basic italian biscotti

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 5 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
• 2 tablespoons baking powder
• 1 cup shortening
• 3 eggs
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Recipe

• sift flour and measure. resift with sugar and baking powder a flat surface. cut shortening into dry ingredients until mixture resembles coarse cornmeal.
• make a well in flour and break eggs into it. add vanilla, and knead dough well for about 5 minutes until it is smooth, adding a little more flour if dough seems to soft and sticky.
• pinch off bits of dough about the size of an apricot, and form into desired shapes. cookies may be baked as rings, strips, or in letters, such as s.
• place 1 inch apart on greased cookie sheet and bake in hot 450 degree f (230 degrees c) oven for 10 minutes, until golden brown. watch carefully, because they burn easily.