In Tuscany, the most traditional cookies are the "Biscotti di Prato", also called "Cantuccini". I have tried many recipes, but usually they are too sweet. I therefore propose this recipe of biscotti, rich in nuts, olive oil and whole wheat flour. The sugar is there, I do not deny it, but much less than in the classic biscotti. With three of these cookies, a cup of milk, some coffee and a fruit, we will guarantee a positive start to the day: these cookies are very nutrient, not only in terms of calories. They are in fact based on extra virgin olive oil, and therefore no suspicious "vegetable fat" (e.g. palm oil or coconut), no hydrogenated fat, no fat"trans", very few saturated fats, plenty of monounsaturated fats (from olive oil) and polyunsaturated fats, mainly from nuts and hazelnuts. They are low in sodium (I never add salt in biscuits, even when salt is indicated in the original recipe), rich in potassium, and in fiber from the whole wheat. They are also easy and quick to make ... I suggest to try!

INGREDIENTS

• whole wheat flour, 350 g
• unrefined corn flour, 150 g
• baking soda, 1 teaspoon + cream of tartar, 1teaspoon (or 2 teaspoons baking powder, if possible for savoury dishes)

• extra virgin olive oil, 200 g
• unrefined brown sugar, 150g
• eggs, 4
• walnuts, 200 g
• hazelnuts, 100
• raisins, 60 g

PREPARATION

Heat Tthe oven to 175 ° C.
Cover two large baking sheets with parchment paper.
Coarsely chop walnuts and hazelnuts.
Mix all ingredients until dough is firm enough, but not too dry.
Form long rolls (about 4 cm in diameter), place them on baking sheets and flatten them lightly with your hand.
Bake for about 20 minutes. Remove from oven.
Cut into slices with a sharp knife (about 1-2 cm thick slices). Make some space between slices, since they will have to dry in the oven with double baking (bis-cotti means baked-twice).
Bake again for 20 minutes. Check if they seem dry enough: they will feel a bit soft until warm, but once they cool down they should become crisp/hard. If still too soft, you can bake them a little bit more (low temp).
You should get approximately 75-80 cookies.

NUTRITIONAL VALUE per cookie (approx. 12-16 g each) 

• energy 60 kcal (253 kJ)
• protein 1.7 g
• fat 2.9 g (of which saturated 0.3 g)
• carbohydrates 7.5 g (of which sugar 2.8 g)
• fibre 0.8 g

Semel in anno (once a year) we say, but fortunately I've got four children and so I can break the rules four times a year....How?
This is Matteo's cake (in the picture, double size).

INGREDIENTS for per 8 persons

• butter or oil (olive, peanut, sunflower, canola), 75 g
• eggs, 2
• sugar, 2 dl
• lemon rind, grated
• milk, 1.5 dl
• flour, type 0, 3.5 dl 
• baking powder, 20 g
• strawberries, 1 kg
• sugar, 2 table spoons
• whipping cream, 250 g

Heat the oven at 175 * C.
Grease a cake tin (with removable bottom) and sprinkle with breadcrumbs.
Melt the butter and let it cool (if it is not for a party, you can use with excellent results a delicate olive oil or seed oil).
Beat the eggs with sugar.
Add the butter and the grated lemon rind.
Add the milk and finally the flour mixed with baking powder.
Bake for about 30-45 minutes.

Meanwhile, cut the strawberries into small pieces. Cook for a few minutes in a large pan with two tablespoons of sugar. Then mash them well. Allow to cool.

Once cooled, cut the cake into three layers and stuff with strawberries.
Leave in a fridge for at least half a day.

Cover with whipped cream and garnish with strawberries and candles....

A simple a quick to make cake, inviting to transgression, since it is good and based on healthy ingredients: olive oil, unrefined ingredinets (flour sugar) and in addition it is rich with the vitamins from carrots. How can one resist!

Remember, however, that each slice contributes to the daily caloric intake: act consciously!

I was talking with a friend about candied orange peels, a recipe that cannot be posted in this web site: 1kg of sugar for 1 kg of orange peels! But I recalled that last year, almost by chance, I baked a few orange slices in the oven, while I was dehydrating rose hips. The result was a surprise. A fantastic snack, for those moments when you need somthing sweet...

INGREDIENTS

• oranges (preferably organic), 4

PREPARATION

Heat the oven at 50°C (122°F) - best if in a convection oven.
Wash/brush the oranges very well.
Cut in this slices (approx 3 mm thick), being careful to obtain whole slices. If you find this too hard, cut the oranges in two, and then cut the slices to obtain semi-circles.
Put the slices on a baking sheet lined with baking paper, and bake for 4-5 hours.
Extract from the over, turn the slices upside-down, and then put again in the oven for additional 4-5 hours, or until dry.
Cool down. Store in tightly closed glass jars, to keep the slices' crispness.

It is a very easy and fast to make cake. A traditional recipe in the Salvini-Rosenback family, but originally the recipe was provided by Tant Greta (Aunt Greta), that used to make it with pears or apples, but in the kitchen veriations are welcome!! The original recipe is with wheat flour.

INGREDIENTS

• eggs, 2
• sugar, 100 g + 2 tablespoons
• milk, 2 table spoons
• gluten free flour, 100 g (I used 50 g of GLUTINÒ for bread baking and 50 g of GLUTINÒ for homemade pasta)
• baking power, gluten free, 1 teaspoon
• mild olive oil or peanut oil, 100 g (butter in the original recipe...)
• peaches, average size, 4-5
• ground cinnamon, 1 table spoon
• some oil to greas the pan
• some flour of breadcrumbs, gluten free, for the baking tin

PREPARATION

Heat the oven at 175°C.  Grease an average size baking tin with flour or breadcrumbs (or line the tie with baking paper).

Wash and peel the peaches (you can also keep the peel, to get some fiber), slice them or cut them in pieces.

Beat the eggs with sugar, until fluffy.

Add the milk and the flour, mised with the baking powder. Stir.

Aggiungere il latte e la farina in cui avrete mischiato per bene il lievito in polvere. Mescolare.

Finally, add the oil. Stir again and pour into the baking tin.

Add the peaches, pressing them so that they sink into the dough. It seems impossible to obtain this result, but you'll see they almost disappear in the dough once ready.

Sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar.

Bake at approximately 175°C, for 30-40 minutes.

Enjoy, warm or cold, whatever you prefer. And let me know if also your guests like it!!

This traditional Tuscan recipe is a perfect example of a simple farmers dessert, based on the sugars (soluble carbohydrates) naturally present in its ingredients. It is vary fast to prepare and can be adapted to personal taste and availability of ingredients. Some people, for example add chopped orange peel.

Very rich in fibre and potassium. It's a good suggestion also a the base for a winter breakfast.