Dave’s Made in Scotland Biscotti

1 cup granulated sugar
3 eggs1/4 cup butter, melted
1 teaspoon aniseed, lightly crushed (I keep forgetting to buy this)
1 teaspoon orange or almond extract (both works well too)
2 cups all-purpose flour, sifted2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 cup whole unblanched almonds

Preheat oven to 350F or 175C.

Beat sugar and eggs together until creamy. Beat in melted butter, aniseed, and orange extract. Mix together flour and baking powder. Add to the batter and beat until well blended. Stir in the nuts. Place the dough in the refrigerator and chill for at least 1 hour. (The chilled dough can be kept refrigerated for up to 3 days.)

Shape the dough into a 9 x 6-inch oval 1 1/2 inches thick and place on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until firm and lightly browned. Remove the pan from the oven and cool slightly.

Transfer the dough to a cutting board and slice diagonally into 1/2-inch thick pieces. Arrange, cut side down, on the baking sheet and return to the oven. Bake an additional 15 minutes. Transfer the baked the biscotti to wire racks to cool.
Makes enough to last about 2 weeks.

Nothing much about this recipe is Scottish apart from the fact that I made them in Edinburgh.

If you like biscotti try this, if you don't oh well. If you don't know what biscotti is then expand your knowledge of cookie-like foods and make some!

Adios Amigos,

Scottish Pastry Chef, Dave Sopko

Me make biscotti! Me have Timmy's coffee!

Hey there, enjoying that extra hour are we?

Maybe you'll aren't yet, after all it is 7:30 am there right now and it is the Sunday after Halloween Saturday. Meh, either way, enjoy that extra hour in your own great way. ;)

So I made my second batch of biscotti, it turned out a little better then the first. I wonder if Lauren'd like this recipe for her cookbook in progress. I call it Scottish biscotti. Here's a look:


Look yummy don't they? I couldn't resist.

So how'd everybody's Halloween night go? Did you all go out last night or did you hang in and watch scary movies? I stayed in.

I'm heading out on Wednesday night, going to the Standing Order with some of the master's students. I figure I'll go out on Tuesday and pick up some lame costume before I go out. Oooo, any costume ideas?

Hey, guess what, I have something here that right now seems more valueable than gold. If the title of this post didn't give it away then I will now. I have four tins of Tim Horton's coffee! I know it doesn't taste exactly the same as the stuff at the store but it's even just sweet seeing in on the kitchen counter. Look:


Yes, I know, I'm a loser for taking pictures of biscotti and a tin of Canadian coffee but whatever, I was excited, I had fun :P

Well, I'm going to finish my cup of coffee, possibly read a little bit of news and then head to the gym. Beautiful day out here, 7C warmer than TO, at least according to my Google homepage. Hooray for the Gulf Stream!

Ok, have a great day everybody! Later.

Dave

Hello... DST tonight!

Hey there y'all,

DST tonight, enjoy that extra hour of zzzzzzz we'll all be getting. ;)

I was looking at my pics and thought this one was neat. It's the night sky from our bathroom window. You can see Arthur's Seat between the buildings (right below the moon).


Hey, Dwayne, is that place with the grass roof supposed to be in Inverness? That's what I figured the article said. I never saw it there but I did see the building on TV here once.

Anyways, I'm gonna go sleep.

Nite people,

Dave

Can you feel it???

Heya, welcome to my alternate reality.

Anyways, I was at a conference today for the ICBD, the International Centre for Brewing and Distilling.

The fella running the show was a guy who'd run Heineken's R&D dept. He said they once proposed putting Heineken pipelines into ppls houses. How cool'd that have been; hot, cold and Heineken!

Cool day, but tonight is one of those "my brain feels like it's gonna explode and I can't explain why" nights. Probly just cuz I didn't run today. Blarg.

Sup Diana. Thanks for the comment on my last post. ;) I encourage more posting, it makes me feel loved.

Anyways, back to trying to assume my way into designing a "feasible" brewhouse.

Nite, or good evening for the TO folks.

D&V{

Grrrrrrr..... I'm M-A-D!!!!!

Look at me, grrrrrrrrr, I'm angry!!!! Ha ha ha ha ha ha, I think I'm gonna pee...

















Why do I look pissed off??? I was enjoying myself up in the hills today.

