Tasty Tuesday – Chocolate Biscotti

- Posted by to Tasty Tuesday

Chocolate Biscotti
via Comfy Belly

In honor of Fair Trade Month we’ve been on the search for fabulous recipes that honor our values and incorporate fair trade ingredients into some of our all time favorite recipes. Erica at Comfy Belly was gracious enough to allow us to share one of her favorite fair trade recipes with our Seven Hopes United readers! Her blog is great, and her recipes are amazing. If you’re looking for some delicious & unique dishes to share with your family, check out Comfy Belly!

Without further ado, here is Erica and her recipe for Chocolate Biscotti made with Fair Trade cocoa:

“Chocolate biscotti reminds me of chocolate cookies I had as a kid, like Oreos and chocolate sugar cookies. I use a good amount of fair trade cocoa in this recipe, but you can probably go with a bit less and still get delicious results. Although you don’t need to add much to these, some nuts or chocolate chips make a great compliment to the crunchy, chocolaty goodness. Dunking in a cup of tea or coffee works too!”

Ingredients

  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 cup of honey (or other sweetener)
  • 8 tablespoons of butter, softened (1/2 cup)
  • 1 teaspoon of vanilla
  • 3 1/2 cups of almond flour
  • 1 cup of fair trade cocoa
  • 1 teaspoon of baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon of sea salt
  • 2 teaspoons of cinnamon
  • chocolate or white chocolate chips (and/or nuts) are optional
  • 1 teaspoon of an unrefined sugar, such as muscovado (optional)
  • 1/2 teaspoon of almond extract (optional)

    • Preparation

    1. Preheat an oven to 325 degrees F.
    2. In a bowl, add the butter, honey, eggs, and vanilla, and beat until well blended.
    3. In a separate bowl, add all the dry ingredients and mix until well blended.
    4. Add the dry mixture to the wet mixture and mix again until well blended.
    5. Mold the mixture into two balls of dough. Place each ball of dough on oiled, buttered, or stick-free cookie sheet. Shape each ball of dough into a low, flat log. It will expand and rise somewhat, so account for a small amount of growth. Pack down the dough to remove air pockets. Alternatively, you can pack the dough in a tart pan with the dimensions you want your biscotti to have when finished.
    6. Bake the logs for about 20 minutes, or until lightly browned and cake-like. Take the logs out of the oven and reduce the temperature to 275 degrees F.
    7. Cool the logs for about 10 minutes and then slice each log into thin strips about 1/2 inch in thickness. Place the slices on their side on the cookie sheet, and then bake for about 15 minutes, or until they are fully crisped.
    8. Enjoy!

    Tasty Tuesday – Pumpkin Spice Coffee Bread

    - Posted by to Tasty Tuesday

    In honor of Fair Trade Month we thought we would try a new recipe that incorporates Fair Trade ingredients. It’s officially fall, and we are starting to see holiday inspired recipes everywhere, so here’s one that’s easy, delicious, and perfect for a fall treat!

    It makes two loaves, one for you and one for a friend – a great way to share the story of Fair Trade! This is definitely one we will be making again. We hope this inspires you to try something new & Fair Trade.

    Pumpkin Spice Coffee Bread

    • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
    • 2 cups whole wheat flour
    • 2 teaspoons baking soda
    • 1 teaspoon baking powder
    • 4 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 1 cup white sugar
    • 1 cup brown sugar
    • 1 cup applesauce
    • 2 eggs
    • 1/3 cup oil
    • 1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree
    • 1/2 cup Fair Trade Coffee, brewed strong

    Directions

    1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease two 9×5 inch loaf pans. Sift together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and pumpkin pie spice. Set aside.
    2. In a large bowl, beat together sugar, oil, eggs, applesauce, and pumpkin. Stir in flour mixture alternately with coffee. Divide batter evenly between the prepared pans.
    3. Bake in the preheated oven for 60 to 70 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

    If you have a recipe you’d like to share for “Tasty Tuesday” shoot me an email at info@sevenhopesunited.com

    -Ashley

    Fair Trade Month: Every Purchase Matters

    - Posted by to General

    October is Fair Trade Month!

