Chocolate Biscotti for Passover

 I am always on the lookout of a new yummy Passover recipe. This year’s new entry is chocolate biscotti from Paula Shoyer.

4 oz bittersweet chocolate, broken into small pieces

1 cup of sugar

1/2 cup of vegetable oil

2 large eggs

3 Tablespoons of vanilla sugar (The Spice House in Evanston, IL)

1/2 cup cocoa powder

1 T potato starts

1 1/2 c almond flour (finely ground almonds, there is no flour)

1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips

Cover a cookie sheet with tin foil

Melt the chocolate in a double boiler. Once melted, remove pot with water. Into the chocolate, whisk in sugar and oil. Then add the eggs and mix. The add vanilla sugar, cocoa, potato starch and almonds. Mix well. Add chocolate chips.

Divide the dough into two and shape into two loaves. Bake for 30 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes; and then cut the loaves into slices. Bake the cookies cut side down for 10-12 minutes. Don’t overtake.

Put cookies onto wire cooling rack.

Tahini Blondies

 Adeena Sussman

She has two amazing cookbooks out - Sababa and Shabbat. I have made a few recipes in each.

Here is the Tahini Blondie recipe which is amazing.

• 1/2 cup 

  canola oil 

• 1 1/4 cups 

  all-purpose flour

• 3/4 teaspoon 

  baking powder

• 1/2 teaspoon 

  ground cardamom 

• 1/2 teaspoon 

  fine sea salt

• 1/4 teaspoon 

  freshly ground black pepper

• 2 tablespoons 

  lightly toasted black sesame seeds

• 2 tablespoons 

  lightly toasted white sesame seeds

• 1 1/4 cups 

  lightly packed light brown sugar

• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon 

  pure vanilla extract

• 1/2 cup 

  pure tahini paste

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray an 8-inch square baking pan with Pam.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, cardamom, salt, pepper, and the black and white sesame seeds. 
3. In another medium bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, 1⁄2 cup melted butter, eggs, and vanilla until smooth. 
4. Fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until just incorporated, then fold in the tahini until smooth. 
5. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake until golden on the outside and the center doesn’t jiggle but is still soft, 25 to 30 minutes. 
6. Remove from the oven, cool in the pan, and cut into 16 equal squares.

Leap Day 2024

I know my blog hasn’t been updated in a bit. I have been a bit busy. In the last seven days we have been to UVM, UMASS Amherst and UNH Admitted Students Day. Great to spend time with my high school senior, but a lot of driving also.

Here are some photos from UVM (dairy barn)

And from UMASS (Goats and Sheep)

What have I been cooking????

My new favorite thing is sweet potato nachos from Half Baked Harvest. Basically you cut sweet potatoes and roast them with a bunch of spices, including paprika. Then at the end you add black beans and shredded cheese and roast for a bit longer. I can’t tell you how easy this is and how delicious it is.

Hadassah Boston Installation

 What an amazing night. I just have to share some photos