Biscotti

Biscotti is a wonderfully universal thing.  You can eat it for dessert, a snack or sometimes its an acceptable breakfast food.  I've come to love it as a baked good that can be easily shipped. You don't have to worry about it drying out so I just throw it in a flat rate box and send it to Milwaukee, Omaha or Memphis.  I once shipped these to my sister at college only to hear that she shared them with her roommate who thought the "brownies" tasted great but were really stale....


Double Chocolate Walnut Biscotti


Ingredients
2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 stick unsalted butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup chopped walnuts
3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 tablespoon confectioners sugar


To make:
Preheat oven at 350 degrees
Whisk flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt.  In another bowl use an electric mixer to beat butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.  Add eggs to the butter and sugar and mix well. Stir into flour mixture to form a stiff dough.  Add walnuts and chocolate chips and stir again.


With your hands, form two logs on a baking sheet.  The logs should be about 12 inches long and 2 inches wide and the tops should be flattened.  Bake these logs to 35 minutes or until slightly firm to touch.  Remove from oven and allow to cool slightly on the baking sheet.


Put the biscotti onto a baking sheet and cut into 3/4 inch slices. Arrange on a baking sheet cut side down and bake about 8 minutes on each side.  Cool biscotti on a wire rack.