Coconut Conch-Shell Spirals
by Brooke on April 20, 2009 
24 comments »
24 comments »
Thinking today
of the rhythmic churning
of white waves
on warm beaches.
*
In and out.
*
In and out.
*
Each surf
washing the
willing landscape
with steady forward motion.
*
I wouldn’t dare
Stop the tide.
Cease the ebb and flow
of natural law.
*
Wouldn’t touch
the perfect push
of blue water
on it’s sand canvas.
*
Why, then
do I feel so desirous
To grasp time?
Pin it down.
Hold it captive.
Never let it go.
*
Stop it.
*
Stop it.
*
Why not welcome
the rhythmic ticking of minutes
*
Here then gone.
*
Here then gone.
*
Allowing each miniscule movement
of the clock hands
to wash me over the
unexpectedly expected
tides of time.
*
Molding my days
minute by minute.
*
Content to surrender myself–my sand–to the ever-advancing current .
Coconut Conch-Shell SpiralsThough I live high in the mountains of Colorado, I long for the tropical beaches of my youth. Inspired by the a baking competition, I sought to turn an American staple–Cinnamon rolls–into a hearty sweet bread speckled with the indulgent summer flavors of a seashelled beach. Swimming in a coconut milk sea, these pretty little spirals are a dive into pure bliss. Just ask my darling Jamica, for whom I post this recipe.
*
FOR THE SPIRALS:
¼ c. very warm water
1 T. yeast
¼ c. sugar
½ c. pineapple juice (drained from sliced pineapple)
½ c. coconut milk
3 eggs
1 t. salt
3 ½ KING ARTHUR Unbleached All Purpose
¼ c. olive oil
FOR THE SPIRALS:
¼ c. very warm water
1 T. yeast
¼ c. sugar
½ c. pineapple juice (drained from sliced pineapple)
½ c. coconut milk
3 eggs
1 t. salt
3 ½ KING ARTHUR Unbleached All Purpose
¼ c. olive oil
*
FOR THE FILLING:
1 c. sugar
1 t. cinnamon
1 t. ground ginger
1/2 c. butter, melted
FOR THE FILLING:
1 c. sugar
1 t. cinnamon
1 t. ground ginger
1/2 c. butter, melted
*
FOR THE TOPPING:
1/2 c. Chopped Macadamia Nuts
1/2 c. sliced pineapple, drained
1/2 c. coconut chips or shredded coconut
(optional) 2 T. crystallized ginger
FOR THE TOPPING:
1/2 c. Chopped Macadamia Nuts
1/2 c. sliced pineapple, drained
1/2 c. coconut chips or shredded coconut
(optional) 2 T. crystallized ginger
*
FOR THE COCONUT MILK SAUCE:
1 ½ c. coconut milk
½ c. sugar
FOR THE COCONUT MILK SAUCE:
1 ½ c. coconut milk
½ c. sugar
*
INSTRUCTIONS:
In a large bowl, mix the water and yeast together. Add sugar. Wait a few minutes to proof yeast. Stir in pineapple juice and coconut milk, eggs and salt. Mix in KING ARTHUR Unbleached All-Purpose Flour by the half-cupful’s until dough begins to thicken. Knead butter into dough, adding flour as needed until dough is soft, but not sticky. Knead until dough becomes elastic. Drizzle with olive oil, cover, and set aside until double in bulk. (about 50-60 minutes).
INSTRUCTIONS:
In a large bowl, mix the water and yeast together. Add sugar. Wait a few minutes to proof yeast. Stir in pineapple juice and coconut milk, eggs and salt. Mix in KING ARTHUR Unbleached All-Purpose Flour by the half-cupful’s until dough begins to thicken. Knead butter into dough, adding flour as needed until dough is soft, but not sticky. Knead until dough becomes elastic. Drizzle with olive oil, cover, and set aside until double in bulk. (about 50-60 minutes).
