Last One...At Least Until Next Week (Ha Ha)

My friend Libby was contesting the amount of dessert recipes that were being posted lately...just reading them was making her fatter. (Hardly!)

Well, this one is more figure-friendly than my most recent recipe posts. And though it's not expressly a Christmas treat, it IS super easy and who doesn't want that?

ALMOND BISCOTTI

You can be the one to decide if you want to slather it with Nutella or dip it in melted chocolate! :o)

1 stick butter, softened

3/4 c. sugar

2 eggs

1/2 tsp. almond extract

2 1/2 c. flour

2 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. salt

1/2 c. finely ground almonds

(I usually take whole, unsalted, roasted almonds right from my freezer, put a handful in a small freezer ziplock, and pound with a tenderizer hammer. Works like a charm.)

1. Preheat oven to 350.

2. Cream together the butter and sugar, then add the eggs and almond extract and mix well.

3. Sift flour, baking powder and salt into wet ingredients, then add almonds.

4. Knead in bowl until dough forms (add a bit of flour at the end if it's still too sticky to handle).

5. Divide into 2 parts and flatten on parchment lined cookie sheet into 8 x 4" rectangular loafs (about an inch high).

6. Bake for 35 minutes, then remove but leave oven on while loaves cool for 10 minutes.

7. Cut into 3/4" slices, lay biscotti on their sides and bake for 5 mins. Flip biscotti and bake 5 mins. more. Cool completely.

Makes about 2 dozen small biscotti.