If you love nuts, especially walnuts, this is the cookie for you!!
We usually make these cookies in the winter when walnuts were very avaliable, especially during the holidays. They are an all time favorite in most Italian families.
Biscotti di Noci
1/2 cup shortening (Crisco)
1 large egg Separated
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 cup sugar
1 cup unbleached all purpose flour, Sifted.
1/2 cup walnuts, finely chopped
Cream the shortening with the sugar, add egg yolk, vanilla, and the flour a little at a time, mixing well.
Using your hands roll dough into balls the size of a walnut, dip into Stiffly beaten egg white then roll in the chopped walnuts.
Place the cookies on a parchment lined cookie sheet.
Bake in a moderate oven, 375 degrees for about 10 to 12 mins.
When down place on a wire rack to cool completely .
This cookie offers so much flavor especially when the cookies are cooking and the smell of roasting walnuts fills the air. They are a delight to eat with a crunchy outer layer and a soft flavor filled interior.
Enjoy Bella
Friday, February 15, 2008
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Something Simple Yet Delicious
Lets start with somthing simple, but so good you will become addicted.
These biscotti (cookies) were among the frist recipes that I learned as a child. It is a simple basic recipe--(Ricetta Base per Biscotti).
When I was growing up my grandmother would make this recipe every week. But she did not use measurements. She measured with a variety of wooden spoons, the palm of her hands, certain drinking glasses, etc. It wasn't until years later that my mother and I did a lot of "hit and miss" batches of cookies until we finally "Hit" the right measurements . My grandfather and my dad became the official taste testers for all our efforts. I remember those years with warm memories and the laughter that went with all the hits and misses.
So put on your apron and lets get started.
Basic Cookie Recipe
4 eggs
1 1/3 cups of shortening (Crisco)
9 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup milk
2 lbs unbleached all purpose flour
1 1/3 cups of sugar
1 oz Anise extract
In a large mixing bowl with a dough hook on low/med speed
Mix flour, shortening, sugar and baking powder well
Add eggs and half the milk and mix well
Add flavoring and remainder of milk as needed
Continue to mix untill dough is silky. But don't over work
Remove dough from bowl and knead just to form a smooth round ball
Again Don't over work dough
Roll out the dough to desired thickness (appromx 1/8 inch )
With your favorite cookie cutters, cut into desired shapes
Place on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet
Bake in a moderate oven 350 degrees F. for 10 to 15 minutes depending on thickness of cookies
When done wait a minute or so before removing from cookie sheet and let cool completely on a wire rack before frosting
Yeild: Depends on the size of cookie cutters
Frosting:
1 lb powdered sugar
1 tblsp Anise extract
Cold water as needed
Mix sugar and extract, adding enough water to spread easily
Frost cookies when cool
For variety, add a drop of food coloring to the frosting
While frosting is still "wet" on the cookies you can sprinkle colored sugar,
chocolate jimmies, etc on the cookies
When frosting is dried make a big cup of cappuccino (Italian coffee with lots of hot frothy milk) and enjoy the cookies
These biscotti (cookies) were among the frist recipes that I learned as a child. It is a simple basic recipe--(Ricetta Base per Biscotti).
When I was growing up my grandmother would make this recipe every week. But she did not use measurements. She measured with a variety of wooden spoons, the palm of her hands, certain drinking glasses, etc. It wasn't until years later that my mother and I did a lot of "hit and miss" batches of cookies until we finally "Hit" the right measurements . My grandfather and my dad became the official taste testers for all our efforts. I remember those years with warm memories and the laughter that went with all the hits and misses.
So put on your apron and lets get started.
Basic Cookie Recipe
4 eggs
1 1/3 cups of shortening (Crisco)
9 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup milk
2 lbs unbleached all purpose flour
1 1/3 cups of sugar
1 oz Anise extract
In a large mixing bowl with a dough hook on low/med speed
Mix flour, shortening, sugar and baking powder well
Add eggs and half the milk and mix well
Add flavoring and remainder of milk as needed
Continue to mix untill dough is silky. But don't over work
Remove dough from bowl and knead just to form a smooth round ball
Again Don't over work dough
Roll out the dough to desired thickness (appromx 1/8 inch )
With your favorite cookie cutters, cut into desired shapes
Place on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet
Bake in a moderate oven 350 degrees F. for 10 to 15 minutes depending on thickness of cookies
When done wait a minute or so before removing from cookie sheet and let cool completely on a wire rack before frosting
Yeild: Depends on the size of cookie cutters
Frosting:
1 lb powdered sugar
1 tblsp Anise extract
Cold water as needed
Mix sugar and extract, adding enough water to spread easily
Frost cookies when cool
For variety, add a drop of food coloring to the frosting
While frosting is still "wet" on the cookies you can sprinkle colored sugar,
chocolate jimmies, etc on the cookies
When frosting is dried make a big cup of cappuccino (Italian coffee with lots of hot frothy milk) and enjoy the cookies
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Ciao Bella
Ciao! Hello!
My name is Zia Maria, and I've been cooking all my life. I grew up in a traditional Italian home; Mia Familia, my Family, taught me to cook at a very early age, with recipes that date back hundreds of years - my Grandmother's alone are 175 years old!
I started this blog to share with you my families recipies, mainly my favorites: The sweet ones. Throughout the years, I've compiled a big list of my sweet treasures: allow me to share them with you! A majority of these recipies have cultural, religious, or family histories tied with them - so I know you'll enjoy making them as much as you'll enjoy experiencing the stories behind them.
As always, I love to hear feedback from my friends and family about my cooking; if you have any questions, comments, or requests on a recipe that you'd like to see, feel free to drop me a line at ziamaria08@gmail.com .
Thank you for reading - now let's get cooking!
My name is Zia Maria, and I've been cooking all my life. I grew up in a traditional Italian home; Mia Familia, my Family, taught me to cook at a very early age, with recipes that date back hundreds of years - my Grandmother's alone are 175 years old!
I started this blog to share with you my families recipies, mainly my favorites: The sweet ones. Throughout the years, I've compiled a big list of my sweet treasures: allow me to share them with you! A majority of these recipies have cultural, religious, or family histories tied with them - so I know you'll enjoy making them as much as you'll enjoy experiencing the stories behind them.
As always, I love to hear feedback from my friends and family about my cooking; if you have any questions, comments, or requests on a recipe that you'd like to see, feel free to drop me a line at ziamaria08@gmail.com .
Thank you for reading - now let's get cooking!
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