Jackson
Page 33
Whenever I make this, I can still remember standing at my grandmother’s side executing every step as she watched me carefully with a smile. Though our great matriarch passed away eleven years ago, I can still feel the warmth of her smile whenever I make one of her favorite dishes or desserts. And between me and you, I have never felt more loved, cared for, or praised, than when my grandmother smiled at me when we cooked together. I ’clare, there is nothing like cooking with your loved ones to show you what’s important in life. And that’s a lesson Aja teaches Jackson every time she serves him a slice of this cake.
I could go on forever about those good times in my grandmother’s kitchen and how they keep me happy even all these years later. It’s my hope you get a sense of that same evergreen happiness every time Aja walks into her kitchen on Restoration Ranch. And let’s face it, with the past year being what it was, there’s lots to be upset about. But like Aja, I’ve come to realize that even in the midst of personal trials, a slice of this cake can be a momentary reprieve from the hard times. Much like me, Aja having lived through personal hardships, uses cooking and baking as therapy. So, when she finds a sexy Ranger who doesn’t trust easily, she knows all he needs is a little bit of sweetness and her magic ingredient, love, to get through his hard times.
Well, if you’re looking for a little happy, g’on and try my grandmother’s pineapple coconut cake, and I defy you to be anything but blissful after eating a slice. Just remember, this is a sweet, high-carb treat. So please make sure you take that into consideration before eating it if you have any dietary or health concerns.
Happy baking!
LaQuette
INGREDIENTS & UTENSILS
*Certain ingredients don’t have measurements because we pour until the ancestors tell us to stop. That means sweeten or season to taste.
• 1 to 2 14-ounce bags Baker’s Coconut Angel Flakes (sweetened)
• 1 can crushed pineapple
• ¼ teaspoon cream of tartar
• Vanilla extract
• ½ cup light corn syrup
• Sugar
• 10 eggs (3 eggs for each box of cake mix, 4 separated eggs for the meringue—discard the four remaining yolks and keep the whites in a mixing bowl)
• 2 boxes yellow cake mix
• Maraschino cherries
• ⅓ cup vegetable oil
• Water
• 2 6-inch baking pans
• 2-quart saucepan
• 1-quart saucepan
• Hand mixer
• Strainer
• Small mixing bowl (to capture excess pineapple juice)
• Medium to large mixing bowl for meringue and cake batter
• 1 can Baker’s Joy (or any non-stick baking spray with flour or, if you’re old school, you can grease your pans with Crisco or vegetable oil, then swish flour around it to coat your pans)
STEPS
Preheat oven to 350°F and coat your pans with floured baking spray or oil and flour.
Mix cake mix according to directions on the box. Usually calls for 1 cup water, 3 eggs, ⅓ cup vegetable oil, and a few splashes of vanilla extract.
Pour 1¾ cups batter in each pan, and bake at 350°F for 22 to 27 minutes or until toothpick or fork inserted in center comes out clean. Remove from oven and let cool completely.
Take small mixing bowl & place strainer inside of it. Pour the can of crushed pineapple into strainer and squeeze out any excess juice into the mixing bowl (save the juice).
Pour enough water to coat the bottom of the 2-quart saucepan. Add strained pineapple, then pour a small amount of the juice into the pan. Over a low heat, mix continuously (if you stop, the sugar will caramelize & burn). Cook down mixture until it has a syrupy consistency. Remove from heat.
Pour enough water to cover the bottom of the 1-quart saucepan (approximately 6 tablespoons). Add ½ cup sugar, ½ cup light corn syrup, ¼ teaspoon cream of tartar. Stir over medium heat until mixture is dissolved, then remove from heat.
Separate 4 egg whites into a mixing bowl (discard the yolks). Beat egg whites with hand mixer, then slowly pour the hot sugar/syrup mixture into the beaten egg whites. Beat mixture again until soft peaks form then set aside.
Place your first layer of cake on a plate or cake dish. If it’s not level on the top, cut a little bit off to level it out (you’re going to stack the layers, so they need to be as flat as possible).
