INGREDIENTS

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat oven to 350. Mix sugar with butter, brandy, vanilla, almond
extract, nuts and eggs. Mix well. Stir in flour, baking powder and salt.
Form into a long loaf (or loaves), place on a cookie sheet and bake for
20-30 minutes or until firm and softly cakelike. Remove from oven and let
cool slightly. When cool enough to handle, slice into 1/2 inch diagonal
slices and return to cookie sheet. Bake for 15-25 minutes, turning once,
until both sides are brown-flecked and toasted. Cool thoroughly and store
in an airtight jar.
Makes 2-3 dozen.
Variation 1 (Mandlebrot): increase sugar to 1-1/4 cups. Diced dried
apricots may by added.
Variation 2: for a clasic anise-flavored biscotto, substitute Pernod, Ouzo
or Anisette for the brandy & omit the almond extract. Several tablespoons
of anise seeds may be added for additional oomph.
Variation 3 (Hazelnut biscotti): use hazelnuts in place of almonds. A
hazelnut liqueur may be used instead of brandy. Omit the almond extract.
Variation 4 (Mediterranean biscotti): use rosewater instead of brandy.
Substitute unsalted pistachio nuts for the almonds, and add 1/4 - 1/2 cup
diced figs to the dough.
Variation 5 (Ginger-flavored biscotti): to the basic dough, add 1 Tbsp
powdered ginger, a generous dash of cloves and cinnamon, 1 or 2 Tbsp of
candied ginger and 1/4 cup raisins, if desired. Omit the almond extract.
Variation 6 (Paximatha): this Greek rusk dates back to the 5th century,
virtually unchanged. Substiture 1/2 - 3/4 cup toasted sesame seeds for the
almonds. Omit the almond extact & flavor the dough with 1 tsp cinnamon &
1/2    tsp cloves.
Variation 7; Pine nuts may be used instead of almonds, though the richness
may be less desirable than the crunch of the toasted almonds. Candied
fruits, too, may be added, 1/4 to 1/2 cup assorted fruits blended into the
dough before baking.
Variation 8 (Chocolate Dipped): melt 1/2 pound semi-sweet chocolate in the
top of a double boiler over just simmering water. If it "seizes" or
"tightens", add 2 Tbsp of unsalted buter and it should smooth out again.
Dip only one side of each cookie (the chocolate won't seal in the moisture
that way).
Posted to Bakery-Shoppe Digest by Suzy-Q Lewis <lewises@flatoday.infi.net>
on Feb 16, 1998

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