Sweet Therapy
One afternoon this week, as I was riding my emotional roller coaster through the daily policy pronouncements and health warnings, I read a text from a friend saying that at that particular moment, her husband was enjoying dunking a cookie in his tea. I liked envisioning that scene and immediately developed dunk envy. I wanted to dunk, too, so I decided to bake some biscotti. And this morning, I happily followed the advice I’d read a while ago: “Life is short. Eat cookies for breakfast.”
I include here the recipe for your possible baking therapy, or maybe there is a favorite cookie of your own that will bring a little nurturing sweetness into your life at a time when we probably all need it. No matter if you bake a goody or not, know that I am sending love and wishes for good health for you, your family and friends, our health providers and for our precious world.
Italian Biscotti*
1/2 cup (8 tablespoons) butter or margarine, softened
3 cups flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
3 eggs
1 cup sugar
1 cup almonds (sliced)
2 teaspoons anise seeds
1 cup dried cranberries
Mix shortening, eggs, baking powder and l/2 flour together until creamy. Add rest of items. Knead. The mixture should hold its shape and not be sticky. Add more flour if necessary.
Divide and roll into four rolls about 8 inches long. Flatten the roll with your hand until the roll is about 3/4 inch thick.
Bake at 350 for l/2 hour. Turn off the oven. Remove the rolls and slice them into 3/4 to one inch pieces. Return the cookies to the oven for l/2 hour more of continued baking/drying.
*The word comes from “bis” (means “twice,” in Latin) and “coxit” (“baked”)
Happy Dunking!
Oh yeah….cookies for breakfast. I am in! Can we dip the biscotti in chocolate?
Several years ago, Derek had the brilliant idea of baking all of the original Christmas cookie recipes from his grandmother and having the cookies instead of Christmas dinner. What a fun idea right……well let’s just say I do not recommend it. I think biscotti per colazione sounds perfect!
Take good care Archers. The good life in Carmel (or San Juan Island) is best enjoyed with the tv off. xoxo
I love all of your and Derek’s ideas…biscotti in chocolate–yes! Special cookies for Christmas dinner! Enjoying the good life, wherever, with tv off! Stay healthy, you two.♥️
I was a breakfast dunker last week with chocolate chip cookies!!
Yay!🍪 Maybe we should start a Dunkers’ Club and share favorite dunking cookie recipes!!
I just got caught up on your “Bring Joy” blog. Your trip to Peuto Rico sounds like a blast. I could tell you were having a wonderful time.
I don’t know if I have ever had dunk envy but your solution sounds yummy. Just so you know your blog was a wonderful respite from the
woes of the world. Like you I am grateful I am well; I am grateful for the courageous health workers and experts in the field. I am happy to follow the recommended protoco and hope most do. There is nothing that I love doing that I can’t do at home. So we wait for the world to get better. The virus will diminish, the stock market will recover one day, and we will return to a life perhaps much different from the one we have known. I hope it is a more loving, sensible and caring world than the one we’ve been experiencing. Now it’s time for my walk with my dog Dudley.
What a beautiful message for us all, Barbara. Thank you. And may you and Dudley enjoy your walk. I may just have to do the same with Cosi🐾