Chocolate Hazelnut Biscotti

BISCOTTI!!! Our first throwdown! I was super excited when i heard that we were going to be making biscotti because this is my very first time making biscotti ever. I have to admit i found this to be the most challenging of deserts. I guess because the dough is so moist and sticky and it was super hard to roll the dough into a log....and then it was so thick my little mixer couldn't handle it! but alas i did it! So here are my biscotti!

I decided to use Bittersweet Chocolate but i think next time i might add more sugar or use the Semi-sweet like the recipe calls for because even though i love that rich chocoalte flavor i still like my deserts to be SWEET!Oooh doesn't this look so good....brown sugar and pure chocolate yummmm

Roll your dough into two 12" logs




I dipped my biscotti in white chocolate

Chocolate-hazelnut Biscotti

4 tbsp Butter chopped
4 oz. semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1 3/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa, preferably Dutch
process
1 1/2 Tbs. instant espresso powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
3 eggs
1 1/4 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 cup hazelnuts

For the chocolate coating:
8 oz. White Chocolate chopped
2 tsp. vegetable shortening

Directions:
Preheat an oven to 300ºF. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or waxed paper.
In a food processor fitted with the metal blade, combine the chocolate and brown sugar and process until the chocolate is very fine set aside add cubed butter.

Sift together the flour, cocoa, espresso powder, baking soda and salt into a bowl; set aside. In a large bowl, combine the eggs, vanilla extract. Using an electric mixer set on medium speed, beat to blend. Reduce the speed to low and mix in the chocolate/sugar and flour mixtures until a stiff dough forms, adding the hazelnuts when the dough is about half mixed.

On a floured surface, divide the dough in half. Form each half into a log 12 inches long. Transfer the logs to the prepared baking sheet, spacing them well apart, and pat to even the shapes. Bake until almost firm to the touch, 30 minutes (logs will spread during baking). Remove from the oven and let cool for 10 minutes. Leave the oven set at 300ºF.

Using a spatula, carefully transfer the logs to a work surface. Using a serrated knife, cut logs on the diagonal into slices 1/2 to 3/4 inch thick. Arrange the slices, cut side down, on the baking sheet. Bake for 25 minutes. Turn off the oven and let the biscotti cool completely in the oven with the door slightly ajar.

Meanwhile, make the chocolate coating: In the top pan of a double boiler, combine the chocolate and shortening. Place over but not touching simmering water in the lower pan and melt, stirring occasionally, just until smooth. Remove from the heat.
Dip one side of the cooled cookies in the hot chocolate coating and set, chocolate side up, on a baking sheet. Refrigerate until set. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Makes about 30 biscotti.

Recipe Adapted from Williams Sonoma

Fresh Spring Salad

I Just love spring time with all the fresh herbs and fruit that are in bloom... For dinner this week i made Fresh Spring Salad with Chai Vinaigrette, it was so light fresh and fragrant i loved it!

Fresh Spring Salad

1 package field greens or baby spinach
2 seedless oranges peeled and sectioned
2 cups strawberry halves
1/2 cup toasted pecans
1/3 cup olive oil
1/3 cup orange juice
1 tbsp sugar
1 tsp chai spice blend*
1/8 tsp salt

Mix vinaigrette ingredients into a small bowl and toss salad with chai vinaigrette dressing
* chai spice blend can be found in the spice section of your local food store by McCormick
This recipe was adapted from McCormick

Coffeeaholic!!

Okay...so i wouldn't say i'm addicted to caffeine but i am definitely addicted to coffee...i just love the flavor and aroma...i could stand in a coffee house and sniff coffee all day long! Anyways considering my addiction...errr....dare i say love for the java. For my wedding present my good friend Jonathan bought me the best espresso/cappuccino maker ever!
My bomb espresso maker, with the best coffee of course Seattle's best!

MMmmm...this is my secret weapon for the perfect vanilla latte. Vanilla powder from the coffee bean & tea leaf co. So delish!

Grilled Chicken and Spinach, Pine Nut Pesto

Wow this recipe is amazing! It is so simple and quick and your guests will be thinking you slaved over this meal for hours!

