Triple Almond Biscotti

'Tis the season, everyone!  This time of year is filled with happiness and joy and giving and over-indulging. Who doesn't love that? One of my favorite holiday treats is biscotti. I have several different kinds I make regularly throughout the season and all winter long, if I'm being honest.  This Triple Almond Biscotti is very easy to make, and pairs famously with a mug of piping hot coffee or even hot chocolate.

Don't be afraid of the fancy-pants Italian name (which means "twice baked").  And if you've had some horrible cellophane packaged rock-hard biscotti in the past, that is like comparing the powdered mac 'n cheese to a creamy homemade goodness.

This recipe uses three forms of almond to power-hit these biscotti with loads of flavor.  There's almond extract (you'd be surprised at how many recipes don't use this), Amaretto (almond liqueur), and chopped almonds.  I don't put the almonds in mind usually, only because I don't like the texture and they are delicious with our without.

Triple Almond Biscotti

2 c. flour

1 c. sugar

1 t. baking powder

1/8 t. salt

3 eggs

2 T. Amaretto

1 t. almond extract

1 t. vanilla extract

1 c. toasted chopped almonds (optional)

6 oz. vanilla almond bark or white chocolate

1/4 t. nutmeg

Pre-heat oven to 300°. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper. 

In a bowl, combine first four ingredients with a whisk.  

In a separate bowl, whisk eggs, Amaretto, and extracts.  Add the dry ingredients and mix until combined. Fold in almonds.  The dough will be a bit sticky at this point but it'll all work out in the end. 

Turn out onto parchment paper and shape into two logs about 10 x 3 inches.  You may need to flour your hands to prevent the dough from sticking as you shape it.

Bake for 20-30 minutes or until firm and lightly golden brown.  Remove and cool. Using a serrated knife, slice log into 1/2 inch angled slices.  

Lay the slices cut side down on the sheet pan and bake an additional 20 minutes, flipping halfway thru baking time.  Let cool completely.  

In a bowl, microwave the almond bark and nutmeg, stirring every 15 seconds until melted.  Using a spoon, drizzle melted candy over biscotti.  Allow to set.

Autumn Applesauce & Apple Butter

We try to go apple-picking every year.  I picture a chilly crispness to the air, bundled in a cozy sweater, the scent of a crackling fire wafting around us, warm apple cider, and we five laughing and teasing as we pluck ripe red apples from the trees, discussing the various ways we'll use these delicious apples.  We will make apple pie, apple muffins, Apple Spice Hand Pies with Cinnamon Cream, applesauce, apple butter, apple cider, and a lovely apple and parsnip mash.

Here's what really happens...  I insist we go apple picking even though 2 of the 5 of us (who shall remain nameless but both are male) don't want to go at all due to 1) having to spend time with the family (our son) and 2) there's sure to be many bees around and someone is terrified of bees (husband).  We all pile in the SUV and head out to the orchard.

Just as we arrive, it starts to sprinkle.  Fantastic.  And it went from 80° and sunny to chilly and damp.  Then one of our daughters decided to pick that day and that time to declare her hatred for her sister simply because we only had one apple picking stick and had to share.  I mean, seriously.  Sharing stinks.

She was grumpy and whiny and difficult while the rest of us were trying to make the best of it.  It did stop spitting rain on us.  The temperature increased to a comfortable 75°.  Our son took over the camera and was enjoying himself, at least as much as a 16 year old man-boy with his family can.

The lady who owns and runs the orchard goes on the honor system if she's not there. She leaves a bucket out on an old patio table near the orchard entrance and trusts you to pay for what you take. She leaves plastic bags and apple pickers to use at your leisure. And she almost always has some cookies sitting out for anyone to have a snack after apple-picking.

She wasn't there when we first arrived, so we went on our merry way picking apples. Later she came out to greet us and see if we needed any help finding the good ones. Her enormous orange tabby was faithfully following behind her. When I mentioned that our youngest kid had her grumpy pants on, she told her that the best way to get rid of the grumpies is to jump up and down as hard as you can. So Ms. Grumpy jumped up and down, giggling.

This kind lady told me a story of her childhood.  When she was a little girl, she used to love to go to a neighbor "grandma's" property.  She had an apple orchard and always had cookies for her to munch on. She loved picking the apples and feeding them to the horses so much that when she got older, she bought an orchard and horses and became that "grandma."  And she makes sure to always have cookies on hand for the little ones.

