Biscotti Di lievito

Today - April 10 - marks what would be Nonna Fiora's 107th birthday!  Nonna Fiora is Nonnina's mom and a grandmother to so many lucky grandchildren.  Anyone who had the pleasure of knowing Nonna Fiora knows that she was stronger than any 20 year old out there, she had a smile as big as her cheeks could stretch, she was ALWAYS happy and she made the tastiest goodies!  In honour of Nonna Fiora's birthday Nonnina made for us her famous biscotti di lievito or in english yeast bread or cookie.  When we asked Nonnina about her favourite treat that her her mother used to make it was these batch of baked deliciousness! "This was my mom's favourite sweet bread.  She used to make it for breakfast and sometimes for snack - it was our treat!" Nonnina said about the memories she has of her mom making these cookies. Straight out of the oven these little sweet dinner rolls are incredibly scrumptious and I can't wait for you to try these.

Happy Birthday Nonna Fiora! 

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup of warm water
  • 1 TSP yeast
  • 1 TSP of sugar
  • 1 cup of sugar
  • 4 eggs
  • 1/2 cup of sunflower or canola oil
  • 1 cup  of milk
  • 4.5 cups of flour + extra for dusting
  • 1 TBSP of anise seeds
  • 1 TSP of salt
  • 1 egg yolk + 1 TBSP of water (egg wash)

directions:

  1. Mix together the warm water, yeast and teaspoon of sugar until it starts to bubble approximately 10 minutes.
  2. Pre-heat the oven to 350℉
  3. Mix together the flour, anise seeds and teaspoon of salt.
  4. Once the yeast mixture has started to bubble, mix together the sugar, eggs, oil and yeast mixture.
  5. Create a well with the flour on a flat surface and pour the wet mixture into the center mixing it together a little bit at a time until it's all combined.  The dough she be about the same consistency of pizza dough.
  6. Grease and flour a large bowl and put the dough inside.  Let the dough rise for about 3 hours.
  7. Once the dough has risen, take a piece of dough and form it in the shape of a dinner roll.  Repeat this step with all the dough.
  8. Set aside the dinner rolls and let them rise for another hour.
  9. Use the egg yolk and water to create an eggwash, and brush it over each dinner roll.
  10. Bake the goodies in the oven for 20 minutes, turning the tray half way through cook time.

We sincerely hope that you enjoy Nonna Fiora's biscotti, we know that we sure do!

Buon Apetito! With Love From,

Nonnina