may i present to you, my favorite cookie in the world. the biscotto.
(thunderous applause from the blogosphere)
ok, so maybe they’re not typically pretty. no icing or sparkles, sprinkles, jam or chocolate. just a rustic beige looking baked good that i’d take over just about any cookie ever. except perhaps a black and white, but only because somewhere in my dna i’m genetically programmed to love those.
and now, dear readers – for today’s lesson, courtesy of the wiki: biscotti, derived from some latin word that means twice baked, were most likely prepared this way so that they could be stored for longer periods of time, particularly useful during journeys or wars.
in america, the italian term "biscotti" has been taken to refer to a specific type of biscuit, derived from tuscan cantucci, a type of hard almond-flavoured biscuits traditionally served with vin santo, probably originating from the town of prato and therefore still known as "biscotti of prato".
ok. class over.
see how we learn together? how beautiful is that?
but before we move on i must make one thing perfectly clear. MY BISCOTTI WILL NEVER EVER CONTAIN ANY BUTTER. because it would quite simply be wrong. i am a firm believer that the moment you add butter to biscotti they turn into a whole different cookie – an imposter. they are then cake-like. they’re crumbly. not crunchy. and they will then have that butter thing going on and listen, i love butter as much as you, if not more – but keep it the hell out of my damn biscotti. are we clear? i hope so because this totally matters to me. so, go ahead and put cream in your carbonara if you must, i can handle that if only barely. but no butter in the biscotti or i will be forced to talk bad about your baking decisions.
on a lighter note, every year angela and i have a tradition of getting together and baking biscotti. it’s this thing we’ve done for quite some time now although lately it translates into her doing all the work and me pouring the wine while giving my opinion as to how it should all be done and why. anyway, we have a recipe that we’ve used over time that we’ve honed – and it’s quite good. we’ve also tended towards over toasting them which makes them quite hard. but if you’re inclined to dunk, they’re perfect that way.
angela and claudia’s famous biscotti
(eat at your own dental risk)
3 3/4 cups ap flour
2 cups sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
4 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp almond extract
2 cups almonds, whole – toasted
1 cup chopped candied ginger pieces – optional
melted chocolate for dipping – optional
toast almonds about 12 minutes or until fragrant at 350f on baking sheets – single layer… keep an eye on them.
in the bowl of an electric mixer (or not) fitted with the paddle attachment blend the flour, the sugar, the baking powder, and the salt until the mixture is combined well. In a small bowl, whisk together the whole eggs, the vanilla and the almond extract, add the mixture to the flour mixture, beating until a dough is formed, and stir in the almonds.
turn the dough out onto a floured surface, knead it several times, and divide it into fourths. Working on 2 large floured baking sheets, with floured hands form each piece of dough into a flattish log 11 inches long and 2 inches wide, arrange the logs at least 3 inches apart on the sheets.
bake the logs in a preheated 350f oven for about 30 minutes and let them cool on the baking sheets for at least 15 minutes. on a cutting board, cut the logs crosswise on the diagonal into 1/2" inch slices, arrange the biscotti cut sides down on the baking sheets, and bake them in a 300f oven for 10 minutes on each side, or until they are pale golden. transfer the biscotti to racks to cool.
but – our recipe is not the biscotti pictured. because this year, we used the biscotti recipe that i had found on the babbo website. it’s quite similar to ours, but this was gina depalma’s version… and well, i respect the hell out of gina depalma. so we gave her version below a go and it was excellent.
almond biscotti
adapted from babbo ristorante – by gina depalma
gina’s recipe calls for 6 cups of nuts which is how they’re pictured above. but when i made them a second time i brought it down to 4 cups. it really just depends on how you want them. both quantities work. i also omitted the anise seed, using other add-ins. one log had candied ginger, one had candied citron peel and another had candied orange peel. we left the 4th plain.
3 ½ cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. kosher salt
4 large eggs
2 egg yolks
2 cups granulated sugar
2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
2 Tbl. amaretto
4 cups coarsely chopped whole almonds
in a medium-sized mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt and set aside.
in a large bowl, beat together the eggs and sugar until light, about 2 minutes; the mixture will look somewhat curdled. beat in the vanilla and amaretto. beat in the dry ingredients, then the chopped nuts.
preheat the oven to 325 degrees. lightly grease two heavy cookie sheets, or line with parchment paper. divide the dough into four portions. on a lightly floured board, shape each portion into a flat log, just about the length the cookie sheet. place two rolls on each cookie sheet. bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the logs are lightly golden brown, firm to the touch and just beginning to crack slightly.
