Recipe(tried): Strawberry Pecan Bread and Best Ever Coconut Cream Pie - Baking contest winners!

STRAWBERRY PECAN BREAD

I used the orange flavoring and baked in small mini bundt pans.

1 pint fresh strawberries, diced*
3 cups plus 2 Tbsp. all purpouse flour
2 cups granulated sugar
1 Tbsp. ground cinnamon
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 1/4 cups vegetable oil
4 eggs, beaten
1 tsp almond or orange extract
1 1/4 cups chopped pecans

In a large mixing bowl combine flour, sugar, cinnamon, salt and baking soda.

In another bowl, mix vegetable oil, eggs and extract. Add wet ingredients to dry mixture, stirring gently to blend, then fold in strawberries and pecans. Spooon batter into two greased and floured 8 1/2 by 4 1/2 inch bread pans.

Bake in a preheated 350 degree F oven for 60 to 75 minutes or until bread tests done.

*You can reserve a little strawberry juice and mix with 4 ounces of creaam cheese for a nice spread on the bread.

Makes 2 (8x4-inch) loaves

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BEST EVER COCONUT CREAM PIE
From: Verla, Il
Makes 1 (9-inch) pie, 8 servings

This is the kind of pie you find in hidden away small town cafe's showcased under glass-and irresistible!

2 cups milk, divided use
1/3 cup flour
1/4 tsp salt
3 eggs
3/4 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
2 Tbsp. butter
1 1/3 cups grated coconut
1 (9-inch) pie crust, baked and cooled (recipe follows)
Whipping cream or Cool Whip (for topping)
1/3 cup coconut, toasted (to garnish if topping with whipped cream)

Heat 1 1/2 cups milk in saucepan until warm.

Stir flour and salt into remaining 1/2 cup milk. Add mixture to hot milk. Cook, stirring frequently for 10 minutes on low heat.

Beat eggs with sugar. Slowly pour into hot mixture. Cook for 2 minutes. Remove from heat and add vanilla, butter and coconut. Cool.

Pour cooled filling into baked and cooled pie crust. Cool, then top with whipped cream and toasted coconut. Refrigerate several hours before serving.

PIE CRUST
Makes 1 (9-inch) single crust

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup Crisco or other vegetable oil
2 Tbsp. milk
2 Tbsp. sugar
1 tsp. salt

In a bowl, mix all ingredients for the crust together with a fork until it all clings together. Pat into a 9-inch pie pan. Prick holes in dough with a fork.

Bake the empty crust at 400 degrees F 10 to 12 minutes or until golden.