Biscotti

1. Place the rack in a center position. Heat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with a parchment paper.
2. Add all-purpose flour, sugar, baking soda, salt and almonds in a large bowl. Stir to combine the ingredients properly.
3. Whisk the eggs, olive oil, lemon zest, vanilla extract, melted butter and salt thoroughly.
4. Now make a well in the center of the dry ingredients. Pour the egg mixture in the centre. Now mix both the mixtures to combine until rough dough is formed.
5. Place the dough onto a work surface. Knead the dough until the dough is firm and well-together. Add extra flour only if necessary.
6. Now form the dough into a long, thick rectangular shape. Cut it in half. Make sure the shape is 1 inch thick, 2 inches wide and 12 inches long.
7. Brush them with the olive oil and place them onto the cookie sheet. Lightly press with the fingers to flatten them a bit.
8. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until the dough is firm and slightly brown.
9. Remove the baking tray from the oven. Lower the temperature to 300 degrees F.
10. Now cool the cookies on a cooling rack for 15 minutes.
11. Place the cookies to a cutting board. Using the knife, cut the sides of the cookies in such a way that it forms the biscotti shape.
12. Place them back on the cookie sheet. And cook for 15 minutes.
13. Now turn the cookie to the other side. And cook for 15 minutes more.
14. Take the cooked biscotti out of the oven. Cool them on the cooling rack to room temperature.
15. Season it with grated orange. Serve the delicious biscotti with coffee or tea. And enjoy!

Trivia

• In Italian, the word “biscotti” means “one biscuit” or “a cookie”.
• Biscotti also refer to the original concept of twice-baking bread, as “bis” means twice and “cotto” means baked.

The first recipe of Biscotti was prepared by Amadio Baldanzi in the 18^th century. The recipe is in a manuscript form that is preserved in a museum in the town of Prato.