Cranberry Chocolate Chip Biscotti

This most certainly is not a parenting blog.  And I most certainly am not a parent.  This is very evident when you compare my pinterest to my sister-in-law’s pinterest which is chock full of fun, cute children crafts.  But, with that said, in my current temporary job I nanny different children in their respective homes.  Meaning, everyday I drive to a new location and watch a child whom I am a complete stranger to.

This little job has given me some major insight into how parents operate.  Let me rephrase that: how differently parents operate.

First, let’s talk changing diapers. Some people use changing tables, others just use a pad and do it on the floor, others on the bathroom counter, and then there are the ones that get their diaper changed while the toddler stands.

Now lets chat about the actual diapers, there are those that use cloth diaper pads with covers (it is best to buy ones with snaps, as velcro starts losing its velcro power).  How parents fold the actual pad varies, sometimes you fold the top edge, sometimes not, sometimes you use the snap to hold it together, sometimes not, and sometimes you just use Fuzzibunz where the cloth diaper is all in one.  And finally, there is how you dispose of the cloth diaper; some use a diaper service where it is collected, others wash them themselves.

Most parents, though, still opt for the disposable diaper guy, though sometimes they go environmental with the seventh generation diapers.  Many own a variety of fancy contraptions where to throw the diaper in.  Others just use the trash can in the kitchen.  And others use just a normal trash can but if the diaper has #2 then it goes into a small bag before going into the trash can.

Oh, dare we not forget the wipes.  Some have warmers for their wipes, some not so much.  Others have cloth wipes in warmers.

I apologize if this isn’t the bestest of topics to go alongside pictures of biscotti.  But, this very thorough analysis of mine had to get out there and not be cooped up in my mind anymore.  What do you think if we do a second segment of parenting analysis?  I have much more to share… but I really should get on to telling you about this biscotti.

Recently my friend Ali gave me some biscotti for giving her a ride to a baby shower.  (Yes, best deal ever, thanks Ali!)  The biscotti was delicious and a wonderful treat after a hard day of reading Goodnight Moon thirteen times.  I had never attempted to make biscotti myself so I decided to give it a whirl.  It was fun to make and even better when it was being consumed.  I loved the combination of dried cranberries and chocolate, you could even do it with white chocolate.   Give it a try and dunk it in some coffee, or not.

Cranberry Chocolate Chip Biscotti (adapted from All Recipes):

1/4 cup light olive oil

3/4 cup white sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon almond extract

2 eggs

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 cup dried cranberries

1 cup chocolate chips

 

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Combine flour, salt, and baking powder, and set aside.  Mix by hand or in a stand mixer the olive oil and sugar until well combined.  Then mix in the eggs, and extract.  Slowly add the flour mixture.  Then by hand mix in the cranberries and chocolate chips.  With wet hands on a parchment or silpat covered cookie sheet make two logs with the approximate dimensions of 2inches x 12inches.  Bake it for 35 minutes or until logs are a light brown.

Take out of the oven and let cool for 10 minutes. Reduce the oven heat to 275 degrees.  Slice the logs into 3/4inch diagonal slices.  Don’t saw just use a sharp knife and apply pressure.  Lay the slices on a parchment or silpat covered cookie sheet and bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until desired dryness is achieved.  Enjoy!