Recipe #283
I left home and had a thoroughly relaxing weekend in the desert. The weather was absolutely gorgeous and the company wonderful. My friend D is expecting her first baby in December and we decided to do a girl’s weekend of sun, spa, and relaxation. The final group was smaller than we planned, but it ended up being perfect.
After dinner on Friday and just the right amount of margaritas and virgin margaritas we decided to run to the grocery store (Bristol Farms) and ended up spending $100 on the ingredients for French toast (plus a couple pints of ice cream and other treats). On Saturday, we spent the day at the spa at the JW Marriott Desert Springs Spa Resort. I’ve been to a lot of spas and this one was great. If you are ever in the Palm Springs/Palm Desert/Rancho Mirage area, I strongly encourage you to check it out. Another great discovery was Zin American Bistro, the restaurant where we went out for dinner that night. I had the “very adult macaroni and cheese” and it was exceptional.
My original plan was to make this week’s Tuesdays with Dorie recipe for this weekend. I had a busy week baking two cakes for two different work celebrations and by the time Friday rolled around I was done baking. I decided to make the Lenox Almond Biscotti, chosen by Gretchen of Canela & Comino, when I returned from my weekend. This was my first time making biscotti. They were super-duper easy to make–if I knew how easy I would have gone ahead and made them on Friday. I used whole-wheat pastry flour instead of all-purpose and they turned out wonderful. The perfect crunch and flavor. Yum!
Sounds like a fun trip! 🙂 Glad you found the recipe easy to make!
What a great and warm trip. Love the biscotti and your presentation in the teacup.
Your biscotti are so golden and delicious looking. Great idea on the ww pastry flour. I added white whole wheat. Love the description of your weekend, especially the $100 french toast!
What an awesome sounding weekend you had! The biscotti look great, especially standing up in the teacup.
Your biscotti (and your teacup) are so pretty. I love the idea of using the whole wheat pastry flour in these. It would give great flavor but wouldn’t be too heavy. Besides, I buy ww pastry flour for a quick bread recipe and don’t always know what to do with the rest of it. Did you use it in of all of the all-purpose, or just part?
Audrey
Wow, what a fabulous weekend! Your biscotti look perfect! I’ll have to use some WW flour next time — somehow it almost seems like a health food if there is whole wheat in it, doesn’t it?
Delicious looking biscotti and sounds like such a fun trip. I was tempted to use ww flour but was too chicken because I was afraid I mess it up somehow.
Yours look wonderful! Nice touch with the Whole Wheat. I loved making these.
beautiful teacup. . perfect biscotti. Jealous of your spa trip.
Im So jealous of your spa trip..fun! I think I like the picture of the trees and the water the best..I had to put up with this snow for three days! It melted today.
I love your biscotti..wonderful looking!
Wonderful weekend & wonderful biscotti! So glad you tried aking them for the first time!
You make it look so easy peasy! Sheesh! I love the color of your biscotti; pale yellow. Very, very nice. Great job. I didn’t make any this week since I don’t like biscotti . . I baked coconut cupcakes instead. Oh well. See you next week. 😉
A relaxing weekend and delicious cookies…sounds like a very good week!
I think I need a spa vacay myself. haha. Sounds like a fun trip! Glad you enjoyed your biscotti!
Clara @ iheartfood4thought
Your girls’ day sounds wonderful. I have never been to a spa. (believe it or not!)
The biscotti look great – I love the delicate tea cup in the first picture.
Is that the Wedgwood India china pattern? I’ve always loved that.
Ah, a spa visit is soooo in order.
your biscotti look wonderful…perfect w/that cup of tea!
Isn’t it fun to discover recipes that are surprisingly simple? Your biscotti look fantastic.
Awesome job!! They look great! I was surprised at how easy they were too! Like the changes!!!
Oooh, jealousy setting in here. Your weekend sounds wonderful and your biscotti? Looks fantastic!
They look delicious and your weekend sounds like so much fun!
Thanks for visiting my blog! I absolutely love the shot of the stacks of old books at the top of your blog (I’ve got a weakness for used bookstores).
I would definitely recommend trying lavender in your next batch of biscotti. As for me, I’ll follow your lead and use whole wheat pastry flour. I like the idea of something more wholesome to eat with breakfast.
Your girls weekend sounded great and your biscotti look delicious!
I’m so jealous! What a wonderful weekend. And the biscotti are lovely
Ciao ! your biscotti look very good indeed ! And I love your book choice : I’m a cooking books fanatic as well ?
A spa weekend sounds so tempting … margaritas, French toast, “very adult macaroni and cheese”, great weather, good company, and beautiful surroundings… sigh…
They look gorgeous! I love that pretty tea cup too. And, I’m so jealous of your spa weekend! Calgon, take me awayyyyy! 😉
Your biscotti are beautiful and I love the styling for your photos!
Thanks for your comment. Your biscotti look wonderful! I love palm springs, so thanks for the tip!
Your biscotti look delicious. I just love girl trips and a spa-related one sounds divine.
Love your biscotti! It look great!
What a great get-away!
Your biscotti look perfect. Love your tea cup.
Definitely every woman should go on a spa get-away trip with her girlfriends! Glad you enjoyed your weekend.
I’m so jealous… Your weekend sounds wonderful! And your biscotti look great.
Gorgeous photos…gorgeous looking biscotti, really really gorgeous! Fun post, thanks for sharing!
what beautiful biscotti!
and, yes, intelligentsia coffee is worth the trek. i live about 3 hours from chicago but make a point to stock up when i’m in the area:)