What to do on Thanksgiving morning....

BAKE of course!!

Today started with my first yeast fail. I attempted to make monkey bread. It did not rise. :( I was disappointed, but at least I did not have a house full of people waiting for it! So instead, I decided to start a little bit more Christmas baking. This morning was a recipe that I have used before. The recipe that I got from my Chicago friend Samantha....I made it for the wizard of Oz using Chocolate chips...today something a bit more festive!

1 3/4 c rolled oats
3/4 c flour
3/4 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/4 sticks unsalted butter, softened
1/3 c packed light brown sugar
1/3 c sugar
1 large egg
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/8 tsp orange extract
Orange flavored Cranberries to taste
White Chocolate chips to taste

Preheat oven to 375. Grease baking sheets. Stir together oats, flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt. Beat together butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add egg and vanilla and beat until combined well. Add oat mixture and beat until just combined.

Drop dough by tablespoons 2 inches apart onto baking sheets and flatten mounds slightly with moistened fingers. (I did not do this) Bake cookies in upper and lower thirds of oven, switching position of sheets halfway through baking, until golden, about 12 mins total (did not do this either!!) I baked them on my pampered chef pizza stone.


It is possible that this may be my new favorite cookie. Still not a huge fan of white chocolate but it does go well with the cranberry. :)


So, after the cookies came out of the oven and filled the house with that yummy cinnamon smell....I decided to make another batch of biscotti because my husband....yea, there was ONE left when he read the blog begging that he bring one home...and you know what...the snot ate it! I really think that he just wanted me to make another batch. Well, that backfired because I made 2 MORE!!! The first being exactly what I made for him to take to work. The other using what was left of the orange flavored cranberries. I like the orange option the best....but here they are with a little bit of Mickey. Only 61 days until we are hangin' with the mouse....not that I am counting....

Cranberry Almond Biscotti
Ingredients

* 1/4 cup light olive oil
* 3/4 cup white sugar
* 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
* 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
* 2 eggs
* 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
* 1/4 teaspoon salt
* 1 teaspoon baking powder
* 1/2 cup dried cranberries
* 1 cup almonds

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C).
2. In a large bowl, mix together oil and sugar until well blended. Mix in the vanilla and almond extracts, then beat in the eggs. Combine flour, salt, and baking powder; gradually stir into egg mixture. Mix in cranberries and nuts by hand.
3. Divide dough in half. Form two logs (12x2 inches) on a cookie sheet that has been lined with parchment paper. Dough may be sticky; wet hands with cool water to handle dough more easily.
4. Bake for 35 minutes in the preheated oven, or until logs are light brown. Remove from oven, and set aside to cool for 10 minutes. Reduce oven heat to 275 degrees F (135 degrees C).
5. Cut logs on diagonal into 3/4 inch thick slices. Lay on sides on parchment covered cookie sheet. Bake approximately 8 to 10 minutes, or until dry; cool.






ORANGE CRANBERRY ALMOND BISCOTTI
Ingredients

* 1/4 cup light olive oil
* 3/4 cup white sugar
* 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
* 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
* 1/8 teaspoon orange extract
* 2 eggs
* 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
* 1/4 teaspoon salt
* 1 teaspoon baking powder
* 1/2 cup dried orange flavored cranberries
* 1 cup sliced almonds


Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C).
2. In a large bowl, mix together oil and sugar until well blended. Mix in the vanilla and almond extracts, then beat in the eggs. Combine flour, salt, and baking powder; gradually stir into egg mixture. Mix in cranberries and nuts by hand.
3. Divide dough in half. Form two logs (12x2 inches) on a cookie sheet that has been lined with parchment paper. Dough may be sticky; wet hands with cool water to handle dough more easily.
4. Bake for 35 minutes in the preheated oven, or until logs are light brown. Remove from oven, and set aside to cool for 10 minutes. Reduce oven heat to 275 degrees F (135 degrees C).
5. Cut logs on diagonal into 3/4 inch thick slices. Lay on sides on parchment covered cookie sheet. Bake approximately 8 to 10 minutes, or until dry; cool.