HAZELNUT BISCOTTI

Steps:

• Variations-------------.
• GINGER: halve the amount of the nuts and add 2 teaspoons ground ginger, 1/3 cup minced candied ginger and 1 1/2 tablespoons grated fresh ginger.
• Omit the hazelnut liquer and add 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract.
• ORANGE:Add 3 tablespoons grated orange zest and use orange liquer instead of hazelnut.
• CHOCOLATE: Increase the amount of cocoa to 1/2 cup, increase the liquer to 1/4 cup.
• Decrease nuts by 1/3 and add 1 cup white chocolate chopped, 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate, chopped and 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract.
• LEMON-PINE NUT: Omit the nuts, cocoa and liquer.
• Use lightly toasted pine nuts and add 1 1/2 tablespoons each of grated lemon rind and lemon juice.
• COFFEE: Using the hazelnut or almond recipe, add 3 tablespoons instant coffee granules.
• Also add 2 teaspoons ground cardamon or cinnamon.
• Halve the amount of the nuts and add 1 cup chopped dried apricots and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.
• Preheat the oven to 350'F (180'C or Gas mark 4).
• Place half of the hazelnuts and ALL of the sugar in a blender (or food processor) and process until the nuts are finely chopped.
• Place in a bowl.
• Coarsley chop the rest of the nuts and add to bowl along with the dry ingredients.
• In another bowl, blend the eggs, liquer and butter.
• Stir into the dry ingredients and knead gently with your hands to form a dough.
• Divide the dough in half and on lightly greased baking trays, form the dough into 2- 14 inch rolls- 3" wide and 1" thick.
• Bake at 350'F for 40 minutes.
• Remove from oven.
• Allow to cool for 10 minutes.
• Cut with a serrated knife into 1/2" slices.
• Return the slices to the baking trays.
• Place them UPRIGHT and SPACED WELL APART.
• Lower the oven to 300'F and bake for another 20 minutes until crisp and dry- but NOT brown.
• Cool and store in an airtight container at room temperature.