Coconut Bread

Ingredients

 * 1 Tbs. butter softened plus 4 Tbs. butter melted
 * 1 lg. coconut opened, peeled and finely grated
 * 5 c. plus 3 Tbs. flour
 * 2 c. milk
 * 2 c. sugar
 * 1/4 tsp. ground cloves
 * 1 Tbs. double-acting baking powder
 * 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
 * 3/4 tsp. salt

Directions

 * 1) Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. With a pastry brush, spread 1 Tbs. of softened butter evenly over the bottom and sides of three 31/2 x 7 inch loaf pans. Sprinkle 1 Tbs. of the flour into each pan and tip the pans from side to side to spread it evenly. Then invert the pans and rap the bottom sharply to remove any excess flour. Set aside.
 * 2) Sift the remaining 5 cups of flour, the sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, cloves and salt into a deep bowl. Add the grated coconut and with your hands or a large spoon. Mix all the ingredients together well. Pour in the milk, 1/2 cup at a time, and blend thoroughly after each addition. Then stir in the 4 Tbs. of melted butter.
 * 3) Ladle the coconut batter into the prepared pans, filling each of them no more than two thirds full. Bake the bread in the middle of the oven for 1 hour, or until it begins to pull away from the sides of the pans and the top is golden brown and crusty. Remove the bread from the oven and let it cool in the pans for about 5 minutes, then turn the loaves out onto wire cake racks. Serve the coconut bread either warm or cool.