Sunday, August 8, 2010

Coconut Biscotti


Swaying palms, soft air, warm turquoise waters... ahh... this is my happy place.  I go there on occasion when things get just a little too crazy around here.  I just close my eyes, take a few deep breaths and for a few glorious moments I am sitting on a white sand beach wriggling my toes in the warm, soft sand.

6 months ago, I went there with my husband... in real life!  Our household had been a bit hectic (that comment is actually the worlds largest understatement!) and Mommy was close to "the edge".  5 days before our departure my amazing husband suggested a trip to the South Pacific for a 12 day cruise including 6 different islands on a small ship sailing out of Papeete, Tahiti.  I looked at him like he was crazy... as if I could get all my duties covered, pack my bags, throw a Super Bowl party for 50 and get out of here in 5 day.  Well, thanks to my mom and a small village of wonderful girlfriends, we did it!!  And I'm here to attest that I had the much needed, well deserved, and fully enjoyed, tropical vacation of a lifetime.  (You can actually read my review and see pics on Cruise Critic here). 

Brilliant, warm turquoise waters combined with soaring majestic peaks.  Lush emerald vegetation met up with  dazzling blue skies filled with pillows of white clouds.  And there I was, sailing through it all.  For twelve gorgeous days we sailed the South Pacific with our fellow guests, getting to know many of them during our travels.  We particularly enjoyed a couple we met at the airport on our departure from LAX who hail from Palm Desert, just a few hours from us.  

Bob and Susie truly exemplify what Liv Life stands for... they genuinely live everyday and have gleaned more from life than many of us ever will.  Dinners on our voyage were filled with stories from before we were born taking us to distant lands, romantic ski trips and lives that are full and memorable. 

Yesterday we had the pleasure of visiting Bob and Susie again and in honor of our recent tropical voyage I brought some of my favorite Coconut Biscotti.  This crisp cookie, adapted from Cooking Light, is enhanced with a teaspoon of coconut oil and a dash of nutmeg.  The flaked coconut adds a touch of texture  and gives a wonderful, light coconut flavor - reminiscent of the South Pacific.

So kick off your shoes, close your eyes and come with me to Bora Bora!  With our Coconut Biscotti in hand we can all enjoy a moment of blissful peace in the midst of our busy, overfilled, hectic lives and enjoy a touch of tropical balance for the rest of the day.


Coconut Biscotti
adapted from Cooking Light

¾  teaspoon  baking powder
¼  teaspoon  salt
¼  teaspoon  baking soda
⅛  teaspoon  grated whole nutmeg
¾  cup  sugar
1  teaspoon  vanilla extract
1 tsp coconut extract
2  large eggs
1  cup  flaked sweetened coconut
1 ½  cups  all-purpose flour
Preheat oven to 300°.

Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups and level with a knife.  Combine flour and next 4 ingredients (through nutmeg) in a small bowl and whisk to combine.  Place sugar, vanilla, coconut extract and eggs in a large bowl;  beat with a mixer at medium speed 2 minutes or until thick.  Add flour mixture and flaked coconut, stirring to combine (dough will be very sticky).   Turn the dough out onto a heavily floured surface and knead lightly 7 or 8 times.  Shape the dough into a 15 x 3-inch log and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or silicone liner.  Pat the log to 1-inch thickness and bake at 300° for 40 minutes or until golden brown.  Cool for 5 minutes on a wire rack.

Move roll to a cutting board and cut diagonally into 20 (1/2-inch-thick) slices.  Return the slices to the baking sheet, standing them upright (not on either side as this allows both sides to be baked at the same time and does not require turning half way through baking).  Return the baking sheet to the oven and bake 20 minutes - note that the cookies will be slightly soft in center but will harden as they cool.  Remove the cookies from the baking sheet and cool completely on wire rack. 

