Friday, October 10, 2008

Venetian biscuits

Venetian biscuits

I sometimes have the impression that people tend to complicate simple things until they ruin it.
Take the movie I saw last night, for instance (I’m still trying to understand all the fuss and Oscar nominations). A very interesting story – I’ve heard so much about the book I want to read it – was reduced to a sort of fashion editorial. Not to mention the awful choice for a leading lady: a girl who can’t act to save her life, pouts all the time and that probably last ate in 1995.

I wouldn’t do the same to these simple, light and beautiful cookies – it’s a recipe by Ursula Ferrigno that I got on Valentina’s blog. My only change was to add orange zest to the dough. What a wonderful smell that brought to the cookies.

Venetian biscuits

Venetian biscuits

225g (8oz) all purpose flour
225g (8oz) sugar
finely grated zest of 1 large orange
4 egg yolks
1 egg
½ tablespoon unsalted butter, room temperature
pinch of salt

Preheat the oven to 180ºC/350ºF. Line two large baking sheets with nonstick baking paper (or lightly buttered baking paper).

In a medium bowl, beat all the ingredients together to form a dough – start using a wooden spoon then finish mixing by hand.

Working on a lightly floured surface, grab small portions of dough – I used ½ tablespoons per cookie – and roll out the dough into strips or “sausages”; form them into “S” shapes and place on the prepared pans.

Bake for 15 minutes or until golden. Slide the paper to a wire rack and set aside to cool; peel the cookies carefully from the paper.

Makes about 35

32 comments:

  1. I couldn't agree more about the movie and actress (and don't waste your time with the book, seriously). And mucking things up by overly complicating them, what's that about. The cookies look just wonderful!

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  2. simple things are the best things.
    those look good :)

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  3. these look crispy and delicious - we have enough complications in life - so i appreciate these simple cookies ;-)

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  4. haven't seen the movie yet.

    the cookies look good and the recipe sounds so simple yet yummy. thanks for your wish.

    feliz fin de semana!

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  5. Mmmm citrus zest in biscuits-how delicious! I like the styling too, if only I could receive a gorgeous present like that!

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  6. Couldn't agree about the leading lady more myself. Those biscuits look gorgeous!

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  7. So simple and delicious Patricia...I agree about there being too many complications. The orange is a lovely aromatic addition to these cookies.

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  8. I can imagine the wonderful smell in your kitchen while these were baking, I just love orange zest in cookies. They look wonderful! :)

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  9. I could so use some of those cookies right now!

    I adore movies, and laughed when I read your comments. There is nothing so distracting as a bad actor:)

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  10. These are so adorable and I bet delicious.

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  11. I felt exactly the same way about this movie -- why all the fuss?

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  12. wow these look great and best of all they are not loaded with butter and I can use my leftover egg yolks. I m gonna try it now :)

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  13. These looks so inviting, love the pics! Yes, let's just KISS!

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  14. Hi Patricia, those biscuits look so soft.I bet it has a melt in the mouth texture. the addition of orange zest must surely enhance the flavor & aroma of the cookies as Peter G has noted. thanx 4 the recipe.

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  15. I so agree with you about the movie! Your comments are spon on.

    Those cookies look great! And I love orange, so I bet they taste great too! :)

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  16. Spot on*

    Sorry, my mistake :S

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  17. These look just like the Stella Dora cookies I used to have as a kid... I wonder if I can possibly veganize the recipe!

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  18. I bet these would be good with tea.

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  19. These remind me of those cookies you get in a big tin for Christmas. You know? I like those cookies.

    Guess what? I didn't finish Atonement! It was boring, and like, I didn't really care what happened. I think I have good taste in movies, too.

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  20. i totally agree. don't understand why things have to be made so complicated sometimes just to make it better because that's not always the way too. These cookies are beautiful and I'm sure the orange zest made it more wonderful without altering its quality. x

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  21. I just saw the movie this past week and I totally agree with you. Terrible acting! A real disappointment in the book, also. I did read "Saturday" and thought it very good. Your cookies are definitely beautiful and I love the orange zest addition.

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  22. send me a box of those! :) they look lovely

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  23. Oh, goodness- the cookies look really rich and delicious! And looking at the ingredients it seems very interesting indeed, with 4 egg yolks and only a tiny bit of butter!

    I'm thinking maybe they should have cast Natalie Portman, hahaha! :)

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  24. cookies with 4 egg yolks, 1 egg balanced with that amount of flour can be rich! what a creative shape!

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  25. oh soooo beautiful and soooo delicious.

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  26. Lori, really? Tks for letting me know.
    Thank you for dropping me a line!

    Courtney, I'm glad you like them - tks for visiting!

    Meeta, very simple but good! :)

    Mindy, obrigada, querida!

    Lorraine, you are so kind, thank you, my friend!

    Jesse, isn't she a terrible actress?? :(
    I'm glad you like the cookies, tks for stopping by!

    Pete, I thought of vanilla but then... :)

    LyB, I love zest in cookies, too, darling! Tks!

    Janelle, these are great with coffee and tea!
    A bad actor can ruin a great movie - and that's a shame.

    Cathy, thank you!

    Lydia, I know! I don't think I'll ever get it.

    Snooky Doodle, I'm always looking for new ways to use my egg yolks, too!

    Baking Soda, darling, I agree with you!

    Sweet Bites, tks for stopping by! They melt, indeed. Thank you for leaving me a comment!

    May, don't worry about the typo. ;)
    Tks for commenting!

    Hannah, I hope so!

    Pea, they are!

    Emiline, a dear friend of mine couldn't finish it either - too dull!
    And I think you and I have great taste in movies. :)

    Diva, I'm glad you agree with me, darling! :)

    Lynne, thank you for sharing your opinions about the book, too. I'll be looking "Saturday" up.

    Jaime, tks, darling!

    Mark, not a lot of butter, indeed. That made me wonder!
    Well, I think that Natalie Portman is far much more talented than Keira!

    Arfi, thank you! I made meringue, so I needed something to use my egg yolks in!

    Jo, thank you!!

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  27. You mean you don't find rib bones and collarbones protruding attractive? These cookies make up for her looks for sure.

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  28. You mean you don't find rib bones and collarbones protruding attractive? These cookies make up for her looks for sure.

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  29. I hear you on the movie, Patricia... all the hype did make us buy the dvd, but we couldn't watch beyond 15 minutes.

    Your cookies, however tell a different story...lovely :-)

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  30. What beautiful cookies! I love your addition of orange.

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  31. The cookies look like they were baked with a wash, makes them look even prettier.
    I have Ursula's book but I've only made one reciep so far...good reminder to pick it up again :)

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  32. Those buiscuits are delicious! I made them and really like them :)

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