Adjust the quantities of sugar and spices to suit your tastes.  Put the sauce and butter into mason jars and freeze for later use.  The applesauce is particularly delicious while still warm, on it's own or spooned over vanilla bean ice cream.

Applesauce
20 servings

20 apples, cored and chunked
2 c. water or apple juice
4 T. cinnamon
2 c. brown sugar

Mix all ingredients in a dutch oven or slow-cooker.  Cook over medium-low heat in dutch oven until the apples are softened, 3-6 hours.  In slow-cooker, cook on low for 6 hours or so.  Puree to desired consistency using a blender or immersion blender.  For a chunkier applesauce, puree half and mix together.


Apple Butter
20 servings

20 apples, cored and chunked
2-1/2 c. brown sugar
1 T. cinnamon
1 t. nutmeg
1/4 t. ground cloves

Mix all ingredients in a dutch oven or slow-cooker.  Cook over medium-low heat in dutch oven until the apples are softened and the mixture is a dark brown.  In a slow-cooker, cook on low for 9-11 hours or until dark brown.  Puree in food processor, blender, or using immersion blender.

Double Chocolate Fudge Brownies

Please don't be alarmed by the first ingredient.  I know, I was a bit nervous too.  Forget the beans because you can't even taste them.  Let's concentrate on how these Double Chocolate Fudge Brownies are chocolaty and fudgey.  Without the eggs to make them rise high like a cake, they remain dense and... well... fudge-like. There's not a lot of flour to mute the chocolate taste.  And even with minimal sugar, the ripe banana contributes some natural sweetness along with the chocolate.  The molasses or coffee really adds depth to these rich, gooey, bites.

This recipe requires no mixer, no special equipment (other than a food processor or blender), and it doesn't create a million dirty dishes.  It actually comes together quite quickly so it's an easy dessert to throw together in the morning or after lunch for an after-dinner treat.

So what is the difference between vegan and vegetarian, anyway?  In it's most basic definition, vegetarians do not eat animal flesh at all and vegans don't eat anything that at one point came from an animal. A vegetarian would eat a black bean burger with cheese and a side of mac 'n cheese with vanilla pudding for dessert.  Wow, that actually sounds pretty good...  Ok, so a vegan would not eat any of that since the pudding, and the cheese on the burger and in the pasta contains dairy.

There are varying degrees of strictness to the food choices one makes too.  Some vegetarians and vegans eat fish.  Some vegans will not eat honey, drink certain wines and beers (made using isinglass from the swim bladders of fish), eat crackers or bread made with milk ingredients, or even Worcestershire sauce (made from anchovies).

Whether or not you eat flesh with a face, these brownies are truly amazing.  You'll love them.  Really.

Double Chocolate Fudge Brownies (vegan or not)
Makes 16 small brownies

1 c. canned black beans (about 2/3 of a can), rinsed and drained
1/2 c. sugar
3 T. canola oil
4 T. unsweetened cocoa powder
1 ripe banana
2 T. molasses or instant coffee (depending on your tastes)
2 t. vanilla extract
1/2 c. flour
2 t. baking powder
pinch salt
1 c. milk chocolate or vegan chocolate chips, divided
1/2 c. chopped nuts (optional)

Pre-heat oven to 350°.  Grease 8-inch square pan.

In a food processor, puree the beans, sugar, and oil.  Add the cocoa powder, banana, molasses or coffee, and vanilla and puree until smooth, about 1 minute.  Pour into large bowl.

Whisk the flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl.  Add to the bean mixture and gently stir until just combined without over-mixing.  Fold in 3/4 c. chocolate chips.  Pour batter into the prepared pan.  Sprinkle remaining 1/4 c. chocolate chips over the top.

Bake for 20-30 minutes, until toothpick comes out clean.  Cool in pan on wire rack then refrigerate.

Adapted from Vegan on the Cheap Chocolate Surprise Brownies

Strawberry Pretzel Salad

If you were a classy lady living in the 1950's, chances are you were well acquainted with the Jell-o salad. This was a very popular way to get one's vegetables.  Yes, vegetables were thrown into a Jell-o mold, turned out onto a platter and served as a salad.  Nowadays, we are much more sophisticated with our Jell-o. We add fruit and salty snacks to make Strawberry Pretzel Salad.