Oh well, another one of life's little, or maybe big, mysteries.

Later, grrrrr.....

Dave

Another blog. Gotta relieve my blog-stipation.

Hey there, I realize I blog in bursts, kinda like a brief diarrhoea between bouts of constipation. Not that I'd know what that's like. :)

So I have more pics and stories to share and since it's Saturday morning I feel I have the time to write 'em all down (metaphorically, as I can't write on a web page, I type) here on my blog.

So, Piccie #1,

This is me, at Loch Ness. If you look at my feet closely you notice something. I find it interesting. I've achieved the arcane art of levitation! Dave Blaine, you can learn a thing or two from me, trust me.

Ok, enough bs, I was running along the lake, just came down a hill, probabaly around miles 8-9. It was raining; I was pissed that it was raining, and well it was generally just miserable at that point. Ah, another thing, March 18th, Rome. If you call yourself a friend then you'll be there.

Ok, I'll forgive you if you don't just fly to Rome for a day to probably miss me as I run by you trapped in a stampeding herd of Italians but, hey, it'd be nice.

Ok, piccie #2,

This was Wednesday night. Sorry the pic is crap but that happens. These six guys here are first year BSc brewing students, they all happen to be in dresses, some with added puke at this point, and they all happen to be joined at the wrist by zip-ties. Looks like a good time doesn't it?

It was a brewer's night out Weds and well nobody, mostly nobody, knew this was going to happen. We started off in some super-cheap pub called the Standing Order, like 1.50 for a pint. Pretty cheap. Anyways, we got the hell out of there, they don't play music and we apparently needed a place that wouldn't kick us out.

We left Standing Order and hit up this little place called the Rose St. Brewery. We were basically the whole bar while we were there. The littlest guy of the chain gang projectile vomited across the pub, a couple pint glasses smashed and it was a good time.

So, the third place, The Guildford Arms was actually puke free! Tried a couple new cask ales there, but other wise not much to report on.

Ok, well the last pub of the night was some place, don't remember what it was called. Anyways, that doesn't matter, all that matters is that this is where most of the first year guys ended their night. One guy, looking plenty green, was trying to find his hat and bobbing (that "I gotta puke" kind of bobbing) in his seat at the back of the bar. Well, we got him up and started heading for the door. We didn't move quick enough. He chucked right onto my hand and directly into my pint. Yummy, it was a pretty sickly bullseye.

Anyways, the rest of the night ended up being a tour of most of Edinburgh, all in search of food. Not too interesting. I saw people smashing rubbish bins, not that that's unusual.

Ok, I will actually shower now, I want to smell nice for the good people at ASDA.

Enjoy the day, hope it doesn't piss rain at home.

Dave

Look at this pic I found on my phone!

Andrew, my little brother, not Ball or Morgan or any other Andrew who might be reading this blog, remember this?

This was at that Timmy's on our adventure to get Mom a printer. Remember? I do.

Well Mom's been to Edinburgh and she's gone home already too. It was really nice to have some family here; being away from them made me realize how important they are.

Stu, I'm really looking forward to Hogmanay in Edinburgh. Gonna be a great time. X-mas in WPB is gonna be fun too, we gotta do some fireworks to piss off the cops and neighbours for old times sake.

Hmmm... I've never put pics of my flat on here, one sec, gonna go and upload one for all to see.

Here it is, it's pretty homey. I like falling asleep to the constant rumble of the buses and the acid smoke of the cars.

I really like it here. I'm looking forward to having people come visit, there's plenty of room as you can tell. :)

Ball and Dave, one of you might have to sleep outside when you visit. I hope you don't mind stray cats.

Ummm, I should head out. I need stuff, important things, like food.

You all have a good day. I'll post again.

DAVE

Drunk, drunk, drunk, ha ha ha....

Hey, fuckers...

Was brewing, got drunk, ha ha... went to a brewery across the street... got drunk...

Went to a bar, got more drunk... ha... ha... uh.... ha...

Came home... now I want to eat...

Not going to though, my milk's gone sour... :(

Ugh... so many... ...'s

Poo.

Nite

Dave

Londres

Hey y'all. I dunno who still reads this, maybe I'm just writing to myself now. Hmmm...

Oh well, I can practice my English here either way.