*
Mix sugar, cinnamon and ginger filling ingredients together. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Roll into a long, ¼ inch thick rectangle and spread melted butter across the dough. Sprinkle with cinnamon ginger-sugar mixture. Roll up the dough along the long edge until it forms a roll. Slice the roll into 12 equal pieces and place them into a greased 9×12 pan. Combine topping ingredients. Sprinkle atop the cut rolls. Allow to rise until double in bulk, about 20-25 minutes.
Mix sugar, cinnamon and ginger filling ingredients together. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Roll into a long, ¼ inch thick rectangle and spread melted butter across the dough. Sprinkle with cinnamon ginger-sugar mixture. Roll up the dough along the long edge until it forms a roll. Slice the roll into 12 equal pieces and place them into a greased 9×12 pan. Combine topping ingredients. Sprinkle atop the cut rolls. Allow to rise until double in bulk, about 20-25 minutes.
*
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cook rolls for 25-35 minutes, or until tops turn a medium brown and center rolls are no longer doughy.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cook rolls for 25-35 minutes, or until tops turn a medium brown and center rolls are no longer doughy.
*
To serve: Mix together Coconut Milk Sauce ingredients until sugar is fully dissolved. Pour generously over individual servings of spirals. Indulge! Enjoy!
To serve: Mix together Coconut Milk Sauce ingredients until sugar is fully dissolved. Pour generously over individual servings of spirals. Indulge! Enjoy!
*
* * *
After the finest of weekends, it seems I’ve
begun my week with
Melancholy Monday
{sigh.}
*I’m hoping your week is off to a better start!
*
Would love to hear what’s making you peppy.
Anything to perk up the sour pants I’m donning.
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Yaya on April 20, 2009 at 10:12 am
Wow I love that poem. So true.
What makes me peppy? My dogs, babysitting the baby I nanny for at our house all week, my hubby’s wacky sense of fun, figuring out my purpose in life, yoga, naps, bacon potato corn chowder that I’m eating right now, coffee, ginger ale.
The Blonde Duck on April 20, 2009 at 1:32 pm
This looks SO good! I’m just lost in your words and the goodness of this coconut treasure!
noble pig on April 20, 2009 at 4:26 pm
Wow, this so cool. Love, love, love coconut!
Nathan and Bethany on April 20, 2009 at 5:50 pm
Crack.
Jen on April 20, 2009 at 5:51 pm
We had a gorgeous weekend here too and now rain so I am kinda sour myself but this weekend we are going away. Now some where to fun but just away. There will be swimming and hanging out with friends and just being away. that is helping me be happy.
moseyalong on April 20, 2009 at 7:16 pm
I hope Melancholy Monday turns to Top-of-the-world Tuesday for you. There are some Mondays where I have trouble dragging myself out of bed to face the week.
I just try to remember ye old gratitude and it eventually (but slowly) turns my melancholy around.
Hang in there, cupcake!
Liz on April 20, 2009 at 8:35 pm
Your recipe are amazing yummy!!!
Lisa Loo on April 20, 2009 at 10:16 pm
Sand and surf are definitely not my happy place so you are on your own there! All my children home at the same time, good food, good health (especially mental) and your blog!! Thanx for sharing all you do!!
Cristine on April 20, 2009 at 11:30 pm
OH MY WORD! What an amazing creation! I’ll definately have to give this a try!
Hope things perk up for you soon! :)
PeaceLoveSugar on April 21, 2009 at 5:02 am
This recipe is making me peppy at 6am. It looks wonderful and I’m tempted to drive to the grocery store messy hair/pajamas and all to get the ingredients missing from my kitchen.
My new “baking business” has put a pep in my step.
The continuous countdown until I get to see my husband again after 8 long months. He is in the army and currently deployed.
And the hints of summer weather that are in the forecast this week have really gotten me cheery.
Wishing you bright and airy thoughts!
The Cooking Photographer on April 21, 2009 at 9:04 am
You are so talented and special. I always feel something when I visit your food blog; joy, happiness, nostalgia. A food blog which makes me think and feel, and it always brings me back.