My grandma was born in 1924, and was a stay-at-home mom during the 50's.  And right up until her death several years ago, she would make a Jell-o salad to go with dinner.  It was usually lime Jell-o with carrots shavings and raisins, and (I'm so sorry, Grandma, if you can hear me from the Other Side!) it was awful.  We would all secretly cringe and cower when the jiggling mass of green was presented.  Anyone remember Aunt Bethany's Jell-o mold with the cat food in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation??

In case you're scared right now, let me assure you that this Jell-o "salad" is amazing.  (Although I have no idea why it's called a salad; it's a dessert!)  It's actually pretty popular Mid-Western picnic fare. But most people make it with strawberry Jell-o (dyes and chemicals and artificial flavoring) and Cool-Whip (oils). Again we go back to the nasty Jell-o salad days.  Let's make this real, people. Strawberries (real), whipped cream cheese (real), and a pretzel crust (real) combine together to make a sweet, creamy, salty, crunchy dessert that is out-of-this-world summertime good.

And a word of warning ~ gelatin is not vegetarian.  If you don't know what it is, I won't disgust you with the details (which are definitely vomit-inducing), but suffice it to say that if you're vegan, you won't be eating traditional Jell-o.

Strawberry Pretzel Salad

6-1/2 oz. pretzel sticks (not rods)
2-1/4 c. sugar
12 T. butter, melted
8 oz. cream cheese
1 c. heavy cream
3 lbs. frozen strawberries, thawed
1/4 t. salt
4-1/4 t. unflavored gelatin (2 packets, I think)
1/2 c. cold water

Pre-heat oven to 400°.  Spray 9x13 pan with cooking spray.

Pulse pretzels and sugar in food processor until coarsely ground.  Add butter and pulse until combined.  Pour into pan and pat down well.  Bake 10 minutes, rotating half-way thru.  Let cool 20 minutes.

In bowl of electric mixer and using whisk attachment, beat cream cheese and 1/2 cup sugar until fluffy. While running on med-high, add cream in steady stream.  Beat until soft peaks form.  Spread over pretzels and refrigerate 30 minutes.

In food processor (no need to clean), puree 2 lbs. of strawberries 30 seconds.  Strain thru fine mesh strainer, pressing on solids, over medium saucepan.  Add 1-1/2 cups sugar and salt to saucepan and cook over medium heat for 5 minutes, until sugar is dissolved.  Set aside.

Pour cold water into large bowl.  Sprinkle gelatin over and let sit 5 minutes.  Whisk strawberry puree into gelatin.  Slice remaining strawberries and stir into mixture. Refrigerate until mixture starts to cling to sides of bowl.  Pour over whipped cream cheese and refrigerate 4 or more hours until set up.

Adapted from Cooks Country Aug/Sept 2013

Butter Toffee Blondies

I have a confession to make.  I'm not crazy about brownies.  I mean, they're good, and I'll always eat them. But they are just so-so.  Rarely have I had a really good, gooey, fudgey brownie that was memorable.  Now a Blondie?  Absolutely!

What is a Blondie, you ask?  Let me tell you.

Blondies have the texture of a moist, slightly under-baked brownie.  The flavor is sort of a brown sugar, butter, and butterscotch-y combination.  One could say they have toffee-ish taste.  No matter, they are everything that is good about a brownie ~ the moistness, the sweetness, and the richness.

The tops of these Butter Toffee Blondies will have a lovely crackle-y top.  The scent of butter and brown sugar (which is pretty much my favorite thing ever) will make you want to dig in right away, but I suggest waiting until they cool. Unless you simply cannot help yourself.  In that case, grab a spade and dig in like Bob the Builder.

Butter Toffee Blondies

1-1/2 sticks butter, plus more for buttering pan
1-1/2 c. flour
1 t. baking powder
1/2 t. salt
1 c. light brown sugar
1/2 c. dark brown sugar
2 eggs
1-1/2 t. Vanilla extract
1 c. white chocolate chips
2 Heath bars, King size (2.8 oz each), chopped (about 2/3 cup)

Pre-heat oven to 350°.  Butter an 8 x 11-1/2 inch baking dish.  Line with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on 2 sides.  Butter the parchment.

Whisk the flour, baking powder, and salt in bowl.

In a saucepan, melt the butter and both sugars.  Whisk until combined well.  Allow to bubble gently for about 5 minutes, whisking frequently.  Pour into a medium bowl and let cool slightly. Whisk in the eggs and vanilla extract.  Add the flour mixture and whisk until just incorporated. Fold in the chocolate chips and toffee chips, and transfer to prepared pan.

