Almond Biscotti 2.0

It's time for a life update.  I write a lot of blog posts about my love of food but today's post is all about family love. Specifically the newest member of our family - my beautiful granddaughter who made her magnificent entrance into the world last month.  

We are all so in love with this little bundle of pure sweetness and we're so excited to gain membership into the best club in the world: the grandparents club! 

​Way back when I was born, I had 4 amazing grandparents and for my entire life I referred to them as "grandma" and "grandpa".  Those seemed like perfectly acceptable words to use when addressing them.  As a matter of fact, it never even occurred to me to refer to them by any other name.  

From the moment that we announced that we were entering our grandparent era, we were asked what our "grandparent names" were going to be?  I have to admit that the question caught me off guard the first few times that someone asked.  I'm a grandma - why wouldn't she call me that?👵 I took me a long time to get used to the idea of taking on another name.  Believe me when I tell you that there was no shortage of grandma name suggestions either.😅 

It took me a while to get here but I finally came to the realization that my beautiful new granddaughter is blessed with 6 grand (and great) grandmothers and that a unique grandma name might be helpful.  After much debate, I settled on Nonna - a nod to our Italian roots.  So in honor of my new identity as Nonna - I thought I'd share my new and updated Italian Almond Biscotti recipe.  

Almond Biscotti
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup + 1 Tablespoon sugar
3 Tablespoons butter
1 Tablespoon olive oil
2 eggs
3/4 teaspoon almond extract
1/4 teaspoon vanilla 
1/2 cup whole + 1/2 cup chopped almonds

Cream together butter, oil and sugar until creamy. 

Beat in eggs, one at a time.  Add vanilla and almond extracts. 

Add flour, baking powder and salt.

Stir in whole and chopped almonds. 

Chill mixture 30 minutes.  Divide dough in half. 

Shape each half into a 3x8" log and place on a silpat lined baking sheet. 

Bake 25 minutes at 350.  Reduce oven temperature to 325. 

Slice into 1/2" slices. 

Arrange slices on baking sheet and bake 10 minutes on each side. 

Brace yourselves friends for the flood of baby pictures to come from this proud Nonna.  

Ciao!

Click here for a printable version of this recipe