PLAIN BISCOTTI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375.
• Mix the first 3 ingredients in a bowl.
• Mix the last 4 ingredients in a different bowl.
• Blend the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients.
• Divide the dough into 3 balls and knead 5 or 6 times.
• Add extra ingredients as desired, maintaining a slightly sticky consistency.
• Compensate for dryness by adding a little milk or unsweetened applesauce.
• Compensate for wetness by adding flour or more of a dry ingredient.
• Place each ball on a piece of wax paper covering a 11"x17" standard cookie sheet.
• With floured hands, shape each ball into a 9 inch mound as far from each other as possible and flatten slightly.
• Bake for 25 minutes on a rack one level up from center of oven.
• Remove from loaves from the wax paper and place on a cutting board.
• With a sharp serated knife, cut 3/8 to 1/2 inch wide slices across the loaf at a slight diagonal.
• Lay the pieces on one side on a 2 layer cookie sheet.
• Bake on a rack in the center of the oven for 10 minutes.
• Turn the slices over and bake until lightly browned-5 to 7 minutes.