Chocolate Anise Sour Cherry Biscotti

Supplying any kind of dessert on a regular basis professionally means that you have to guard against boredom. Something that used to be a pleasure can easily become monotonous. How many people have turned their hobby into a profession and regretted it?  This was something I was really concerned about when I first began Roseberry Farm. Up until then, apart from in College doing Chef training, I had baked for the sheer joy of it and for the pleasure that came from giving desserts to people as gifts.

So I consider myself blessed to supply (The Bank Café, Creemore) a local café that encourages me to ‘switch it up’ whenever I like. What a luxury!

Today I needed to bake some Biscotti and I wanted a more unusual flavour combination. I have the most excellent book ‘The Flavour Thesaurus’ by Niki Segnit that I bought in the UK last year. It’s well worth buying if you are interested in taste combinations. I often use it as a place to start. I also go through my flavour extracts – gathered slightly obsessively from wherever I visit. My most unusual one at the moment is sweetcorn extract, kindly sent by a foodie friend from Brunei. Unsurprisingly, I haven’t quite got around to using that one yet.

 I don’t know if anyone else does this (maybe it’s just me) but I sniff the extracts, whilst eating whatever I want to add, to try and combine the smell and flavour before I put it together. I know I must look really odd doing it but it’s a method that has yet to let me down.

After sniffing and tasting and reading I decided today’s Biscotti will be Chocolate Sour Cherry Anise.  I can recommend this one just for the baking smell alone. I used a Nigella Lawson Biscotti recipe and adapted it, see in our recipe section.

To make these look spectacular, drizzle some melted chocolate over them whilst they are still warm.

 If you made mini versions of these – just make 2 smaller logs to do so- they would be great with coffee at a dinner party.

Enjoy!

Sarah Hallett

www.roseberryfarmcakes.com

Available in the market season from Creemore Farmers’ Market – see www.creemorefarmersmarket.ca

Welcome to the Creemore Farmers' Market website

We are looking forward to an exciting 2012 at the Farmers' Market!

We have a great selection of vendors, established and new, all committed to bringing you the best of our local, home grown produce all through the season.

As well as our many produce stalls, we have organic herbs and herbal teas, as well as a range of fresh baking, including savory treats, breads, desserts and fruit pies.

Come and chat a while with our local producers of pure pork, grass fed Highland beef & all natural chicken. You'll leave with some great recipes to try!

In addition we have a good number of local artisans working in jewellery, stained glass and wood as well as a range of locally produced, all natural items from cosmetics to home baked animal biscuits!

While you stroll through the market, take advantage of the local, freshly made hot food available. We have authentic Jamaican Jerk and Ukrainian foods giving off their enticing smells - they are hard to resist, just ask the neighbouring vendors!

The town of Creemore has many delights. After your visit to the market, why not stroll down Mill Street and enjoy a range of unique stores and cafes,  the art gallery or mosaic studio and of course visit our brewery for a popular tour.

We very much look forward to welcoming you at our market in 2012.

FIRST MARKET OF 2012, INDOOR AT THE STATION ON THE GREEN

APRIL 7TH from 9am-1pm