allow the logs to cool on the cookie sheet until cool to the touch, about 40 minutes. reduce the oven temperature to 200 degrees. with a serrated knife, slice the biscotti, slightly on the bias, into ½-inch slices. lay the slices on the cookie sheets in single layer; return the biscotti to the oven and cook for 20 more minutes, or until the biscotti are toasted and crisp.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
the ginger version is our automatic annual biscotti. sometimes we half dip them in chocolate, sometimes we don’t. the citron really needed some lemon zest and in place of the amaretto, limoncello would work nicely here to brighten them up a bit. the citron kind of got lost amidst the vanilla extract and the amaretto. angela swore that the candied orange peel biscotti tasted like fruit loops and well, i’m not sure what to say about that except that she was thinking that was a bonus and i was hoping it wasn’t so.
as for me, i loved them all.
but again, these are my kind of cookie…
34 responses so far ↓
1 Oacef // Aug 30, 2016 at 11:32 am
viagra soup new york http://sildenafilwithout-adoctorprescription.com/ – viagra without a doctor prescription viagra and birth control pills http://www.sildenafilwithoutadoctorprescription.net/ – viagra without a doctor prescription long does take viagra take effect
2 ebbred // Sep 3, 2016 at 12:51 pm
viagra without a doctor’s prescription
3 lebron soldier 9 // Jun 7, 2017 at 11:25 am
Adidas another new low-top basketball shoes unique play new tricks
lebron soldier 9 http://www.lebronsoldier9.us
4 kyire irving shoes // Jun 8, 2017 at 5:20 pm
Heumann rezeptfrei, generika in deutschland kaufen und bestellen gunstig, au?er generika schweiz, migrane nebenwirkungen. Filmtabletten auch alternative rezeptfrei, rezeptfreie und generikum deutschland trotz pille kosten schweiz.
kyire irving shoes http://www.kyireirvingshoes.net
5 nike polo shirts // Jun 11, 2017 at 3:19 am
I simply needed to thank you very much all over again. I do not know the things that I could possibly have taken care of without the information shown by you relating to such industry. Completely was the fearsome circumstance for me personally, but being able to view a new skilled form you treated it took me to cry over gladness. I’m happy for the guidance and thus trust you realize what a powerful job you’re carrying out instructing people all through a site. I’m certain you have never got to know any of us.
6 viagra without a doctor prescription // Jun 12, 2017 at 3:56 pm
Exciting facts about this fallout
7 nike roshe one // Jun 13, 2017 at 2:50 am
I precisely desired to thank you very much yet again. I do not know the things that I would’ve undertaken without the actual secrets contributed by you relating to that problem. It previously was the horrifying circumstance in my opinion, nevertheless noticing the well-written style you treated that made me to weep for contentment. Now i’m grateful for this help as well as pray you comprehend what an amazing job that you’re providing instructing men and women via a blog. Most likely you’ve never got to know all of us.
8 п»їerectile dysfunction pills // Jun 14, 2017 at 5:40 pm
Intriguing articles to turn over submit prescription and unconventional stories
9 yeezy boost // Jun 14, 2017 at 9:30 pm
Thank you so much for giving everyone an extraordinarily pleasant possiblity to read articles and blog posts from this website. It’s always so ideal and stuffed with a lot of fun for me personally and my office friends to visit your blog particularly 3 times in 7 days to read through the new stuff you will have. And definitely, I’m actually happy with your fantastic opinions served by you. Some 2 facts in this post are essentially the most beneficial we have all had.
10 fitflops clearance // Jun 15, 2017 at 3:58 am
I just wanted to write a quick comment so as to say thanks to you for those superb secrets you are showing here. My considerable internet lookup has now been honored with reputable knowledge to talk about with my contacts. I ‘d claim that most of us readers actually are unquestionably lucky to live in a wonderful place with many special people with good opinions. I feel truly privileged to have encountered your entire webpages and look forward to plenty of more amazing times reading here. Thanks a lot once more for a lot of things.
11 nike air max 2017 // Jun 17, 2017 at 1:06 am
I’m just writing to let you know what a useful discovery my friend’s girl went through viewing your blog. She came to find a good number of issues, not to mention what it’s like to possess a marvelous coaching style to have many others really easily thoroughly grasp a number of tricky subject matter. You actually surpassed our expectations. Many thanks for presenting the precious, safe, educational not to mention unique tips on your topic to Janet.
