STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

e_doli · Dooney & Bourke

tipping the salon owner

lsubatgirl · Gucci

Well I think this was discussed before and the general concensus was not to tip. But I think a holiday gift would be fine. The biscotti might be a good idea. What kind did you make? I'm interested

e_doli · Dooney & Bourke

I made ginger-almond, black pepper-rosemary with cashews, and almond-apricot. The ginger almond is really good. I just modifed that recipe to make the other kinds since I know that one works. The almond-apricot wasn't great - it needs something more -- i wasn't sure what spice to pair with them.

here's the recipe: (from epicurious.com)

GINGER ALMOND BISCOTTI

These biscotti can be baked in different size pans — even free form on a baking sheet — depending on what shape you’d like them to be. We used an 11- by 4-inch pan for a square shape. A 9- by 5- by 3-inch pan yields a long, narrow rectangle. The cooking time will not be affected by the pan you use.

3/4 cup whole almonds with skins
1/2 cup crystallized ginger
1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 large egg
1 large egg white
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Special equipment: an 11- by 4-inch loaf pan (see note, above)

Preheat oven to 300°F. Butter loaf pan and line bottom with wax paper.

In a shallow baking pan toast almonds in middle of oven until a shade darker, about 10 minutes. Cool nuts and very coarsely chop. Finely chop crystallized ginger. Into a bowl sift together flour, sugar, ground ginger, salt, and baking soda. In another bowl with an electric mixer beat together whole egg, egg white, and vanilla. Stir in flour mixture and beat until combined well. Stir in almonds and crystallized ginger.

Press dough into loaf pan and bake in middle of oven until pale golden, about 45 minutes. Turn loaf out onto a rack and cool 10 minutes. On a cutting board with a serrated knife cut loaf crosswise into 1/8-inch-thick slices. Arrange biscotti on a baking sheet and bake in middle of oven until crisp, about 15 minutes. Cool biscotti on rack. Biscotti keep in an airtight container at cool room temperature 2 weeks.

Each serving of 2 biscotti about 113 calories and 4 grams fat.

Makes about 30 biscotti.

Gourmet

July 1999

-- Edited by e_doli at 10:30, 2004-12-15

lsubatgirl · Gucci

Ooh thanks for the recipie. I might give it a whirl after christmas.

bliss · Dooney & Bourke

I always give my salon owner a little tip, but then again she is super accomodating and always fits me in. Sometimes I don't tip her, but then again I do see her every two weeks so I feel as if I'm making her car payments for her. I would go according to how the owner reacts, if they act uncomfortable with the gesture then don't feel obligated. As far as the biscotti goes it sounds great and is a great alternative to the traditional cookies.