So I went to London this past Friday and got back to Edinburgh early this morning. I visited a friend of mine there, her name is Sharon, and the two of us had a great time. We went to the Natural History Museum and saw all kinds of dead and stuffed critters along with lots of rocks and a 1335 year old tree.

Camden town and Camden Lock are/is an amazing place to wander through and people watch. I have to say this place was more like Queen St. in TO but it goes on forever and well, it's just way cooler. If you get to London definately check this place out; best on a weekend.

Covent Garden was great, plenty of live performers there including a the singing handy man with his bubble making truck. Check the pic.

Now, being back in Edinburgh I went to my afternoon classes. I knew that tomorrow I'll be in the brewery until 5pm; but during my second class we learned that there'll be a tour and a buffet dinner (with free beer) across the street from my flat at the Caledonian Brewery tomorrow too. Sweet...

Take care people.

Bon soir,

Dave

OH, FUDGE, HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!! And too bad the Leafs lost... Damn those Habs.

My next conquest will be... London

Hey there,

I'm off to see the capital of this funny hodge-podge country of countries called the United Kingdom this weekend. I have no flight and no train tickets booked yet but with any luck I'll have'em all tomorrow night.

I figure I'll go sooner than later cuz as soon as classes pick up, aka next week, I'll be pretty focussed here in Edinburgh.

Also, I'm thinking I'll be in the Maratona della citta di Roma next March the 18th. Just a heads up for anybody looking to run it with me. Come on, it'd be the run of a lifetime!

Their website says last year (2005) more than 10,000 people registered and 8,156 crossed the finish. I want to be one of those 8,156, specifically WELL before #8,156.

Oooo, it's nice out again, gonna go to the gym.

Later,

Dave

My First Day in Beer School :)

Hey,

So I didn't just go to sleep like I thought I would. I remembered that today I went to class for the first time.

Well, its an interesting bunch here in the MSc Brewing and Distilling program.

We have two Thais, one Japanese guy, three guys from India, a Korean dude, a Chinese guy, a Greek fellow, a Spanish girl, a Canadian guy and girl (from Whistler and Newfoundland respectively) an American guy from Utah, one guy from Ireland and another guy from England. No Scots... bizarre!

We get to "sample" our beer and whisky and there are going to be plenty of field trips. The profs are pretty cool too, the head of the school used to work for Labatt's.

Aight, night.

Dave

Inverness is Pretty...

Hey, here are my favourite pics I took in Inverness. Their photogenicness was of course decided upon by me. :)

Pic 1: One of the two big church spires from across the River Ness. I was standing on one of three steel suspension bridges across the river.




















Pic 2: Fly fishermen (on the right) in the River Ness. I took the pic from one of the suspension bridges across the river.
















Pic 3: I think this might have been their old city hall... I forgot what the sign on it said but none the less it is a snazzy looking bit of architecture. :)




















One more...

Pic 4: A look across the River Ness. Lots of trees here...

















Alrighty, one more pic because I like this one lots.

Pic 5: Another look across the River Ness, this time with my shadow as proof I was there.





















Alright, enough dorkiness for now. I should sleep.

Nite,

Dave

3:33h and no Monster Sightings

Hey there, I'm back by popular demand!!!

Nah, just kidding, I just remembered my login again so now I can post again. :)

Well, as some of you know I ran the Loch Ness Marathon yesterday. I have to say, if you get to Scotland, go see Inverness and Loch Ness, they are amazing places. As for the run, it was 12oC, it rained hard for all except the first 5 of 26 miles and it was damn fun!

Ok, so what is the first thing you want to have when you are going to run a marathon? Shoes of course... Well guess what? Yours truly left his shoes in Edinburgh while he was going to run a marathon 260km away in Inverness. Yeah, so needless to say I had to buy a new pair (I needed to do this soon anyways) of runners on Saturday to avoid running barefoot.

I hope to have a picture of me during the race soon, I know they took at least one, I heard the camera go click-click-click.

The route was pretty hilly, the course started in the village of Whitebridge and decended (with one big hill inbetween) to a single lane road on the east side of Loch Ness. The route was a little up and down until mile 16 where the road rose again until mile 20. From mile 20 to Queen's Park in Inverness was a slow descent. The course profile I recorded looks like this:

I'm gonna end this post here. I'll put up a pic or two from Inverness next.

Over and out,

Dave