Don't forget to toast your pine nuts it really brings out the flavor of the nut when you do. I am lazy so i just toast them on my stove top but you can also toast them in the oven


This sauce is so beautiful and bright green

Grilled Chicken with Spinach Pine nut Pesto
2 boneless chicken breasts
2 cups lightly packed baby spinach leaves
1/4 cup pine nuts toasted
1 clove garlic
1-2 tsp grated lemon peel
1/3 cup plus 2 tsp olive oil
salt and ground pepper
1/3 cup grated Parmesan

Season chicken with salt and pepper and place on hot grill pan. While chicken cooks place spinach, pine nuts, garlic, lemon zest and lemon juice in the food processor and pulse. Add olive oil and blend until creamy. Add salt and pulse. Pour pesto into a separate bowl and add Parmesan cheese. Spread pesto over chicken and pasta

This recipe was adapted from Foodnetwork

I LOVE COFFEE

If there is one thing you know about me I LOVE COFFEE!! I can drink it day or night! So for our wedding present my good friend Jonathan bought me this fabulouse cappuccino/espresso maker. I make Starbucks quality java every morning!The Espresso Maker lol.....you must have good coffee and Great milk to make a fabulous cup of Javabought me a fabulous cappuccino/espresso maker and i make starbucks quality cappuccinos at home almost every morning! So delish!

Strawberry Cream Cupcakes

Yumm....This reminds me of my first trip to England where i ordered fresh strawberries and cream.

Gather all of your ingredients together. I used regular white cake mix, almond and vanilla extract. Bake at 350 f for 15 minutes

Whip the cream and mix with chopped fresh berries i am using strawberries but you can use raspberries also. Slice the tops off of the cupcakes and put a dollop of cream/fruit mixture in the middle and some on top! Viola you are done!

This recipe is courtesy of Giada De Laurentiis

Hot Cross Buns

So...in lieu of the season i decided i wanted to make some hot cross buns. Boy was that a challenge, at first my milk wasn't warm enough so my yeast would not proof. Then the dough rose only a little bit and when i punched it down for the second rise it did not rise again lol......when it comes to making bread i have a brown thumb so to speak. So anyways as you guys know i just bought my self a kitchenaid mixer i am super excited about its arrival. I ordered it online so i am still waiting for it to arrive so when it does guys watch out!! I am going to put my bread making skills to the test on last time! Hopefully they come out nice and fluffy this time!

KILLER

Hey Guys i just wanted to introduce everyone to my best friend Killer he is a 2 1/2 year old Havaneese, he is soooo FUNNY and a really big part of my family. He loves these raw hide chewies from Purina called Busy Bones. So i went to the store the other day and i found they had a new type called "CHEWNOLA" This is the regular busy bone but with some doggy granola on the outside so i decided to try it out and see if killer liked it.

At first i was a little skeptical whether he would take to the new granola coating......

But in no time he realized it was his favorite chew LOL!

Killer getting ready for bed


On the floor to the left you can see killers little bed where he sleeps at night!


Well i hope you guys enjoied these moments as much as i did =)

Fajitas

Luke and i grilled up some steaks this weekend and we had some left over so we decided to make fajitas and homemade Guacamole because we both love it so much! I have posted the Guacamole Recipe below.

First we Slice up some Sweet Bell Peppers and Onions and sauteed them with some garlic Salt and EVOO (extra virgin Olive Oil)

Next we grated some Cheddar Cheese, cut up juicy cherry tomatoes, Cilantro and of course the sauteed Bell peppers and onions

Pile everything up on a whole wheat wrap with some guacamole, we warmed the tortillas in a wet paper towel in the microwave for 30 seconds

YUMMY HOMEMADE GUACAMOLE

Yummy Homemade Guacamole Recipe

2 Ripe Haas Avocados
1 tbsp Cherry tomatoes or any ripe tomatoes chopped up
1 tsp Fresh cilantro chopped
1 tbsp Red Onion thinly sliced
2 tsp chopped jalapenos
1 lime quartered and squeezed
Sprinkle of Salt


Mash together both avocados, then add cilantro, tomatoes, onion, jalapenos, salt and lime and stir all together. For garnish add a lime wedge with cilantro on the side and sprinkle some more fresh tomatoes on top. This is my favorite recipe so i hope you all enjoy!

My Kitchen

Okay Here is my Kitchen! Its small but cute, this is where i do all of my crazy baking!

Of course killer has to be in every photo i take looking sooo adorable!

Oh and i just had to throw in photos of my brand new Calphalon cookware set that Luke and i bought over the weekend i cannot wait to try out these pans they are supposed to be amazing!!

Tanya Moree Ellis

I have to dedicate my first post to my sister Tanya!! With out her i would not have a clue about what a blogg is or be making my very own as we speak. I plan to pretty much organize my blog with hers so that we can interact and show off our cooking skills together. So just wanted to say thanks for being so creative Tanya love ya! Can't wait to start having some fun with this thing.