Therapy for the Waiting Game – Fresh Cherry and Chocolate-Almond Biscotti

This past week wasn’t designed to be this way.  I knew I would be doing a lot of waiting (airports, unconfirmed deliveries, cable company customer service lines) – but not the hole in your heart, lump in your throat kind……… I was off last Wednesday to deliver my son to grad school and supposedly to have a little bit of SoCal fun in the middle of Summer harvest-time.  Well, the best laid plans…….

My beloved dog, Kit, who is 13 1/2 years old and who’s borrowed a couple of lives already from our crazy cat, Callie, became ill just about the time I walked out the door.  Right when I thought we’d get all of our chores done in time for Ryan to go off to his pre-semester 4-week, 7-days-per orientation, I became torn in half.  I had to stay in LA at least until the movers arrived on Monday while Ryan was at school.  Then, in spite of having committed to helping him set up and get all those errands done (internet and other essentials) I basically was forced to leave him in the lurch.  Off I flew on Tuesday instead of Sunday to get back to maybe say goodbye to my faithful companion and all-around love, Kit.

Over the years, and as the kids grew and flew out of the nest, Kit became my side-by-side kick.  I had planned ahead for this time and I went to Pastry School when my son left for college.  Kit and Callie were always there when I got home.  I found a new collection of hobbies and vocations to keep me busy and fill up my time – but Kit became my constant companion.

Over the years I’ve become so used to having her by my side.  We’ve gardened together, driven everywhere together, shoveled snow, had our am walks, taken a snooze or two and been all-around best buds.  You know, you just become inseparable.  You rely on each other to be there.  And, as she went through her several bouts of health issues, the last one being the removal of a cancerous kidney last June, you become even more attached and value each and every day of their life.   As she blew through the 1 year post-surgery mark, the outside length of time I was told she’d survive, I began to tell myself, and her, that we’d just keep on going together.  I changed plans a hundred times so I wouldn’t have to leave her and postponed trips to Europe over and over again.  I even decided to forego an extended time into the second week in Newport Beach in order to get back to stay with her while my husband was away there.

Well, things aren’t going well, I’m following advice from two veterinarians now and today, I returned Kit to Red Bank for the second time in 3 days.  I have no idea what is going to happen and I’m sort of frozen in time, heart in hand, wishing and hoping.

As I saw my dear Mom do over a period of decades, I turned to the oven for therapy.  I haven’t baked in almost 2 weeks.  Chocolate is always one of those miracles you turn to for solace and so today I did.  I had eyed some biscotti in Whole Foods earlier today but decided I didn’t want to chance a store bought soother.   Biscotti isn’t just for Winter is it?  No!  We often get pigeon-holed in ways like this but we don’t have to.  Could something chocolatey, crunchy and sweet be just what the Dr. ordered – if not for Kit, then for me?

There are still some good cherries in the market and so I decided to try some in a chocolate biscotti – dried cherries are the norm in biscotti.  Well, let’s just see.  Somehow the process of baking helps one cope with misery.  You feel productive and a little bit of time goes by.  And with a little luck, you’ll wind up with a crunchy and tasty treat for later.  Crunch is always a soother, too.

Here’s my version of Fresh Cherry and Chocolate Biscotti.

  

FRESH CHERRY AND CHOCOLATE-ALMOND BISCOTTI – adapted from Ciao Chow Bambina

2 1/4 cups flour

1/4 cup best quality cocoa powder

1 cup sugar

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp cinnamon

2 eggs

2 egg whites

1 tsp almond extract

3/4 cup sliced almonds

1 cup fresh cherries, pitted and chopped into 6 pieces (my cherries were large)

1/2 cup semi sweet chocolate chips  

Preheat oven to 325F.  Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.

In a large bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients.  In a small bowl, whisk together the eggs, egg whites, almond extract and amaretto.  Pour the egg mixture into the dry ingredients and mix with a hand mixer until moist.  Scrape off the beaters with a small offset spatula.  Add the cherries, almonds and chocolate chips.  

Scoop the batter out of the bowl with a dough scraper.  Divide in half on a floured surface.  With well-floured hands, form into two logs on a baking sheet covered with a piece of parchment paper.  Bake 30 minutes.  Remove cookies from oven and reduce oven temperature to 300F.  With a large serrated bread knife, cut the cookies on the diagonal into 1/2″ pieces.  Lay them on their side.  Return to the oven and bake for an additional 20 minutes.  Turn and bake for an additional 10 minutes.  Remove to cooling racks to cool completely.  I prefer my biscotti on the second day.  But one or two today will do!

Believe me, this has only minimally assuaged my anxiety level.  But, now I have a new batch of fragrant, chewy-crunchy cookies to contemplate.

  this post is dedicated to my faithful love, Kit