12/14/2006

We are busy getting ready for Christmas here. I know that's the case for everyone, tis the season! Andy's family is spending about 5 days with us. We are so excited to have them! The poor kidos keep thinking they are coming today whenever we mention it.



Our bathroom is on the down down hill. Almost done! You will have to wait for the final reveal, but I will expose the mess it's made. No this is not the garage, this is a shot from the bathroom door into the den. How embarassing.



We are trying to clean, dejunk and rearrange, Christmas shop, do some baking, make a menu, and a list of fun activities for our company to do.

Sorry, but I can't seem to get my layout right! Oh well! Does anyone know what the problem is?

Here is a GREAT recipe for biscotti, one of our favorite holiday foods. It's so yummy to dip in hot drinks.

Holiday Biscotti

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
3/4 cup pistachios, coarsely chopped
2/3 cup dried cranberries
6 ounces good-quality white chocolate, chopped
Red and green sugar crystals, for garnish
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Line a heavy large baking sheet with parchment paper. Whisk the flour and baking powder in a medium bowl to blend. Using an electric mixer, beat the sugar, butter, lemon zest, and salt in a large bowl to blend. Beat in the eggs 1 at a time. Add the flour mixture and beat just until blended. Stir in the pistachios and cranberries.
Form the dough into a 13-inch long, 3-inch wide log on the prepared baking sheet. Bake until light golden, about 40 minutes. Cool for 30 minutes.
Place the log on the cutting board. Using a sharp serrated knife, cut the log on a diagonal into 1/2 to 3/4-inch-thick slices. Arrange the biscotti, cut side down, on the baking sheet. Bake the biscotti until they are pale golden, about 15 minutes. Transfer the biscotti to a rack and cool completely.
Stir the chocolate in a bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water until the chocolate melts. Place the biscotti on the baking sheet and drizzle biscotti with chocolate. Wait for the chocolate to set. Sprinkle with the sugar crystals. Refrigerate until the chocolate is firm, about 35 minutes.
The biscotti can be made ahead. Store them in an airtight container up to 4 days, or wrap them in foil and freeze in resealable plastic bags up to 3 weeks.

4 comments:

Shawna said...

I can't wait to see the finished project. And don't be embarrased!
Every project we do ends up with a mess like that. Makes it all being done so rewarding!

Rachel said...

Can't wait to see what it looks like! I HATE that part of projects, the never-ending mess, but it is so worth it!

Shawna said...

Happy Anniversary guys!

Eryn said...

i mainly hate the dust home improvement projects make, anything else i can handle. i,too, cant wait to see the final reveal.