Boy, is it cold outside. As I bundle up my kids for their 5:30 am swim practice, I think about how dedicated they are to their sport. I know it’s my job to supply nutritious and comforting meals to provide fuel for the day and I do my best to get the job done. However, there is one indulgence that M requests for her morning snack at school… Cranberry Orange and Almond Biscotti with a cup of tea is her favorite cold weather snack.
A couple of weeks ago, there was a decent coupon for Celestial Seasonings Tea. I had 5 coupons so I bought five of their holiday selection flavors for roughly 79 cents a piece. M was thrilled!
During M’s Saturday morning swim practice, I whipped up a batch of her favorite biscotti and brewed her a cup of tea. When she arrived home, she was so happy!
Recently, I purchased M a wonderful thermos to take to school with her. So every morning, I brew her a cup of tea, fill up her thermos, and pack a biscotti cookie in her lunch box so that she can enjoy her snack during an early morning break. It’s a great way to warm her tummy during the cold (freezing cold) Midwest winter days.
Cranberry Orange and Almond Biscotti
2/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 tablespoon grated orange peel
1 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon almond extract
2 eggs
2 1/2 cups flour
3/4 cup dried cranberries, chopped
1/2 cup slivered almonds
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
Heat oven to 350 degrees. In large bowl, stir together sugar, oil, orange peel, vanilla extract, almond extract, and eggs. Stir in remaining ingredients.
Place dough on lightly floured surface. Knead until smooth. On two cookie sheets, shape half of dough at a time into two 10×3-inch rectangles. Press a handful of almonds into the top of each dough band.
Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool on cookie sheets for about 15 minutes. Carefully cut rectangle crosswise into 1/2-inch slices. Turn slices cut sides down on cookie sheet.
Bake about 15 minutes longer, turning once half way through, until crisp and light brown. Immediately remove from cookie sheet to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
Simply Made Kitchen and Crafts 
I have everything on hand and this sounds delicious. I’m planning to bake these tomorrow.
Lillian
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Oh great, Lillian! I hope you enjoy them. They are great with a nice cup of piping hot tea or coffee! Enjoy!
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What a wonderful Mum (or Mom, of course) you are Linda. Delicious-looking homemade biscotti and a steaming hot cup of tea – so lovingly made! M sure is a lucky girl! And you’re up for 5.30am swimming practice, to boot! x
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You’re just as wonderful, Dani! Your kids and pets are so loved!😊
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Very nice recipe! Perfect for the winter with your nice teas. I am very familiar with the two-a-day US swimming… The parents are as dedicated as the kids! Take good care, Shann xx
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You are right…dedicated parents are a must when it comes to assisting swimmers. I just plugged in the crockpot for tomorrow morning’s steel cut crock pot oatmeal. I am heading out the door to a swim meet and the oats should be ready just before I go to bed tonight. I will put it in individual serving sized jars so we can hear them quickly in the morning… A never ending tale :).
Thanks for all of your support, Shanna… So glad to be blogger friends!
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Hi, Linda,
oh, yes – I do adore the single serving oatmeal jar recipes! Yes, you are a soldier. Swimmer parents work as hard as the kids, WITHOUT question. Your children are so lucky to have someone who loves them and sees their dedication and talent – and supports it and them. I shall keep my eye on your blog, as always. Enjoy the Irish oatmeal – one of my personal favorites – hard to resist well-cooked steel-cut oats. Take good care. Best wishes, Shanna xx
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Your biscotti log is so perfect! Mine are always a mess (but end up looking ok after slicing haha).
Also let me just tell you, I’m obsessed with Celestial Seasoning teas. My top favs: 1. Sugar Cookie Sleigh Ride, 2. Sweet Harvest pumpkin and 3. Honey Vanilla Chamomile!
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Sugar Cookie Sleigh Ride is our favorite too!! I noticed another good coupon in the newspaper last week for the CS teas so I will have to stock up a few more boxes. And remember, it’s not important what the biscotti look like it’s how they taste…can’t beat that scrumptious crunchy cookie taste! Thanks for your comment… Enjoy the holidays!
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