Chocolate Biscotti

Okay Arielle Buss you asked and I will deliver. A simple dessert that will survive a 5 hour road trip!!!

Chocolate Biscotti

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

3/4 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

6 Tbsp(3 oz) unsalted butter, softened

1 cup sugar

1 tsp vanilla

1 Tbsp strong coffee (optional)

2 large eggs, lightly beaten

3/4 cup dried cranberries

3/4 cup mini chocolate chips

1. Sift together dry ingredients. Beat butter and sugar together until very smooth, then beat in the eggs and the flavorings. Mix in dry ingredients until blended. Fold in add-ins. You can substitute white chocolate chips for the dried cranberries for fruit haters.

2. Divide dough; put pieces on opposite sides of a parchment lined baking sheet. Shape each into a 12 inch-long, 1/2 inch thick log. Bake at 350 for 25 minutes, cool 20 minutes.

Note: I put the dough in a round disk and wrap it in plastic wrap and refrigerate it for a few hours or overnight. It is easier to work with when you divide the dough and form it into logs.

3. Slice into 1/2 inch thick cookies (easiest with a serrated knife, I use a bread knife). Stand them up on the baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes. Cool to room temperature.

If you like them drier and crunchier you can turn the oven to 250 and leave them in longer.

Suggestions: Serve with Cappuccino, gelato.

They travel really well...I took them to California. Store them in a tin or a pretty jar. I also freeze them and Harry eats one at night. I don't have them around, currently, since I cannot eat just one!!!!

I hope this works for you!!

You also might want to take a look at the marshmallows, but you need a high powered mixer for those!

Enjoy your trip!! Love, PW

Trader Joe's what would I do without you- #2

Lentil Salad

While it is not hard to make lentils it is even easier to buy a box at trader joes!

1 Box of prepared and refrigerated lentils

1/2 small red onion diced

1/2 a european cucumber seeded and diced or a couple of the small persian cukes

1 red pepper

1 carrot diced small

2 T chopped fresh parsley

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

2 T garlic infused olive oil or regular olive oil and use some garlic powder in seasoning

2 T red wine vineagar

crumbled feta cheese (optional)

Toss together taste and adjust seasoning and dressing

This is great to have in a container. Add some salmon or chicken and you have a meal.

Trader Joe's what would I do without you!!!

Low Sodium Tomato Soup pumped up!!!

This soup can be a starter or an entire meal!

1 box of Trader Joe's Low Sodium Tomato Soup

Good Curry Powder

Options:

Steamed or Sauteed Spinach

Cubes of Grilled Chicken

Chunks of Tofu

Roasted Cauliflower-Especially good seasoned with the Moroccan blend from another post

Sauteed Mushrooms

So here is the deal. Dr. Oz kept touting the benefits of turmeric and how the incidence of dementia and Alzheimers is very low in India and I thought, "we are going to start embracing the curry!"

While I like the Trader Joe's tomato soup I did think it lacked a little something. Well low and behold start with a couple of teaspoons of curry powder and taste add more to your liking and heat slowly. At this point it is good just as a starter, but now start adding some ingredients and you have a hearty, satisfying bowl of soup.

My favorite is steaming or sauteing some spinach with red pepper flakes and garlic in a little olive oil or going the extra distance and making some kale. Pour the soup over a serving of the spinach and add some cheese if you like. Yummmm!!!

The reality is a little seasoning and some additions make a wonderful semi-homemade meal in minutes!!!

Enjoy!!!