Week 19: Cranberry Almond Biscotti

This week I chose to make cranberry almond biscotti.  I have made this recipe before, but it has been about 5 or 6 years since I made them last.  I chose this cookie for this week because the recipe calls for 1 1/2 cups of finely crushed cranberry almond cereal.  I bought a box of "Post Cranberry Almond Crunch" specifically to make this cookie, and the cereal expires soon, so my choice was easy.  I love love love biscotti.  I especially love chocolate biscotti, and if the chocolate biscotti includes almonds or pistachios I love it even better.  Despite my Italian heritage, I don't remember having homemade biscotti as a kid.  Italians use the term biscotti to refer to any type of cookie. 
We Americans, use the word biscotti to describe a dry, hard, twice-baked cookie that is usually dunked in coffee, tea, or milk.  This was illustrated to me about 7 years ago.  I went into private practice with a few close work colleagues, and we decided to have an open house for all of our family and friends.  I went to the local Italian bakery, and bought an assortment of cookies to take to the open house. While I was choosing the cookies, I told the woman that I needed some biscotti added to the box.  She looked at me like I had 3 heads and said "yah I know."  I forgot that all cookies are called biscotti  from her viewpoint.☺  Well I have to say that I actually like the biscotti I made better than the biscotti I bought from her that day.  Here is a link to the recipe that I used: http://www.feedingmyohana.com/cranberry-cereal-biscotti-recipe.html    I did have to make a substitution to the recipe. The recipe calls for dried cranberries, but I was out so I substituted dried cherries.

As I was making the cookie for this week, Victoria and Ryan were discussing the Kids Choice Awards.  They were both super excited to watch the show because they had both voted multiple times for their favorites.  They are taking the voting very seriously.  It cracks me up that they are so invested in the process and the end result.  As I write this, the kids are watching the Kids Choice Awards. Victoria keeps jumping off the couch and yelling things like "YES..OH MY GOSH... MOM I WANT TO MEET THE BLACK EYED PEAS,"  or " I want to get slimed... it looks like fun."   I do remember getting excited about such things when I was kid, but as an adult I can honestly say that I don't get THAT excited about anything anymore.  It's disappointing, but unfortunately it is true.  My kids look at celebrities and they see "stars."   I look at celebrities and I see people. I wish I could get all pumped up about a show on tv, or meeting a celebrity, but the enchantment is gone.  Don't get me wrong I am really looking forward to going to see "Breaking Dawn" in November (get ready "Team Edward"☺) but my level of excitement pales in comparison to theirs.

Me in my high school bedroom

At work I see mostly children and adolescents, so I play a lot of games in session.  One game that I usually play at the beginning of treatment is the Ungame.  It is a board game in which you move your pawn around the board and answer multiple questions.  It is an awesome game and it really helps to break the ice.  Inevitably though, my young client will pull the card that reads "if you could meet a celebrity from the past or present, who would it be and why?"  I hate that question because I can never offer an honest answer.  The honest truth is that the answer would be...no one.  I can't think of a single celebrity that I would get all excited to meet...I just don't care anymore.  It is so weird.  I mean I was the girl who had Duran Duran and The Cure plastered on every inch of available wall space in my bedroom.  I even put posters on the ceiling.  I was the girl who didn't wash her hand all day because I got to shake Bob Probert's fighting hand.  I was the girl who stood in line for hours to meet Mikhail Baryshnikov at Hudson's, when he launched his new perfume "Misha."  And, I was the girl who spent a small fortune on magazines, tee shirts, albums, concert tickets, and other collectibles just to get a small piece of my favorite band, athlete, or actor/actress. 



Dan in my high school bedroom

I used to feel like there was something wrong with me, but after some reflection this is what I have figured out.  I really do enjoy books, movies, and tv shows but they are a temporary reprieve...just entertainment.  I love love love watching movies and discussing entertainment/celebrities but it is inconsequential. I have given up the notion that if I ever did meet a celebrity again that it would somehow improve my life.  I've had enough life experience to know that they are just people. I now enjoy entertainment for entertainment's sake and that is it. 

Me meeting Mikhail Baryshnikov

The other thing I have figured out is that if I was ever given the opportunity to spend time with anyone past or present, I'd never pick a celebrity.  I'd chose to have more time with someone much more significant than a "movie star."  Instead, I'd choose to have an adult conversation with my Sito Vicky or my Grandma Ann.  I'd choose to meet my Great Grandparents that I never had the opportunity to see in real life.  I'd choose to have some extra time with my Mom.  These are the people that I could get pumped up about.  They are the people that I would jump up off the couch and yell for.  Those are the meetings that WOULD indeed change my life for the better.  I know that in reality I will never be offered this chance but I can dream right?  If I can still dream, maybe I am not that different than my children.  Maybe I am not that different than the hopeful teenage girl I once was.  Maybe...just maybe ♥




Riding tricycles with my Mom and Victoria at Blake's