Spring is coming!

Look at the cute little flowers I spotted in my yard this morning! 

I'm very much looking forward to spring weather!

That's all :)

Sweet 16th (belated): Chocolate Cherry Biscotti

Hey guys!  Sorry this post is so late, but I took a personal weekend and just didn't get around to baking anything in time for the 16th.  But better late than never right?!  So here is a recipe for delicious chocolate cherry biscotti inspired by a recipe found here.  I've tried a couple variations on this recipe, adding coconut, ginger, etc. but this is my favorite so far.

For the biscotti you need:
2 1/4 cups flour
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1 cup sugar
4 eggs at room temp.
12 oz. chopped chocolate or chips (bittersweet or semi-sweet)
1 1/2 cups dried cherries coarsely chopped

In a medium mixing bowl sift together the flour, cocoa, soda and salt.  Chop up the chocolate and cherries and set aside.

In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine the eggs and the sugar and mix with a whisk attachment until the mixture holds a ribbon-like texture on the surface for a few seconds when the whisk is raised.  Switch to the paddle attachment and slowly add in the flour mixture.

Gently stir in the chocolate chunks and the dried cherries.  Line some baking sheets with parchment paper and spoon the mixture onto the paper into logs about 3 inches wide and 1/2 and inch thick.  Leave 2 inches or so in between logs to allow for spreading.

It doesn't look pretty, I know.

Bake for 20-22 minutes at 350 degrees until just firm to touch.  Remove from the oven and allow to cool for about 20 minutes on a wire rack.  When the logs are cool enough to handle,  make diagonal slices about 1/2 inch apart.

Place the cookies cut side down on a wire rack in a baking sheet and return to the over for 10-12 minutes. 

Enjoy!

 Kid approved!

Happy Baking :)

Homemade poptarts

These poptarts seem to be making the rounds on the net lately.  They are really easy and look so cute!  Here's the original:  The Novice Chef  with full instructions.  This isn't a real recipe post but I'll share my attempts and some pics.

Of course I saved the heart cut-outs!

These were very easy to make as I used pre made pie crust.  However, that was the most disappointing part.  Real poptarts have lovely flaky crust so I might just make my own next time I do these.

Also, these are not very good cold.  If you don't eat them right out of the oven, reheat them!  It is very worth the extra time.

Toddler approved!

Happy baking.