Bajan Sweet Bread I

Ingredients

 * 1 tbsp shortening for greasing pan
 * 175 grams brown sugar
 * 50 grams shortening
 * 50 grams Grace Hello soft margarine
 * 250 grams counter flour
 * pinch of salt
 * 225 grams grated coconut
 * 50 grams raisins
 * 50 grams cherries
 * 1 tbsp grated nutmeg
 * 1 tbsp almond essence
 * 300 millilitres Grace evaporated milk
 * 50 millilitres water
 * 2 tbsp sugar

Directions

 * 1) Lightly grease 28 cm x 11.
 * 2) Loaf tins using shortening.
 * 3) Heat oven to 180 °C (350 °F).
 * 4) Cream sugar, shortening and margarine together in a bowl.
 * 5) Add flour, salt, grated coconut, cut raisins and cherries, add nutmeg and mix well.
 * 6) Add almond essence, grace evaporated milk and enough water so that when mixed, a firm dough is formed.
 * 7) Divide the dough into two and fill loaf tins.
 * 8) Using a knife, cut a diagonal criss-cross pattern on the top of each loaf and sprinkle sugar over the top (sugar water may be brushed on instead of crystals).
 * 9) Bake in the center of the oven for about 1 hour until a skewer inserted into the center of the loaves comes out clean.
 * 10) Leave to cool in the tins, then turn out and serve sliced.