25 comments:

  1. Sounds like an amazing trip! I'd love a beach vacation right about now...but my life definitely isn't as hectic as yours was right before that trip! I can definitely see how these would you remind you of the beach :) They look and sound delicious. Coconut is such a great addition to biscotti!

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  2. Sigh... this is bringing me back to my own vacation last year to Fiji. One of the first things we did when we got there was stop at this random little restaurant and had the most delicious coconut bread of my LIFE. This coconut biscotti and your entry is totally bringing it all back! I must make some.

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  3. Beautiful coconut biscotti with a wonderful story that inspires me to jump on a cruise ship and head for tropical waters, thanks for sharing your fun trip:-)

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  4. I have eaten a lot of biscotti but never coconut. It's a great idea I will have to try. Cool blog.

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  5. What a great story, you have a wonderful husband, and a great blog! I have always wanted to make biscotti, since I love coconut, this sounds fantastic!

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  6. Damn I want a vacation now. I love the idea of coconut biscotti--I bet it really transforms the cooking into something much better than your standard biscotti.

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  7. OOOOO, I love biscotti and I really really love coconut! How wonderful.

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  8. We've been making that recipe for years - one of our favorites!

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  9. Lovely, crunchy biscotti! Got to try this cos' I love coconut.

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  10. My happy place is a cabin in the mountains next to a waterfall, but I'll bet these biscotti would travel there well too. They look amazing.

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  11. That trip sounds great! I love the picture! Looks so relaxing and beautiful!! Your biscotti looks delicious as well! YUM!
    Would you mond checking out my blog? :D http://ajscookingsecrets.blogspot.com/

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  12. Oh...just yummy yummy!!

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  13. Thanks for visiting my site so that I could find you! Sounds like you had a wonderful trip to the South Pacific. A very wonderful opportunity indeed.

    The coconut biscotti sound fantastic.

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  14. Never thought of using coconut but it's great becuase I have half a bag laying around and need to put it in something before it gets too old.

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  15. I always make the very traditional biscotti. The coconut one looks and sounds amazing - a must make!!!

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  16. Coconut Biscotti sounds wonderful. My husband is a coconut freak and I bet he'll love these.

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  17. Oh my gosh, coconut and biscotti together, yum! Must try, thanks for sharing!!! They look delcious!!!

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  18. I never thought adding coconut to Biscotti! what a great idea!! I will have to try it!

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  19. You said the magic words.. come relax with me!
    I saw the "coconut biscotti" in my reader and I was thinking, "Great idea for return to school cookies for the teachers tomorrow!", but then you took me on a reminiscent tour of a beloved vacation I had too! Loved Bora Bora.. I remember wearing pareos, sitting on the edge of the south pacific, floating on a glass bottom boat, roasting pig and Motu Tapu. And I learned to make the best omelet from a French Chef. :)
    Grazi!!

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  20. I am glad you took a vacation, although I am new to your site, I can imagine being mommy has its things! Sounds like a wonderful trip. Now I wish I can go soon :-)

    Coconut biscotti sounds very yummy, perfect with My mocha...need to stay awake!

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  21. Whoa, this is beautiful! I love that photo, and I love biscotti even more.
    p.s. Tell your daughter the she's too sweet liking my blog design and wishing for it. If she ever starts her own blog, I'd be happy to hand over some of my html info...

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  22. I just made these and they are so yummy! Also very easy to make! They are everything biscotti should be and the coconut flavor really bring you back to the tropics (and with it being close to 100 and very humid here today, we are close). Both my tween daughters loved it too (even the one who doesn't like coconut).

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  23. Hey Kim, these look delicious and I love coconut. I just asked Bob to make them for my birthday!

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  24. i made this tonight for a tea party i'm going to soon. it came out wonderful! i am so excited and will be making this for years to come! sweet, but not too sweet. it will be a hit i'm sure of it!

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  25. Yay!! Thanks so much for letting me know that you made them!!! It's always so fun to hear. My kids LOVE these little guys, well, I have to admit that I do too. Enjoy the party!

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