Coconut Bread

We received a lot of treats from our neighbors during the 2008 Christmas holiday. Fudge seemed to be the hot item this year, as we enjoyed many different varieties, including Strawberry Fudge and Frozen Fudge (complete with a parable related to the gospel). But our favorite treat was this Coconut Bread -- maybe because it WASN'T chocolate, or because it was something a little different than your basic Christmas cookies, or maybe because it was just plain delicious!!! I wouldn't be surprised if it tastes a little like Shaura's coconut bread (minus the lemon).

4 eggs
2 cups sugar
1 cup oil
2 tsp. coconut flavoring
3 cups flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup buttermilk
1 cup coconut
1 cup nuts, optional

Beat eggs, sugar, oil, and flavoring well. Sift flour, baking powder, and salt together, and then add and stir into mixture alternately with buttermilk. Fold in coconut and nuts, if desired. Grease 2 large or 5 or 6 small loaf pans well. Pour mixture into pans. Bake at 325 degrees for 45 - 60 minutes. Remove loaves from oven and spoon Coconut Glaze over loaves, letting loaves sit in pans for 30 minutes.

Coconut Glaze
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
2 T. butter
1 - 1 1/2 tsp. coconut flavoring

Boil sugar, water, and butter together for 5 minutes. Add coconut flavoring and spoon glaze over baked loaves of Coconut Bread.