This lovely Christmas camellia beckoned and was the harbinger of recipes to be found and made. One of my favorites at this time of year is for biscotti, which is disarmingly easy to make. Try this simple recipe this year and you will be thanking me for a long time, I will bet!

Biscotti

3 1/2 cups unbleached white flour
1/2 cup of hazelnuts, toasted, skinned and finely chopped
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
3 large eggs (use organic)
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1/2 teaspoon anise extract

1. Preheat oven to 350 F.

2. Grease large baking sheet. [I only use stainless steel and I use extra virgin olive oil, but you can use safflower or sunflower oil.]

3. Combine flour with hazelnuts, baking soda and 1/4 teaspoon salt in medium sized bowl. Set aside. [Note, I’ve also used sliced almonds or pecans. I would not use walnuts.]

4. In a large bowl, beat with an electric mixer the three large eggs with the sugar, softened butter and anise extract. Beat until well blended, up to five minutes.

5. With a wooden spoon, gradually stir in the flour mixture, kneading with hands if necessary, until you get a stiff dough.

6. Divide the dough in half with a knife. With floured hands, shape each half into a long roll. [OK, this is the only tricky place. Just wash and reflour your hands if it gets messy. You can do it.] My recipe says 12″ x 1/1/2″. So around there. Place the two rolls on your baking sheet.

7. Bake 30 minutes, until rolls are firm and very lightly browned.

8. Remove rolls from oven, and with a long spatula, transfer the rolls to a cutting board.

With a serrated knife cut rolls very carefully on the diagonal into 3/4″ slices. Place the slices, again, carefully, cut side down, back onto baking sheet.

9. Return to oven and bake 15 more minutes. You now must flip each one over,

then continue baking for the final 15 minutes, until each is firm and crisp on both sides.

10. Remove from oven and place the slices on a wire rack to cool thoroughly.

A marvelous thing to do then is to dip the ends of the biscotti in melted chocolate. That’s what I did today, and here is my lovely result! Isn’t this a wonderful contribution to the spirit of Christmas? I hope you will try and that you and your loved ones will enjoy enormously!

Love and Christmas blessings, my dear readers,
Kathryn xoxo

Posted on December 20th, 2009 by Kathryn
Filed under: People at Play | 16 Comments »

A funny thing happened on my way to a planned shoot this morning. I saw these guys! Oh, you have no idea how much I love donkeys! There was a donkey who lived next to me when I lived down in Santa Rosa, whose large pen was conveniently next to my apple orchard, and that donkey was the recipient of wheelbarrows full of apples every fall, I’ll tell you. Big mutual love! So when I saw the above pair I immediately pulled over. Maybe the Universe had other plans for me than my original intention. Who am I to interfere? Follow my joy.

Those two agreed! Within seconds they were over at the fence checking me out. What a pity. No apples on hand. Or carrots. How about a little pat on the head? A rub on the nose? They seemed to have very pleasant dispositions and were very open to being touched. I could not believe how soft they were! Oh, I was thrilled!

So imagine my surprise, when suddenly one, and then two more came over an adjacent hill having heard all ooohing and awwwing! Two more?? Joy barometer moving up!

These smaller ones are warmly greeted by the original two, clearly now the parents, with a sweet nuzzle. Awwwww. Lovin’ this!

What a beautiful family! I’ve never been with an entire donkey family before so this is a very special morning adventure for me! Smiles ear to ear!

I steep myself in the joy I experience in the coming together of interspecies communication and connection. They are interested in me. I in them. I tell them how utterly beautiful they are and I laugh and laugh and they listen. They are aware of my joy, my open heart, my delight in their being and it is one glorious expression of appreciation. Unexpectedly, the moment is expanded with the arrival of yet another donkey, whom I greet with delight! And then it is time to continue on my path. I walk back down the little hill to my awaiting truck, looking back for a final snap of my newfound friends. Goodbye dear donkeys! Thank you for the gifts that you are. I will come back with treats! Promise!

Love and blessings!
Kathryn xoxo

Posted on December 3rd, 2009 by Kathryn
Filed under: Animals | 12 Comments »