differnet filling, plums and cocoa, poppy seeds and sugar or apples and cinnamon. I have never seen anything this bright red. Is it coloring or is there anything possibly this bloody red ?
Coconut is one of my favourite fruits..we savour so many dishes made from it...as usual some very nice mouthwatering pics & the recipes!
Both baked goodies look really good Cynthia and the swirl loaf steps look rather easy compared to the jelly roll cake it resembles.
I'm like you , I love tea with sweet bread. Love those red swirls in the bread!
Cynthia, I love coconut, too. I remember drinking the "water" out of green coconuts in Grenada, and eating the jelly -- mmm. Your breads look delicious.
Congrats on the award. You totally deserve it...you're always so kind, sweet, nice, and genuine, really. :)
I love coconut just as much as I love lemons, meaning I adore everything coconut, but B. hates the texture. He finally arred to drink coconut water (no pulp for him)this summer as it was so hot and we neeed the potassium in it. It tastes great and is very refreshing. Lovely bread and great column!
Salara looks so pretty. I've never heard of it before. I love coconut water and the flesh that you can scrape straight off the inner part of a young coconut.
p/s: so now we know your weakness when it comes to sweet things ;-)
Those Salara looks lovely,Cynthia
LOL! I just cracked my first coconut! Love those yummy dishes!
I'm a big fan of coconut as well and those roll pics are fantastic!
Love anything made with coconut. The salara bread looks really yummy...especially if you eat each layer like that :)
I have loved coconuts ever since I was a child. We used to eat them from the tree, drink the milk, eat coconut cake and coconut ice cream. I'm sure I could absolutely everything here and then go back for more!!!
that is one great thing to be done to coconuts...its a versatile part of our lives too, being from south india..cannot do without them..but your recipies give a real royal touch to it.!!!!
Those look sa delicious !!! I'm so hungry
I can imagine it's so delicious!
Everything looks delicious as always Cynthia!!! I am a huge fan of coconut as well. I add it to may carrot cake and cookies. I think my favourite though are macaroons dipped in chocolate. Straight coconut fix there!! I am in coconut heaven with this cake of yours!!!
Cynthia - I, too, love coconut as an ingredient for sweet treats. I especially love going to Taiwanese bakeries for their eggy bread in which one finds a paste of coconut. It is sublime. Good, shredded coconut is often used to decorate lamingtons, a favourite spongy cake. Thank you for your thoughts on salara.
Cythi, the cake & the salara make me drool. Wont you be good & send some over to me?? please, please, please dont break my teeny-weeny heart.
That looks wonderful - love the sweet bread.
Haven't baked bread in ages, but yours looks delish!
Shilpa, Kalyan, Laavanya, Veronica, Lisa, Rasa M, Annita, East Meets West, nags, Brilynn, Elle, Toni, Kitchen Scientist, Candy, Valli, Shaun & Cate - thank you sincerely my friends.
Zuzana - it's colouring
Helen - I do love the water very much.
Nora - don't use it against me :)
$ha - thank you and a warm welcome. Do come back and visit when you can.
Shella - oh you drama queen (lol) I hope you enjoy your sweet bread and salara.
Lynda - thanks for your kind compliment. Welcome to my little place here. Please, come back again when you have the time.
wow, I'm a great coconut fan too!! and this dish looks so tempting!!! just top it with coconut ice cream and I'm all set!!
Would you mind sending me the salara recipe? Somehow the email link doesn't work for me:
valeriepang@gmail.com
I really appreciate it
Hi Cynthia -- coconut goodies look decadent, especially that salara! I would pull that apart too :)
Very appropriate award, I might add -- congrats :)
Wow ... this is my first visit to your blog and I must say ... yours is an awesome blog ! I follow a link to your site actually. You take nice photos and your articles are very detailed. With your information, probably I can cook now .. haha ... I wish ! I can't cook to save my life ... and can you imagine me writing about food ?
wow that looks delicious! truly. i can't wait to try it. thanks for the step by step photos too. Lord knows i need it - baking isn't my forte.
I have not only learn a new word but found a new love....SALARA! LOL....Lovely yummy pics.
Hi Cynthia,
I luv the coconut swril bread. I used to wonder how this was made. Thanks for the detail pictures. I will definelty try it.
Coming to the coconut bread, our friend from Trinadad always makes this bread with raisins and cherries in it. She always gives me a slice. I was about to get the recipe from her and blog it.
You have a great blog here. I know you one of the most famous food blogger round hear too.
I just made my blog public two weeks ago. When you have time do visit it.
I am like you, just cannot resist coconut. Love coconut based curries and adore coconut sweets.
Coconut bread sounds delicious..I miss fresh coconut water here...so sweet, so refreshing. Will let you know when I try it. Thanks for sharing, dear!
Mansi - you know the thing! :)
Valerie - not a problem, hon. Enjoy!
Linda & Kiriel - thanks very much.
Timothy - yes I can imagine you writing about food. Thanks for your generous and kind comments, truly appreciated. Welcome to my little place and do come back and visit when you can.
WMW - thanks! A warm welcome. I hope to see your around.
Rina - it is a pleasure to welcome you! Please make yourself comfortable, have a look around and if there's anything you need, please let me know.
Pragyan - please do.
Hi Cynthia, dropped from Joe's blog... You hv an awsome and wonderful blog...
Congratulations for the award! You definitely deserve it!
New Kid - a very warm welcome to you and thanks for you kind compliment.
I do hope you come back and visit.
Wok & Spoon - thanks much my friend.
Those lookg so amazing, great recipe. You might want to take a gander at the blog...http://www.lovemyphilly.com they have alot of fun similar recipes.
Nice step by step photo. You also send this sweet bread for me because I was finish my apple jam which I daily use with toast and tea. So you are coconut lover....You are really nice matter in your blog so you deserve this award dear.:)
hi cynthia
I am drooling over here for these ....
congrats for the award!!!
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