Get your pineapple mixture and spread evenly atop the first layer. Try to make sure the mixture doesn’t spill over the sides of the bottom layer. Once you’re done, sit the second layer on top of the bottom layer (your pineapple filling should rest between the two layers). Clean away any excess pineapple filling that may have spilled out of the cake when pressed between both layers.
Once both tiers are layered, get your meringue and spread it evenly on the top and the sides of your cake like frosting (the entire cake should be covered in the meringue).
Get your shredded coconut and sprinkle it generously all over the cake. You’ll have to gently hand press on the sides to cover the whole cake.
Garnish with Maraschino cherries. You can gently place them on the top or if you want to get fancy, poke toothpicks through the cherries to secure their placement on top of the cake.
Let chill in the refrigerator for 2–3 hours or until meringue/coconut is stiff (not sliding off the cake).
Acknowledgments
Once again, Brooklyn is in the house! It’s taken many people to get me to this point in my career, so indulge me while I share my gratitude to those who have helped me along the way.
To God, from whom all blessings flow, thank you for the gift, the desire, the support, and the opportunity. To Damon, my original romance hero—this does not happen without you. Love you forever. To Sterling and Semaj, and Mason and Mackenzie, my heartbeats, the best parts of me. To the late James and Doris Davidson (Granddaddy and Grandma), for a foundation strong enough to keep me standing all these years later. I miss you both so much. To my mama, Pearl, who blessed me with a flair for the fabulous and dramatic, my sister, Ebony, who keeps me laughing, and my baby brother, Ron, who reminds me I’m super at everything I do. (That’s why he’s my favorite.) Thank you for consistently pouring your faith into me. To all of my JMC, LIJ, and York people—your love strengthens me.
To Latoya Smith, my agent and fellow Brooklynite, thank you for understanding my vision and working your tail off to help me accomplish it. This is only the beginning. To Mary Altman, thank you for the colorful happiness you bring to our work. To Sourcebooks and Sourcebooks Casablanca, thank you for the opportunity and the support. I’m so excited to make magic together.
To Lexie Craig, Sarah Davis, and my Rogue Romance and CIMRWA families, thank you for being the most driven and inspiring peers a writer could have. You constantly push me to reach for more in a profession that can sometimes feel too big to handle. Thank you for your wisdom and your guidance. It’s all led me to this point.
To Rochelle Alers, Beverly Jenkins, Brenda Jackson, Donna Hill, Sandra Kitt, Nikki Night, Zuri Day, Farrah Rochon, Mary B. Morrison, Sylvia Hubbard, Nina Foxx, Serenity King, Zane, Earl Sewell, Eric Jerome Dickey, Carl Weber, Omar Tyree, and the late Francis Ray and E. Lynn Harris, thank you for creating stories about our people, our culture, our communities, and our love that made a young girl believe she could do the same one day.
To my sistahs who always hold me down: C. Chilove, Adriana Herrera, Harper Miller, Xyla Turner, Siera London, Eve Vaughn, Koko Brown, Blue Saffire, Reese Ryan, Piper Huguley, KM Jackson, Elle Wright, Sherelle Green, Sheryl Lister, L. Penelope, AC Arthur, Laurel Cremant, AM Griffin, Toni Jackson, Seressia Glass, Shyla Colt, Naima Simone, and Xio Axelrod. We are magic, never forget that.
To my readers, whether you’re a newcomer or a ride or die, your faith in me and my stories keeps me going. Thank you s
o much for the loyalty and encouragement. You will never know how much I appreciate your support. Thank you for taking this journey with me.
Keep it sexy,
LaQuette
About the Author
LaQuette writes savvy, sensational, and sexy romance featuring unapologetically diverse and bold characters who celebrate their right to appear on the page.
A native of Brooklyn, NY, she crafts emotionally epic, fantastical tales deeply pigmented by reality’s paintbrush. Find her on her website: LaQuette.com, Amazon, Facebook, Twitter (@laquettewrites), Instagram (@la_quette), and via email at LaQuette@LaQuette.com.
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Keep it sexy,
LaQuette
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