MY VIRTUAL POTLUCK CONTRIBUTION!

These are decadent!  I package them up to send to friends.  Great with a cup of coffee or tea after a nice meal.

My contribution to Cammy's Virtual Holiday Potluck.




MACADAMIA NUT BISCOTTI

1/2 pound (2 sticks) butter, soft
2 1/4 cups sugar
5 large eggs
5 cups flour
4 cups macadamia nuts ( 2 bags from Trader Joe's)
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons vanilla
3 tablespoons Myers Dark Rum

Heat oven to 325

Cream butter and sugar.  Add eggs, then vanilla and rum.  Add dry ingredients and mix until blended.  Add nuts by hand.  Batter will be thick.

Divide into 4 parts onto parchment paper covered baking sheets and shape into logs 1 1/2 inches in diameter by 12 inches long.  Wet your hands with water to make shaping the logs easier.  (Since these spread when cooking, I just put 1 log on each sheet.)  Bake approximately 30 minutes until golden brown. 

Let cool a bit, then cut into slices 1/2 to 1/3 inches wide. 

Reduce oven heat to 250.  Arrance biscotti cut side down and bake 15-20 minutes more on each side until crisp and dry.  You may also stand them upright to bake them, just make sure there is room for air to circulate around each cookie.

Cool completely, store airtight.

MY HOLIDAY PLEDGE

Sarah over at Low Stress Weight Loss is hosting another "No Gain Holidays Pledge Group" for this holiday season and I have joined up!  She and I are both hoping to not only not gain - but to lose during the next 7 weeks of merry making. 

My Goals

1.)  I have already determined that I am going to minimize my usual Christmas cookie baking frenzy.  I am going to make some biscotti to give as gifts and make only a couple of single recipes for my family at home.  (When I am being honest - my daughter and I are the ones who eat most of the cookies and the ones who need them the least!  No gingerbread this year...)

2.)  I am going to forgo treats at events I attend.  So far that will be a work party and my family gatherings and they understand and support my efforts.  My allowed treat will be the cocktails I will drink with my family.  Usually champagne!

3.)  I will increase my gym attendance and start taking some classes.

The info is on Sarah's blog.  Basic rules :


No Gain Holidays is a commitment to yourself to hold the line on your weight from before Thanksgiving until after New Year’s Eve.


Runs 7 weeks (November 22nd – January 3rd)


You can join anytime


This is self-reported : you can post your weight or your weight loss or keep it totally to yourself. Your pants will know even if we don’t.


Join by linking up your blog (or leave a comment) on Sarah's blog!

Come on - join up we will feel so good in January when everyone else is trying to get the holiday weight off and we are ahead of the game!