Bake for 25-30 minutes, checking doneness after 20 minutes.  It's ready when the top cracks slightly and a skewer inserted into the center comes out with moist pieces clinging to it.  Cool in pan on a wire rack. Remove bars from pan using the parchment overhang. Cut into squares.

Strawberry Shortcake with Buttery Pound Cake

You know how every once in a while you have those amazing moments with your children that make all the hard stuff worthwhile?  I had one of those a few weeks ago with my 8-year old daughter.  It's probably not what you think.  She did not form a charity for autism.  Nor did she save a baby from a burning building. However, what she did was remarkable all the same.

My daughter asked to make Strawberry Shortcake together - from scratch!!  Yes, she specifically said, "Can we make strawberry shortcake but make it all from scratch?  Like the cake and the whipped cream and macerate (although she pronounced it mask-er-ite) the strawberries?"  This will go down in the history of our family as one of my proudest moments as a mom.  I've officially succeeded in making my kids foodies. Mama couldn't be prouder.

My other daughter, who is almost 7, loves to cook too so we three piled into my mini-van and headed to the store.  The girls sliced the strawberries, measured the ingredients, and added sugar to the cream as it whipped.  It took forever, and as always it's a lesson in patience to cook with kids.  But it was one of those shining times I'll always treasure.

Strawberry Shortcake with Buttery Pound Cake
Serves 6 (healthy sized portions)

2 lbs. strawberries, hulled, cored, sliced
2 T. sugar

2 sticks butter
6 eggs
2 t. vanilla
1-3/4 c. cake flour
1/2 t. table salt
1-1/4 c. sugar

1 c. heavy cream
1/4 c. sugar
1 t. vanilla

Mix sliced strawberries and sugar in a bowl.  Set aside, covered.

Cut butter into chunks and place in bowl of electric mixer.  You want to bring this to just below room temp. Beat lightly 3 whole eggs, 3 egg yolks, and vanilla in a liquid measuring cup.  Set aside to come to room temp with the butter.

Heat oven to 325*.  Butter and flour a 9x5 inch loaf pan.

Using the paddle attachment, beat butter and salt for 2-3 minutes, until shiny and smooth, scraping down sides.  Very slowly pour 1-1/4 c. sugar into bowl while running on medium high speed.  Let it run for 5-8 minutes, scraping down sides as necessary.  You're looking for a very pale, fluffy butter mixture.  Turn machine to medium and very slowly pour egg mixture into bowl, scraping down sides.  Turn to med-high and let run for 3-4 minutes.  It's ok if it looks slightly curdled.

In three additions, sift the cake flour over the bowl and fold into the butter mixture with a spatula.  Don't over-mix or the cake will end up tough.

Pour into loaf pan and smooth top.  Bake 70-80 minutes until golden brown and passes the toothpick test.  Let cool in pan on wire rack for 15 minutes.  Turn out and flip so it's right side up on wire rack and let cool 2 hours before slicing.

To assemble Strawberry Shortcakes:

Place cream in clean bowl of mixer.  With whisk attachment, beat until it starts to increase in volume.   Add the vanilla and slowly add the sugar until stiff peaks form.

Place one or two slices of pound cake on plate.  Top with macerated strawberries and a dollop of whipped cream.

Recipe for pound cake adapted from Cook's Illustrated

Hard Candy

I fondly remember my mom making lollipops in various flavors for us as kids. My favorite flavors were the cinnamon ones but I also loved the root beer flavor. I recently got into making hard candy, and the candies I made here are lemon flavor.  I haven't made a career out of making hard candy, and honestly never could, but it's an easy and fun way to make some yummy candies at home.

I learned the hard way how super hot the syrup is.  Molten sugar on your skin basically feels like you've just poured lava on yourself.  It's not such a good feeling so please be super careful.

There are so many flavor options as well.  I get my flavoring, which come in drams (single recipe servings), and candy molds from LorAnn.  I get my lollipop sticks from a craft store.

They have a million different flavors such as blueberry, caramel, cinnamon, cherry, root beer, strawberry, peppermint, and blackberry.  The coloring is just basic food coloring available at the supermarket.

