Almond, cinnamon & raisin cantucci

Although going back to work has been far less painful than it could have been, I regret being somewhat limited in my time set aside for cooking - for the first time in ages, I sit down for a meal at night which I do not enjoy (I have been seen to order a pizza or make fresh (but bought) pasta with a simple cream & cheese sauce) - not to mention uninspiring work lunches. At times like this, I sometimes ask myself if it is really necessary to eat or if we're just doing it out of a habit - if you're not fully enjoying what you eat, why waste time sitting down at the table? Oh, how I long for the times when I could spend a day playing with the little one, but also dreaming up endless dishes I could make that week or on the weekend, and where I could cook something in the evening, because I didn't come home flustered from the strain a 1-hour rush-hour train journey puts on you! My posts will become erratic at best, if I don't find a way to comfortably write up my food entries on the train...
A very short post today. Not even because of work but because I spent my day "off" tending to a very sick baby and can hardly keep on my feet. Carrying 10 kg around on one arm for a full day is more (and quite unbalanced) exercise than I wish to have...
I made these cantucci just before Christmas, trying to find cookie recipes from around the world and deviating a bit from the usual (traditionally Austrian) fare. I had made this recipe before, only slightly different: with pink peppercorn and ginger instead of the raisins and cinnamon (to be honest, I actually prefer the peppercorn ones, but the raisins are a safer bet when you're sharing them with people less adventurous in terms of taste experiences). I gave these Italian biscuits which I adore to have with my coffee (yes, I admit it, I am a dunker, indeed!) to friends this Christmas - we don't do presents, really, but with these I had the feeling that I wasn't breaking the rule, but still got the pleasure of not arriving empty-handed and putting a smile on the face of people who did not expect it... cunning woman that I am!

Almond, cinnamon & raisin cantucci
(makes ca. 40 pieces)

250 g flour
½ tsp baking powder
pinch salt
150 g sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
50 g butter (melted)
2 eggs
110 whole almonds (skin on)
50 g sultanas

Combine all the dry ingredients except the almonds & raisins in a mixing bowl, add the butter and combine thoroughly. Work in the eggs, then stir in the raisins and almonds.
Preheat the oven to 200 C. Line a baking tray with non-stick baking paper, divide the dough mix in two or more (depending how big you want your cantucci). The dough will rise considerably, so if divided in two, you can form 20 cm long logs and still end up with 10 cm wide cantucci! It you prefer them smaller (espresso-, rather than cappuccino-size), divide them in 4 and form very thin 20 cm logs.
Tranfer to the oven and bake for 30 minutes. Let cool completely, then cut into 2 cm slices. Turn the heat down to 150 C and bake for another 10 minutes until starting to brown.
Remove from the oven and leave to cool on a wire rack before transferring into air-tight containers, where they will keep for ages, if only you could resist the temptation!

Comments

[Niki]

Ugh - back at work. And in winter too. It must feel awful leaving in the dark and returning in the dark, after a year away from it.
I start full time work in a few weeks too, and honestly I'm just not looking forward do it. At all. Hardly an ambitious career plan for a young woman, is it?!

[Niki]

Incidentally, check this out for the actions of an overzealous comment-maker on a blog. I think you'll find it....interesting.

http://www.tastingmenu.com/archive/2005/01-january/20050103.htm

http://www.tastingmenu.com/archive/2004/12-december/20041223.htm

[Theresa]

Hi Johanna: I love cantuccini - dip away! I have to try this recipe one day soon, thanks so much for putting it up! :)
I know, some days it's so hard to keep up with the food blog, fun as it can be. I started grad school, ended up alone in a strange city without my husband, who lives halfway round the world, and I just haven't felt like cooking much. To add fat to the fire, my hosting company pulled the plug on everyone, and my site is gone. I have backup, but it will take man hours, which I don't have, to get it up again.
Let's clink espresso cups and focus on the good days! :)
Theresa/crumbs.everywhere

[TheEvilOne]

I've just stumbled across your blog. Great work!