12 michael kors outlet store // Jun 18, 2017 at 11:38 pm
I happen to be commenting to let you understand what a brilliant encounter my wife’s child went through using yuor web blog. She figured out too many things, with the inclusion of what it is like to have an excellent teaching spirit to get the mediocre ones clearly understand a variety of grueling things. You really surpassed her expectations. Thank you for distributing the insightful, safe, informative and in addition cool tips on your topic to Jane.
13 yeezy boost // Jun 20, 2017 at 3:05 pm
I precisely wished to thank you very much again. I am not sure the things that I would have implemented in the absence of the type of tricks revealed by you about such a theme. Previously it was an absolute terrifying scenario in my position, but understanding the well-written technique you solved it took me to cry with fulfillment. I’m just grateful for this service and hope that you really know what a powerful job you are always doing instructing the rest using your websites. Most probably you haven’t come across all of us.
14 adidas superstar shoes // Jun 20, 2017 at 7:51 pm
I simply needed to say thanks all over again. I’m not certain the things I might have used in the absence of the entire tips and hints discussed by you about such theme. It seemed to be a very difficult crisis for me, however , encountering the professional form you handled the issue made me to cry over gladness. Now i’m thankful for this assistance and hope that you comprehend what a powerful job that you are doing instructing others through the use of a web site. Probably you have never come across all of us.
15 links of london // Jun 22, 2017 at 4:04 pm
My spouse and i have been absolutely thrilled when Edward managed to deal with his preliminary research by way of the ideas he came across from your weblog. It is now and again perplexing to just continually be releasing methods which often a number of people may have been making money from. We fully understand we have got the writer to be grateful to because of that. All of the illustrations you’ve made, the easy blog menu, the friendships you can help instill – it is everything unbelievable, and it’s letting our son and our family recognize that this subject matter is entertaining, which is certainly unbelievably serious. Thank you for the whole lot!
16 Adidas Originals NMD R_1 Runner Primeknit Consortium Running Shoes Black/Red // Jun 23, 2017 at 4:17 pm
I抎 must check with you here. Which isn’t something I usually do! I enjoy reading a submit that may make individuals think. Additionally, thanks for permitting me to remark!
17 lebron 13 shoes // Jun 24, 2017 at 12:00 pm
A lot of thanks for all your efforts on this web page. My mother enjoys carrying out internet research and it’s really easy to understand why. My partner and i know all about the powerful form you deliver useful tactics by means of your web site and improve response from the others on this concern plus my daughter is certainly understanding so much. Take pleasure in the rest of the year. You have been doing a very good job.
18 yeezy boost // Jun 26, 2017 at 2:42 am
I enjoy you because of all your efforts on this web page. My niece really loves participating in research and it’s really obvious why. Many of us hear all concerning the compelling means you deliver good ideas by means of the website and as well attract response from other people about this issue and our simple princess is without question learning a lot of things. Take advantage of the remaining portion of the new year. You are carrying out a good job.
19 cheap jordans // Jun 26, 2017 at 6:59 am
Thanks a lot for providing individuals with an exceptionally terrific chance to read critical reviews from this site. It’s always very good and as well , packed with fun for me personally and my office fellow workers to visit your web site the equivalent of three times weekly to study the newest things you will have. Of course, we’re at all times happy considering the excellent creative concepts you serve. Certain two tips on this page are certainly the most effective we have all ever had.
20 yeezy boost 350 // Jun 28, 2017 at 12:27 am
Thank you so much for providing individuals with remarkably pleasant chance to read in detail from this blog. It’s usually so fantastic and as well , packed with a good time for me personally and my office colleagues to visit your website particularly three times per week to see the new things you have. Not to mention, we’re actually motivated with the stunning pointers you give. Certain 4 ideas on this page are basically the finest I’ve had.
21 yeezy boost 350 // Jul 1, 2017 at 10:57 pm
It抯 exhausting to seek out educated folks on this matter, however you sound like you recognize what you抮e talking about! Thanks
22 michael kors factory // Jul 3, 2017 at 8:47 pm
I simply had to thank you very much once again. I do not know the things that I might have gone through in the absence of the actual creative concepts shared by you concerning my topic. This has been a real frightful difficulty for me, nevertheless witnessing a new well-written fashion you managed that took me to weep for fulfillment. I’m just happy for the guidance and as well , hope that you find out what a great job that you’re carrying out teaching some other people using your webpage. Probably you have never got to know any of us.
23 adidas ultra boost // Jul 6, 2017 at 2:33 am
Can I simply say what a aid to find somebody who really knows what theyre speaking about on the internet. You positively know the right way to deliver a problem to gentle and make it important. Extra individuals have to learn this and perceive this aspect of the story. I cant consider youre not more fashionable since you definitely have the gift.
Leave a Comment