Elizabeth David's "Torrone"

A favourite chocolatey party dish which I've been making for 10 years. Not torrone, but very, very yum.

Ingredients: 6 oz. each of cocoa, butter, sugar, ground almonds (freshly ground are best), and Petit Beurre biscuits, plus one whole egg and one egg yolk.

Make soft paste of cocoa and butter; stir in almonds. Melt sugar in a pan with a little water; add to cocoa. Stir in eggs and then, gently, biscuits cut into almond-sized pieces. Press into pan oiled with sweet almond oil.

Prepare one day early, refrigerate, then turn out onto plate next day to serve.

Dad's Cookies

We've been enjoying some stellar Dad's Cookies (actually made by Grandfather) over the past few months. I just made my own batch, and Mom says they actually taste like (my) Baba's! So, here's a very successful family recipe for these delicious snacks. We served them to Italian friends last weekend, and although I said they weren't "brutti ma buoni" they are actually brutti (ugly) ma buoni (good)! When Dad makes them they aren't ugly, of course, but my version certainly were!

Blend:
2 eggs
2c Becel
1/2 to 1c white sugar
1c brown sugar
2tsp vanilla

Add in (already mixed):
3c flour
3c oatmeal
2tsp baking soda
2tsp baking powder

Add:
1 1/2c coconut

1. Pre-heat oven to 325 degrees.
2. Form dough into one-inch diameter balls and place onto ungreased cookie sheet (about 12 per sheet). Flatten balls with fork dipped in sugar.
3. Bake 12 minutes and cool slightly before removing from pan.