My wife made a batch of rolled sugar cookies last week, cut into traditional Christmas shapes like bells, wreaths, and stockings. It’s the first time in a long time for these cookies, inspired by the assistance of our young and attentive granddaughters. Though the cookies never donned their frosted/decorated costumes, they sure tasted great all by themselves. Kind of like the biscotti I’m giving up in 2026.
Are you a fan of biscotti? They’re the small, oblong cookies that resemble tiny slices of sourdough bread. They’re hard and dry, with just a smattering of almonds or almond extract for extra flavor. Biscotti are meant to accompany a drink, just as two of them do every morning with my coffee. Biscotti ward off the nausea I feel when I down my vitamins on nothing but a cup of joe. Nice excuse for daily cookies, eh?
When the calculator (which doesn’t lie) reveals you ate over seven hundred biscotti over the course of 2025, you quickly come to your senses and declare a resolution for the coming New Year: Shift biscotti from “habit” to “occasional treat”. Yep, it’s time to cut down on carbs.
Before we seal the lid on the cookie jar however, biscotti deserve a little more attention to set the record straight. First and foremost, the pint-sized pastries I consume with my morning caffè are not technically biscotti; they’re cantucci. Cantucci contain ingredients like milk, butter, and flavorings, none of which are found in an authentic Italian recipe for biscotti.
Here’s another distinction. Biscotti were never meant to be partnered with coffee. They were (and still are) served alongside a glass of sweet wine as a light Italian dessert. Americans pair cantucci with cappuccino at upper-crust hotels and coffeehouses. You’re supposed to dunk to make them softer (and take the edge off the coffee) but I prefer to eat them just the way they are.
Biscotti translates to… not “biscuits”, but “twice-baked”, which is exactly how they’re made. First baked as a full loaf; then baked again as individual cookies. Now then, another Italian translation for you: Nonni means “grandmother”. Nonni’s also means a brand of biscotti (whoops, make that cantucci) you’ll find in your grocery store… and in my pantry. The Nonni’s version is an unashamed dessert cookie, with a layer of chocolate, caramel, or lemon frosting to add to the appeal. My advice: Nonni’s need to be put on a hard-to-reach shelf else they’ll become a habit just like the ones with my morning coffee.
In some Western European cultures biscotti are thrown into savory dishes, which I’m not going to get into because I find the idea unappealing. Biscotti are classy little sweet treats in my book – one of the two items in my “grown-up milk and cookies”. Alas, in 2026 it’ll just be “grown-up milk” for me… that is, as long as I stay away from my wife’s sugar cookies.
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LEGO Trevi Fountain – Update #7
(Read about the start of this build in Brick Wall Waterfall)
Today we took a mini road trip, as I chose to build the fountain’s Bags 12 and 13 – of 15 bags of pieces – on the kitchen counter (instead of upstairs in the home office). Kind of fitting considering the counter is topped with white marble. Kind of annoying considering the laundry machine and dishwasher were running nearby the whole time, interrupting Arcangelo Corelli’s moving “Christmas Concerto” in G Minor.
Maybe it was the change of venue but some strange stuff happened today. To begin with, I couldn’t find the very first piece in the build at all, until I looked closer at the instruction manual drawing and realized I was after a tiny statue. Once I found him I was off and running, though I found it sad that one of his companion statues ended up being a leftover piece.
Now for the strange stuff. I assembled a flat L-shaped piece on top of another flat L-shaped piece, only to discover they weren’t supposed to go together that way. No amount of fingernail dexterity could pry those two apart. Fortunately I found myself in the kitchen. Sharp knives everywhere! It took a careful pry without cutting myself but I finally got those two unmarried. Never let it be said building LEGO models isn’t a dangerous sport.
More strange stuff. LEGO left a piece out of Bag 13. Okay, technically they left it out. “Technically” because in my growing pile of leftover pieces I found its twin. But considering LEGO never leaves out pieces, I had to wonder: Did the little guy just wander over to my leftover pile when I wasn’t looking? Or is he somewhere in the trash right now, along with the cellophane bag of Bag 13? Maybe he’s resting quietly on the kitchen floor just waiting to stub my toe? Who knows. I’m just thankful I had a “replacement” from my leftovers. And I don’t think I’ll be building LEGO models in the kitchen anymore.
Next week: The Trevi is completed!
Running build time: 6 hrs. 52 min.
Total leftover pieces: 35 (including a lonely little statue)
Some content sourced from Wikipedia, “the free encyclopedia”.
Life In A Word 
I never liked biscotti, but maybe I just haven’t found the right type…..it seems so dry and hard that I worry about breaking a tooth. I did get an early Christmas gift yesterday – chocolate lined Artisan rolled wafers by the brand name of Pirouline which are pictured beside a cup of frothy Italian coffee, so I might have better luck with that….they look light and airy and are only 60 calories for two. Will you and your granddaughters be leaving milk and biscotti out for Santa?
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PS. That statue looks very tiny….
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He’s less than 1″ tall. On the (massive) real Trevi he’d be easy to see, high up on either side of the back wall. On the LEGO model he’s so small I didn’t even realize he was a statue when I picked up the piece. They should include a magnifying glass in the box.
