Who doesn't know what a cookie table is????

I recently had the pleasure to go to my cousin's youngest son's wedding. We had been talking about it for a few months.The planning was considered quick by today's standards......just months. A lot of our conversation centered around a tradition in our area , of having a cookie table.

Now we're not talking a cute little table with a few iced cut out cookies shaped like wedding bells . We're talking several tables that could easily put a diabetic (or non diabetic) into sugar shock and no one would be the wiser that those 100 cookies were missing. The headlines in the paper read, "Local grocers are clamoring for suppliers to get chocolate kisses, 10x sugar and eggs replenished fast!" (Okay that's a bit of an exaggeration- You get the idea)

When my nephew got married a year ago September, my sister in law went to work getting the cookie table together. Worrying that there wouldn't be enough cookies she baked like a wild woman and we all contributed many of the family favorites to the cause until there was no doubt there would be enough for all! What an amazing site it was, forget the beautiful decorations of the hall, the cookie tables were the draw! While guests enjoyed the festivities and the wonderful food, many were heading off to make sure they secured their favorite selections. Bags were supplied for the guests to take home cookies as well!

Thinking back on these occasions and knowing that it is something that I look forward to, I can't help but wonder how this awesome tradition started. However it happened, I think it is great fun and something everyone in our area looks forward to when they attend a wedding. Whenever we attend a wedding in another part of the country we appreciate their traditions but a little pang (low sugar I think) reminds us of what is missing, our chance to splurge on a major diet buster for the evening.

Well off I go to bake for this holiday season! Lots of biscotti on order......seasonal favorites like gingerbread, pumpkin and cranberry pistachio!

Pumpkin rolls and Thanksgiving

How are are you "home gamers"? Okay, I just got done watching Jim Cramer....I confess. There's a reason it's called Mad Money.....he's a wild thing! I love him regardless. One day I'll buy the right stock and actually make some money.....hehe, I'm not holding my breath!!

All this fall color and leaves have gotten me thinking about Thanksgiving and more holidays to come. I went through my mother's recipe file and came across the traditional Pumpkin Roll recipe scrolled on a piece of a small yellow legal pad. The writing has faded along with the frequency with which we enjoy homemade pumpkin roll. I always loved her recipe. (I was sure her ingredients must have been so much better than everyone else! ) Well just in time for Thanksgiving I think I'll post her recipe, maybe it will inspire me to revisit that time! Enjoy!

Mom’s Pumpkin Roll recipe

Beat 3 eggs on high speed of mixer. (5min) Gradually beat 1 Cup sugar, stir in 2/3 C. pumpkin, 1 tea lemon juice

Stir together ¾ C. flour, 1 tea. Baking powder and 2 tea. Cinnamon, 1 tea ginger, 1/2 tea nutmeg and ½ tea. Salt. Fold this into pumpkin mix.

Spread in greased 15 x 10x1. Top with 1 C. finely chopped walnuts. Bake at 375 for 15 minutes. Turn out on towel, sprinkled with powdered sugar. (Don’t totally let cool before you turn it out) Start at narrow end of towel and roll.

Totally cool roll. Fill and refrigerate.

Filling

1 C. powdered sugar two 3 oz pkgs of philly cream cheese
4 T. butter or oleo
½ tea. Vanilla

Beat smooth and spread over cake roll. Reroll with filling and refrigerate

Food (and more) for thought

Just another day in paradise! Just watched a really crazy and I might add goofy movie! It was set in Mexico so that may inspire a chipotle biscotti! We'll think about that.

So...Bill Gates is getting involved in technology to prevent hurricanes.....well I like Colbert's reply...."Don't, whatever you do let Bill Gates get involved in the weather....one thing for sure, it will freeze" Not exactly the quote, but I thought it was pretty humorous!

Now regarding the Global Climate Change.....and yes I saw this on 20/20...we should worry more about methane (yep, I mean cows) than driving a prius and then eating beef! Something to ponder I say! Well I've supplied enough food for thought for today.....more another day....

Old Hickory Craft show this Sat

The Old Hickory Craft show is this weekend. I'm not participating as a vendor, but it is really a nice show. Haven't gone for a few years so I think I should!

Got responses to my website and blog from classmates! Thanks Pati and Renee. It was great of you to take the time..we still have work to do but it is coming along.

Flavor ideas??? drop a note. I'm always interested in combinations from customers and friends. If I think it's a good idea and I try it and like it I just may send you a few! Get your thinking caps on!

Ohhh HI Ohhh

Finally some nice weather in Northeastern Ohio. Dad's dog must be crazy because I haven't had a chance to walk him in a few days and at 93 yrs old, dad only walks on really nice days. I hope at his age I am just like him. Tomorrow will be 70 degrees so it's a must.

Got responses from fellow bloggers on my site....R....I'll do my best to get those biscotti into Columbus. Glad your enjoying them. Next time, make sure you take them home to all your friends....hehe.... last time I hear you had a lot!

Got to run, thanks for all the positive response on the website...I'll keep you posted. If anyone has new flavor suggestions, pass it on and I'll give it a try!

Women's Expo

Wow, been really busy since the Women's Expo in Hermitage. Pretty closely sold out of hundreds of biscotti and was thrilled to hear more than a few times, that it was the best biscotti they ever tasted. Most people loved the fact that they aren't hard and are such a generous portion. Made new fall flavors. Julian's suggestion of apple cinnamon with a hint of cinnamon in the icing turned out really well and pumpkin with icing and walnuts.... what can I say, just darn good! Well back to the range!

Hello world!

Mary C's Biscotti has joined the blogosphere! I've taken a moment away from the kitchen and am introducing a computer into the mix. Let's hope my keyboard stays dough-free.

For more information, visit my new website! Here's a little taste of who I am and what I do:
I love that biscotti appeals to people in every walk of life and at any time of the day- whether it be with your morning coffee or an evening glass of wine. Being a biscotti lover, I searched for the perfect biscotti. If it's out there, I tried it. But I could never find what I was looking for. So I set out to create a recipe of my own. It took many a broken spatula, but I finally crafted a recipe that I loved; not too hard, but dunk-able.

I started giving samples of my homemade biscotti to friends at Ferrara's Italian Restaurant in Sharon, PA. Before long, customers were coming in and offering their own flavor suggestions. I began selling my product at Ferrara's and Mary C's was born.

Mary C's now has 12 different varieties and the list is growing. We sell biscotti by the dozen in Signature and "mini" sizes; we also create gift baskets. We have baked customized biscotti for weddings, showers, graduations, birthday parties, holidays, and other events.

I love working with flavors to design the best gifts: ones that are dunk-able .