One more thing, do you know when I look at my food now I imagine cute little faces drawn in?! I swear people must think I’ve gone batty lol. “Ohh look there is a cute little nose in my pizza”:)
Mary Frances on April 21, 2009 at 10:03 am
Count your blessings, name them one by one!!! Works every time!!! ;)
Pixeltrash on April 21, 2009 at 11:07 am
Mmmmm…that looks so yummy. If you cooked for me, I’d be 200 lbs.
Pep? Coffee, coffee, coffee. Love it. My boys. The smell of the rain when it first starts. Sunshine popping through- a day here and a day there. Friends and Family.
Jennifer on April 21, 2009 at 8:17 pm
Those spirals look so… so….can I just reach into the screen and GRAB ONE?? Yummmmy! I can imagine how heavenly they must smell, too. Hubby loves to bake bread-treats, so I’ll have to smile real sweet and get him to make some of these!
scrappysue on April 21, 2009 at 11:55 pm
YUM!!!
Sassypants Wifey on April 22, 2009 at 10:31 am
That looks tasty. I am in CO too! The weather lately has been curing my lack of pep. The girls and I played outside all day, ignoring any cleaning that really needed to be done. I cant promise we wont do the same today! Hope you get to feeling a little sassier!
Rosie on April 22, 2009 at 2:59 pm
Now I need to try those blended baked smoothies! Yum! My diet is taking a slow boat to Jamaica!
diet + disaster = 2 more pounds on the scale! (couldn’t think of a blended word! except for dietaster)
Mikki on April 22, 2009 at 7:14 pm
You know, I rarely comment on your blog, but I read it ALL THE TIME! And it’s funny, because I cannot eat wheat, so I cannot use most of the recipes. But I love the poems and tidbits!
I’ve given you an award on my blog today. I don’t know if you recognize them or not, but it’s there if you want it!
Noodle on April 23, 2009 at 2:36 pm
Knowing I have my husband, children and grandchildren, and staying in the moment, make me feel peppy. Not necessarily industrious, but happy!
When I feel guilty about not getting more done, I try to remember what a gift being happy is to those around me – don’t you agree? ;) But, seriously…
So then I move into my basking-in-my-blessings mode, and I actually get more done in the long run!
I kind of have to turn my thinking inside out a little, experimenting with a different response than I normally would.
Just try throwing off the traces and being silly! Or plan a practical joke. Or list everything you’d do for others if you could, and then say a prayer for them and burn that list; then concentrate on what you CAN do. Usually, what you CAN do actually feels fun, not burdensome or overwhelming. Take your cues from that. You’ll wind up doing more for others, being more fun to be around, and enjoying life more.
Okay, I know…I’m preaching to the choir – you’re sooo productive, generous, and happy! You are an inspiration!
(But call me if you need to talk.;)
Love You and Your Blog!
Diane
Mermaid Sweets on May 3, 2009 at 8:50 pm
Yummers, must try these. I just did a sweet yeast bread, IN LOVE.
ReminisceHeirlooms on May 4, 2009 at 11:53 am
Have mercy! I may need to try these! What a fabulous blog…
aenea on July 28, 2009 at 7:12 pm
These sounded so good I thought I would make them for my husband's birthday. In the instructions for the dough it says to "knead butter into dough," but the listing of ingredients does not include butter. How much butter should be used in the dough?
ConversationsWithACupcake on July 28, 2009 at 10:12 pm
Aenea-
THANKS for your BRILLIANT question! I'll try to fix that, pronto.
You'll need 1 stick (or 1/2 c.) of pure butter. Kneading it in at the end creates beautiful, flaky layers. You'll LOVE this recipes. It's really divine!
Happy Baking!
VadiVel on December 2, 2012 at 12:36 am
Posted on I’d stick with the novels over the cmcios for right now; the first book is Rogue Squadron, then Wedge’s Gambit, the Krytos Trap and the Bacta War. It’s a big, long arc story that leads to a big development in the Galactic Civil War and does some good character work on the background pilots in the movies: Wedge, Hobbie, Janson and Tycho. It’s really pulpy and fun and has awesome bantery dialogue.