Homemade Biscotti

Is there anything better than a cup of freshly ground Kona coffee and homemade biscotti for breakfast?! One of my friends sent me this wonderful recipe for biscotti. The adorable tea towel was apart of my Valentine's Day gift from my hubby. It's from a great vintage shop, House 8810.  Enjoy!

Ingredients
2 cups all purpose flower
1 1/2 teaspoons of baking powder
1/2 teaspoon of salt
3/4 cup unsalted butter at room temp
3/4 cup of sugar
2 large eggs
1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon of almond extract
1 cup of almonds/ of hazelnuts/ or pecans

oven 350.
1. mix flour,salt, baking powder = sift together
2. another bowl mix butter and sugar then add eggs and vanilla and almond until completely incorporated
3. after liquids are mixed slowly add the flower mixture
4. Then add the nuts

Divide the dough in half in log form on a pan with parchment paper. (so you have two 10 by 2 1/2 inch logs) leave 4 inched in between.
Bake for 17-20min until edges are golden brown and it is firm.
Let logs stand and cool for 10min
Then using a serrated knife slice into the biscotti shape.
Place slices cut side down and then bake till outside is golden brown 20min.
Let them cool 30min before icing (I melted a small bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips and sprinkled with finely chopped pecans)

Easter Joy!

Wow...it's been about 6 months since I last blogged! The title to this post is special in two ways: #1. It's almost Easter...#2. It bears the name of a particular person who berated encouraged me to make a post (sorry Steve, Joy's name was easier work with). It's been a great and busy 6 months.

We had our first house guest from the states, my college roommate Natasha. She came to Okinawa to celebrate Christmas and New Years with the Whites and it was an amazing trip! Robert went to Thailand for an exercise and completed a 7 week school called Sgts Course. I was able to go back to Texas and be a bridesmaid in my best friend, Ashlee's wedding and be there for the birth of baby Jonathan, my best friend Rebecca's little boy. I got to be a part of numerous other events and do tons of photo shoots. It was a great trip! But now I'm back in Okinawa and getting into the swing of things. And Sunday is EASTER! The day that we celebrate our Lord and Savior rising from the dead and saving all of us.

If you're like me and didn't have much time to get Easter decorations together, I have a very simple craft for you!
All you need is:
Eggs
Sharpies
And a little bit of patience

I found these on another blog, which I can't remember off the top of my head, I think they called them "doodle eggs." All you have to do is blow the yolk out of the eggs, so you're working with it completely hollow and dry. They get out your favorite Sharpies and get to work and this is what you can create:

Enjoy! And have a Happy Easter!