Bajan Sweet Bread

Ingredients

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

Directions

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