A Little of This, A Little of That… Lately
Hello, friends!
Lately, life has been a little bit of thrifting, a little time in the kitchen, lots of organizing around the house, and plenty of behind-the-scenes work here at Flavia Soaps & More. With the crisp fall weather settling in, I’ve been feeling that familiar urge to nest, cook, decorate, and get things ready for the season ahead.
A few thrifted treasures
I’ve found some lovely things lately! Beautiful mirror frames that I absolutely adore (I replaced the prints inside with something that better suits our home and, a gorgeous white tureen in mint condition that I can already picture on our holiday table, and a pair of candle holders that will work beautifully for fall and really all year long. You know how much I love finding something special and giving it a place in our home. Not one but a Pair of Pheasants, beautifully crafted and great quality.
A little more cozy at home
The cooler weather has also inspired me to clean, organize, and slowly decorate for the season. There’s something about fall that makes me want to freshen up every corner of the house and make everything feel a little warmer and cozier.
I’ve also been cooking lots of healthy meals and doing more meal planning. We’ve been trying to eat out less because, honestly, we usually end up wishing we had stayed home! Having meals ready for the week makes such a difference, especially as my days get busier with orders and holiday preparations.
And lately, I’ve been enjoying baking more. I’m keeping things simple, but having a batch of homemade biscotti ready for my afternoon coffee is one of those little pleasures I look forward to. my family love them, too, making them the perfect snack to take along to work and school.
SIMPLE BISCOTTI
INGREDIENTS
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup 1 stick unsalted butter, room temperature
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
INSTRUCTIONS
Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Prepare the dough. Line a large, heavy baking sheet with parchment paper. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour and baking powder. In a separate large bowl, use an electric mixer to cream the sugar, butter, lemon zest, and salt until well combined. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing after each addition. Gradually add the flour mixture and beat until just incorporated. Gently fold in the pistachios and cranberries.
Shape and bake. Transfer the dough to the prepared baking sheet and shape it into a log approximately 13 inches long and 3 inches wide. Bake for about 40 minutes, or until lightly golden. Remove from the oven and allow the log to cool for 30 minutes.
Slice the biscotti. Place the cooled log on a cutting board. Using a sharp serrated knife, cut it diagonally into slices about ½ to ¾ inch thick. Arrange the slices cut-side down on the baking sheet.
Bake again. Return the biscotti to the oven and bake for approximately 15 minutes, until lightly golden. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool completely before serving or storing.
And here at Flavia Soaps & More…
Holiday production and planning are officially underway! I’m busy making, preparing, and dreaming up the products and gift sets I’ll be sharing with you very soon. There’s so much happening behind the scenes, and I can’t wait to show you what’s coming.
As many of you already know, our holiday collections are made in small batches, and once something sells out, it may not return. So, if you see something you love when the new collections arrive, don’t wait too long! The closer we get to Christmas, the quicker some of our favorites tend to disappear.