    Together, we can make a difference in the lives of small producers, artisans and farmers around the world. Fair Trade with thousands of supporters aims to do just that. It is a concrete and efficient way to participate in the construction of a better world for several million small producers in Africa, Asia and Latin America. This is why Fair Trade Month has extraordinary support from people like you, and is being celebrated through hundreds of events in more than 70 countries around the world this very moment. And today is only the beginning…

    “Be the change you wish to see in the world,” Gandhi said. Contribute to fight climate change, transform the status of women, and empower disadvantaged producers by giving them a voice and supporting Fair Trade. Fair Trade ensures that small producers get a fair deal, with good working conditions and fair prices under safe conditions, and allows for sustainable development and a promising future for millions of farmer and artisan communities around the world.

    Fair Trade Month 2010 is about Fair Trade, about people, organizations, producers, consumers, supporters and all those who share its goals. But more importantly, it is about you. It is your time to draw attention to your power to change your community and your world for the better through Fair Trade. With Fair Trade, every purchase matters. Together, we can improve the lives of small producers, farmers and artisans, around the world.

    Fair Trade Month is your month. Join millions of people celebrating and become the change you seek by voicing your support for Fair Trade. Help to spread the message around the world, change your consumption patterns, and attend a Fair Trade Month Event. Join us in providing a pathway out of poverty. Join us in celebrating Fair Trade Month!

    By taking the time to share the story of Fair Trade with friends and family, you are making a difference! Join us on Facebook and Twitter to catch our Fair Trade Month events, stories, giveaways, and most importantly, to help us spread the story of hope for thousands of artisans around the world.

    Tasty Tuesday – Delicious Dessert

    - Posted by to Tasty Tuesday

    Here it is…just as I promised! Another family favorite; I think I’m sensing a common theme here – “delicious” desserts! haha What can I say, we like our sweets.

    “I’ve been told that this recipe became popular back in the 1970′s here in the Midwest. I was introduced to it when my husband and I were married in 1991, as this is his favorite dessert. His mom has always made it for each of the family gatherings and now she doesn’t do as much of the baking and it has come to me to keep that tradition going. And I love it!” – Deanna

    Delicious Dessert
    (pictured here with my Mom’s new Lucy Apron – Happy Birthday Mom!)

    • 1/2 cup butter
    • 1 8oz pkg cream cheese
    • 1 8oz container of cool whip
    • 2 small pkg instant pudding
    • 1 cup flour
    • 3/4 cup powdered sugar
    • 2 1/2 cups milk

    Crust:
    1 cup flour and 1/2 cup butter, cream butter, add flour, mix well and press into greased 9×13 pan. Bake for 12 minutes at 325 degrees. Remove from oven and let cool. (You may also add 1/2 cup of finely chopped walnuts to this crust if you would like)

    Cream: 1 8oz package cream cheese and 3/4 cup powder sugar, fold in 1 cup of cool whip. Spread on cooled crust.

    Top with your favorite prepared instant pudding, I have used french vanilla here, but I’ve also made this with, chocolate, and pistachio. Use your imagination – I topped this one with some cherries & it turned out great. Spread the balance of the cool whip over top the pudding mixture. Store in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

    *If you’d like to make this recipe a little lighter, it’s also yummy with sugar free pudding & light cool whip. I hope you enjoy another one of our family favorites – I’d love to try some of yours! Shoot me an email at info@sevenhopesunited.com if you have a recipe to share :)

    -Ashley

    Wedding Wednesday – Newlywed Entertaining

    - Posted by to General

    26 percent of marriage proposals happen between November and December, according to the Fairchild Bridal Group. Just think, this time next year, you may be hosting your very own holiday festivities as a newlywed. With that in mind, think about what you might need to register for to suit your entertaining needs.

    A festive addition to our Home Dining Wares are our Eva dishes – each dish is hand painted by crafts people in Kashmir, providing employment for artisans in their own homes. The vibrant colors and delicate birds make these a beautiful accessory and gift.