Biscotti

Ingredients:

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1 cup white sugar

3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

3 eggs

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 tablespoon anise extract

3 drops anise oil

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets or line with parchment paper.

In a medium bowl, beat together the oil, eggs, sugar and anise extract and flavoring until well blended. Combine the flour and baking powder, stir into the egg mixture to form a heavy dough. Divide dough into two pieces. Form each piece into a roll as long as your cookie sheet. Place roll onto the prepared cookie sheet, and press down to 1/2 inch thickness.

Bake for 25 to 30 minutes in the preheated oven, until golden brown. Remove from the baking sheet to cool on a wire rack. When The cookies are cool enough to handle, slice each one crosswise into 1/2 inch slices. Place the slices cut side up back onto the baking sheet. Bake for an additional 6 to 10 minutes on each side. Slices should be lightly toasted.

Note:  Since we muslims prefer not to cook with alcohol products, I crush the anice seed with a little oil in a mortar, then I add it to the vegetable oil I'll be using in the recipe.  I stir this frequently over the next 24 hours before preparing the biscotti.  I've had no luck finding anise oil.

Variation 1:

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1 cup white sugar

3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

3 eggs

1 tablespoon baking powder

1/2 tsp cloves

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1 tsp cinnamon

1-2 tsp dried orange peel

·         Over night:  leave spices and orange peel in oil.

·         30 min. before preparation place oil, spices, and orange peel in pan of water and bring to a boil.  Reduce heat.

·         Follow procedure in original recipe substituting oil and spice mixture for oil and anise extract and flavoring.

Variation 2:

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1 cup white sugar

3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

3 eggs

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 cup chopped fresh or frozen cranberries

1 T imitation vanilla extract (no alcohol)

2 T orange peel prepared as in variation 1.

1 T orange juice

·         Over night:  orange peel in oil.

·         30 min. before preparation place oil, and orange peel in pan of water and bring to a boil.  Reduce heat.

·         Follow procedure in original recipe substituting oil and orange peel mixture for oil and anise extract and flavoring.