Saturday, October 12, 2013

Biscotti

Twice-baked Cookies (Biscotti)
[from Lowfat International Cuisine by Jane Rubey.
Anything in brackets is my addition. S.M.]

2 cups whole, unsalted, unblanched almonds, toasted*
½ cup butter
1 ½ cups sugar
2 eggs
3 cups whole wheat flour, very finely ground
1 tsp. baking powder
½ tsp. salt
½ tsp. anise seeds, finely crushed [and orange peel ½ tsp.]
8 ozs. bittersweet or semisweet chocolate (optional)

Preheat oven to 325°.  In a large mixer bowl, cream butter and sugar together.  Add eggs and beat until smooth.  Sift flour, baking powder and salt together. [The salt may be instead crushed with the anise and orange peel.]  Chop almonds somewhat coarsely.  Add sifted dry ingredients along with seeds and almonds to batter.  Mix briefly until the dough pulls together.  Divide dough into three equal parts.  On a greased sheet, pat each third into a strip 3" x 8", about 1" high.  Bake for 30 minutes.  Carefully remove each strip to a cutting board and cut, somewhat diagonally, into ½" slices.  Turn each slice onto its side and return to baking sheet.  Continue baking another 15 minutes.  Remove from pan and cool on a rack.
To coat with chocolate: melt chocolate over hot, not boiling, water; take care not to splash any water into chocolate.  Dip one end, about ¼ to 1/3 of the cookie, into chocolate.  Spread evenly and remove excess with small spatula.  Place on waxed paper or parchment-lined cookie sheet and refrigerate to harden.  Remove from paper and store in a tight container in a cool place.

*To Toast Nuts:  spread nuts in a single layer on a large baking sheet (or glass dish for microwave).  Place in 375° oven for 5 to 10 minutes (or in microwave at full power for several minutes).  Watch closely, turning several times to prevent scorching.  When properly toasted, nuts will give off a rich aroma and be lightly browned.  If toasting unblanched almonds, break open a nut and look for a lightly browned interior.

[Switch walnuts in place of almonds and some of the flour with cocoa powder for a tasty variation.  Another variation is to simply add craisins.  This will decrease shelf life by only a little.]

Sunday, October 6, 2013

The Necessity for Spiritual Food

I have lots of calorie-driven family and friends. I have learned that once they reach their "I need food to remain a nice person" point, they really need to eat some food. Otherwise, life will be unpleasant for everyone around them until they do get food. This can be applied to spiritual matters, as I realized this evening.
I was spending a bit of time reading the Bible and thinking about what I read. A while after I had finished reading and had taken my crocheting up again, I observed that in the short time between reading and thinking on the Bible and that moment, my outlook had altered for the better. I was a bit more energized and felt a bit more able to function in a decent and motivated manner. I seemed more able to focus on things. I began to think about what made the difference.
Why did I seem spiritually and emotionally energized after reading the Bible? I discerned that it was because I had just taken in spiritual food. Before I had read the Bible, I had been unknowingly starving for spiritual food and consequently very spiritually weak. When I took in some healthy, nourishing spiritual food, my spirit received energy and was able to function better. It was like the moment when a very hungry person has gotten some food. They savour it and then are able to get up from the table with renewed vigour to go about the tasks of the day.
If a Christian does not take in spiritual food on a regular basis, he will not be able to function spiritually. He will be spiritually starving himself. This is the reason it is so important that a Christian must be consistent about reading the Bible and communing with God. If he isn't, he will not be able to stand in a spiritual fight. He will be knocked over, easily overcome, and it will be difficult or nearly impossible to get up again. It would be easier for him to give up and die.
Tonight, the importance of reading the Bible frequently has been impressed on my mind. I knew before that reading the Bible was important and that it was spiritual food, but the implications of that have been made clear to me. Without consistent spiritual food intake, one will grow weak and unable to fight, causing him to lose and eventually die if not properly nursed back to health on nourishing, sustaining spiritual food, just as it is with physical food.