Tuesday, July 3, 2012

TWD: Hazelnut Biscotti

July 3rd's task is making Hazelnut Biscotti which seems like a doable task. In my head I am thinking 30 for a wedding shower this weekend, 75 for a rehearsal dinner here in 20 days and I still need shoes for my dress maybe I should just put TWD on pause. I instead step right in to it thinking if I have to miss any (there are 3 Tuesday this month) I had better save the pass.

I love hazelnuts and really didn't read the tips on the TWD blog until after I had realized they were talking about the brown skins on the nuts and not some shell. After toasting the nuts and rolling them in a dish towel I learned that was one of the hints on the blog. The hazelnuts smelled great and so what if there are little hazelnut skins all over the place.

I added this picture of my vanilla so that my daughter that made it would see that I almost need more and she would lovingly make me more.


The recipe states that you should  use your hands to do the final mix because it is a stiff dough. Well it is a sticky dough also and I spent some time trying to get it all off before I gave in and licked it off my hands....washed and prepared for the next step. Here it states to flour your hands so you can shape it into a chubby log. Later I learned on the blog that if you wet your hands you might do better. I have got to remember to read the helps before the middle of it all.
There are so many options as to what you can add to the biscotti batter but when I saw chocolate chip I knew I found my match. I threw in some mini chocolate chips. They came out great - crisp, crunchy and delicious. Now for the cup of coffee!




7 comments:

  1. Biscotti with chocolate are definitely worth making them...yours look delicious and I am sure that the "magical touch" comes from the homemade vanilla extract (I make it, too)....
    Hope you'll get some more...gallons!

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    1. thanks - got some more vanilla made this weekend. Jessica reused the last cinnamon sticks again. Hope they work - she said you and use them over again.

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  2. Chocolate chips would be perfect with the hazelnuts. Sounds like you have a very busy ahead of you! Good idea to do this easy one and pass on one of the more complicated recipes if need be! Good luck and congratulations!

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    1. thanks - it has been over a week and I keep thinking about these I may have to make some more.

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  3. Chocolate makes everything better! Good choice. How nice to receive homemade vanilla - I'll have to try that sometime.

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  4. Wow, it sounds like you have a lot going on.
    (I keep a quart jar in the pantry of homemade vanilla because I go through it like crazy - when it gets about 1/2 full, I just add another bean and top it off with some rum or vodka - so good!)

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