You know what’s weird? Each day I write a morning message to the students. I start off with a greeting and make a conscious effort to say “girls and boys” with the same frequency that I say “boys and girls.” I guess it’s my women’s studies classes shining through. 

Anyway, I am still in love with the excitement surrounding the Hangry Pants food drive. It’s put such a holiday pep in my step! Thank you to any blogger who linked to the post. If you have a blog and are willing, please feel free to link to the post as well. Each new commenter means another $.05 for the food drive, so I want to get as many new people to comment as possible. Also, a couple people mentioned they might hold a similar drive on their blogs. If you do, let me know and I will definitely link to your fundraiser inititavie.  

Also, I’ve started a new running challenge. It’s hosted by Melissa at Fitness NYC, so if you’re interested, head on over here. I like this challenge because anyone can participate. The general goal is to run a marathon (26.2 miles) or super marathon (52.4) or more between 12/1 and 1/1! 

Currently, I am avoiding writing a paper for my Student Teaching Exit Portfolio, so I’ve decided to share some tea and lotion.  The tea is Yogi Tea  Woman’s Dong Quai Tonic. I like it at night, but recently made it for my sister and she was v. insulted. Even asked if it was a joke. Obviosuly, not for everyone. 

The lotion is carrot cake hand lotion and I love it in the winter. My hands are always dry, so I use lots and it makes my hands smell like cinnamon and carrots. It’s good. 

Cookie of the Day: Biscotti 

I love biscotti! Last time I made biscotti, I tried a Cooking Light recipe for Chai Spice Biscotti and explained how I love them because they are really easy to make, yet always impress people. Those were really good, and I recommend playing with that recipe to come up with a healthy holiday biscotti. 

For the Christmas season, I like to make Giada’s Holiday Biscotti, which you can find here. The addition of cranberries, white chocolate chips and psittacosis to get the red and green colors in there. These are great to give as a food present because they get better with age, so you don’t have to worry they will be stale by the time the recipient gets to enjoy them.

I had an awesome 6.7 mile run while watching Say Yes to the Dress and Olympic Water Polo. For me the first 3 miles of a run are always the toughest, but today I remembered Caitlin’s morning post and pushed on! Always feels great at the end.  

I also made Chai Spice Biscotti from this recipe at Cooking Light. Biscotti are great because they are super easy to make. Biscotti is made by forming the dough into a small loaf, baking the loaf, then cutting the loaf and baking the biscotti pieces again (twice baked, get it?).  Biscotti is also great to give to people because they’re cut on an angle and look fancy, so people assume they’re difficult to make. Put ‘em in a jar, tie a ribbon around it and there you have it. Homemade sweetness. 

Here are my changes to the recipe:

• Whole wheat flour
• Pumpkin spice instead of all spice
• Two egg whites and one egg
• 2+ T of applesauce instead of oil
• Reduced sugar to 1/2 cup

During the half time of biscotti baking, I tasted one to make sure they were not toxic and decided they were slightly dry and could use a frosting or glaze.  I immediately thought of that white hard glaze that is often found on oatmeal cookies.  I didn’t have any confectioner’s sugar and couldn’t think of anything else white to use, so I melted chocolate chips and added skim milk and cinnamon for some kick. Pretty good, like a more subtle ginger snap dipped in chocolate.  

See the Spices from the Chai Tea?

Time to hydrate, refuel and run some errands. 

I know something you don’t know… Mark ate at one of my favorite restaurants in N.J.  I hope he posts some pictures!