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It’s a good point about biscotti and teeth. They’re as hard as crusty sourdough bread. Your rolled wafers are a better, gentler choice!
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When I try them I’ll let you know whether they are “dentist approved” They might be just as crunchy!
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I always liked biscotti, but haven’t had them in years, probably since I got a crown, even though the dentist said “eat what you want, the crown can take it!” But, biscotti, whether dunked, or not dunked, still seems like it could take out a crown! I bought a small package of Pepperidge Farm Gingermen for Christmas Eve and Christmas and they’ll get dunked in coffee. My grocery store was out of eggnog this year, both times when I went shopping. They had oat milk eggnog only – maybe it’s good, but for this once-a-year indulgence I wanted the thick and creamy version. Great that you’ll finish up the Trevi for Christmas!
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Joni makes the same point above about the threat to dental work. Just another good reason to give up my biscotti habit in 2026. We also go for egg nog this time of year but we prefer the “light” version (to each their own!) Oat milk egg nog is a crime on the seasonal favorite and should be banned from grocery store shelves.
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Biscotti might be lethal to our older choppers and yes, real egg nog is a must if you’re going to indulge in this once-a-year treat, nothing but the real deal.
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I prefer scones over biscotti. Twice baked makes sense with how hard they are! I always like making sugar cookies for the holidays, but I cheat and use the Duncan Hines bag and frosting. I always get compliment though!
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It’s only recently we’ve had the taste of really good scones so I have a newfound appreciation for them (and they’re gentler on teeth!) Sugar cookies – rolled, cut, and frosted – amount to a lot of work; hence when our granddaughters were done even before the frosting step, so were we 🙂
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My wife is English and a treat from there we like with tea or coffee is a cookie called a “Digestive”. They are dunkers and are easy to digest (not the most original name). I personally like the dark chocolate coated ones, but sadly they’ve been moved to a treat we only buy a couple of times a year. Carbs have a lot to answer for and alas, I can’t eat as many. sigh …
and I’d eat more Biscotti but I only have a latte once a week (on my way home from church) and most times the chocolate croissants call my name and I end up with one of those instead. Sorry Nonni …
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I’ve also thought “digestives” was a curious name for a food. It sounds more like a pill you take after a rough meal. Then again, your wife says “biscuit” instead of “cookie”, correct? I can’t help but think “dog” there but now that I’m in the South I need to think “food” like her (as in “biscuits and gravy”). I also relate to the coffee-after-church thing. What used to be the boring stuff from a large pot at social hour is now the much better option at a drive-thru. And there are too many other temptations in the bakery case besides mere biscotti.
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Biscotti is another thing I have never eaten – and with my dental work it sounds like I should not try them now!
Looking forward to the completed LEGO masterpiece! Just in time for Christmas, yes?
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I could’ve pushed it and finished the fountain this week but it seemed fitting to wrap it up on Christmas week. Would you believe I found that little lost piece after all? I came across it a day later, just sitting on my kitchen floor (called it). Just when I thought LEGO was human after all!
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Good thing you didn’t step on it in stocking feet! You are right about not transporting pieces from one room to another to work on it. I think a few pieces just want to escape and that gives them a perfect opportunity!
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Definitely surprised that the name means twice-baked, since “biscuit” seems the obvious choice. BUT, I’m also not surprised they’re twice baked because of how hard they are. Not supposed to dip in coffee? Phooey! Yes to making them softer that way. So, my question is: do the authentic types dip it in their sweet dessert wine to soften it? Somehow, crumbs in wine sounds far less acceptable than crumbs in coffee–being able to see them floating around in there would be a turn-off, for one thing.
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My guess is the Italian’s don’t dip. They’re used to crunchy baked goods. Just ask for a roll with your cappuccino in an Italian bar sometime and you’ll see (er, taste) what I mean.
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Good to know! I would hate to be an uncouth American dipping biscotti in my wine! They’d probably kick me out.
Also, my book officially goes on sale Tuesday!
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Tomorrow should be declared “Ilsa Rey Day”!
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I appreciate how it rhymes!
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I suddenly need another break to search for caffe and companions!
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Hi Dave,
I do enjoy a good biscotti with coffee 🙂
The project is coming along beautifully.
Wishing you and your family a joyful and blessed holiday season!
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Ah, thanks for weighing in on this one, Ana. Merry Christmas to you and yours!
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Biscotti… i was just thinking yesterday, I should make a home made batch. I like the anise flavor. Trevi is looking fabulous. That statue is ADORABLE, so tiny! Buon Natale! 🎄
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Yes to the anise or the almond flavoring. Either one works in my book. Buon Natale anche a te! (had to look that one up 🙂 )
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GREAT Italian! LOL, even if you did have some help. You’re doing the Trevi fountain, we are in the Italian mood.
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I have only occasionally tried biscotti, as my tastes run more to soft baked goods. And biscotti leaves so many crumbs! But even after I have had my morning’s 2 cups of coffee, I am now feeling the urge for another, along with some baked treat to go with it. Hmmm, there is still some leftover fruitcake.
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Good point about biscotti crumbs – I won’t miss them. It always bothers me how the bottom inch or so of the container is nothing but crumbs, just like a bag of tortilla chips. Biscotti that broke down in transit – not what I paid good money for!
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