The molds I use are for both lollipops and jewels.  Lollipops are fun to make for the kiddos.  You can also package them in a cellophane bag and tie with a pretty ribbon for a cute gift or party favor.

Hard Candy

2 c. sugar
2/3 c. light corn syrup
3/4 c. water
1 dram (1 t.) flavoring
couple drops food coloring
candy thermometer (if you have one)
powdered sugar (optional)

Lightly oil molds or a baking sheet (for randomly shaped pieces).

In a large saucepan, mix sugar, corn syrup, and water.  Over medium heat, stir until sugar dissolves. Increase heat to medium-high and bring to a boil without stirring.

When syrup reaches 260*, add a few drops of food coloring.

Don't stir the mixture.  The boiling will distribute the coloring.

It really won't take long for the color to work it's way through.

If you don't have a candy thermometer, you can test the doneness of the syrup by dropping a few drops of syrup into cold water.

If it forms hard, brittle threads in the cold water, it's ready.

If you have a candy thermometer, you're looking for 300*.  When you reach this stage, remove pan from heat.  When the boiling stops, add the flavoring and stir. Be careful because sometimes it will bubble up and the steam can be pretty potent, especially if you're using a strong flavor like cinnamon.

Pour syrup into molds or baking sheet.  If you use a baking sheet, you can score shapes with a knife after it sets up a bit.

When cool, break apart pieces of candy.  You can dust the pieces lightly with powdered sugar to prevent them sticking together as you store them.  Keep in airtight container.

Enjoy your old fashioned hard candy!

Homemade Vanilla Extract

I go thru a lot of vanilla extract in this house.  I always double (or triple, or quadruple...) any amount called for in a recipe.  And I only use pure vanilla extract because the imitation stuff is flavored from wood by-products and chemicals.  Heinous!  Pure vanilla extract will last forever and it only has two ingredients.

Real vanilla extract can be really expensive though.  I've seen it go for as much as $20 for 8 ounces.  Instead of becoming a slave to the makers of rich, pure vanilla extract who charge the price of a small car for this liquid gold, I make my own.  It's easier than you think, as long as you have enough patience to wait.  Like 2 months.

I bought a half-pound of extraction grade vanilla beans online at Amadeus Vanilla Beans.  Let me tell you, half a pound of vanilla beans is like a small football sized amount.  Some people say the beans must be soft and fresh but I prefer the drier ones.  They are not pretty, and they are a bit hard, but once they are in the liqueur of your choice, they soften up.  Plus, with a lower moisture content, you get more beans in your half-pound than the same weight of pretty, plump ones.

So what booze to use?  I started with vodka, which is the traditional extract liquid.  It's flavorless so all you taste is the rich vanilla.  I also pulled out the bottle of bourbon we always have in the front of the liqueur cabinet.  And behind those bottles was a bottle of rum left over from Thanksgiving.

Why some people use bad liqueur to make extract, I have no idea.  I find the foul, harsh, gasoline flavor in such bad liqueur doesn't go away simply by adding vanilla beans.  That would be like putting whipped cream and a cherry on a steaming pile of puke.  I used Tito's vodka, Maker's Mark bourbon, and Cruzan aged rum.

This photo is vodka extract after 3-1/2 weeks.  I bought this bottle for less than $3 at Walmart.  It took the two small (pint) jars to fill it.

You'll need glass jars of some sort to store your extract in.  I used several sizes of empty mason jars.

This shows what the jars look like only moments after filling.  The small pint jar in the front has the rum, which is a barely different color than the vodka.  The bourbon one is obvious. After only a day or two you'll start to see the color change.

The large jar and two of the smaller ones have vodka.  Here's a closer look.

 

Homemade Vanilla Extract

8 oz. liqueur (vodka, rum, bourbon, or brandy; at least 35% by volume)

5 or more vanilla beans (I use a lot, but you'll need at least 5)

glass jars with lids

Take each vanilla bean and with a sharp knife, cut down the bean lengthwise to open and expose the tiny vanilla bean seeds.  Place beans in glass jars and add alcohol.  Put the lids on.  Store in a cool, dark place for 2 months to extract, shaking daily for a week, then whenever you think about it after that.  

As you use your extract, the vanilla beans may become exposed.  Now you have two choices.  You can either top off with more booze, or yank out the beans and stuff them in a jar of sugar to make yummy vanilla sugar.  If you leave them exposed (as I did once) they'll get slimy and yucky and ruin your extract.