Apothecary :: New Moon Herbal Dream Pillows

July 19, 2017 by Hailey Faust in :: Apothecary, :: DIY, Gifts

I've been having the strangest dreams lately. Dreams of stones and bones and old forest women. Of moons and mountains and ancient skeleton keys. Dreams heavy with a symbolism I can never seem to untangle. Songs that slip through my fingers the moment after I wake. Perhaps it's the lulling hum of our old ceiling fan. Or the warm breeze fluttering in the bedroom curtains. Or the late summer lightning flashing over the mountains. Whatever it is, it has been pretty magical.

There is something undeniably intriguing about the etherial nature of dreams. Perhaps that's why humans have always tried to decode them. To find meaning and symbols amid the bizarre and tangled plot lines. To interpret the images like runes spread upon a table. It makes sense when you think about it...dreams take us to the delicate space between our conscious mind and unconscious spirit. They allow us to peek below the veil. To see what might be lurking in the quiet corners of our psyche. To remember things our soul knows, but minds have forgotten.

This Sunday's New Moon in Leo is a particularly auspicious moment to look for the messages hidden in our dreams. The New Moon asks us to set intentions. To turn our gaze inward. To get very quiet and very clear about what it is we are trying to manifest. These simple Herbal Dream Pillows come together in just a few minutes and are a lovely personal ritual to honor the lunar cycle and connect to our subconscious. The herbs listed have been long prescribed by folklore for deep sleep and vivid dreams. To quiet the mind and soothe the spirit. To peek into the space between.

Wishing you a dreamy New Moon, dear ones.

***Disclaimer: I’m not a doctor, nurse, or licensed healthcare practitioner. Some herbs and botanicals are not safe for pregnant or nursing mothers and may not be suitable to take with certain medications or conditions. This information is not meant to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Always consult your doctor before beginning any kind of new vitamin, herbal, diet, or exercise regime. Make sure to research all of the ingredients to make sure they are safe for you and your family.

Supplies:

- Small linen draw string bag

- Lavender (for relaxation)

- Rose Petals (for love)

- Chamomile (for deep sleep)

- 1 bay leaf (for prophetic dreams)

- Lemon Verbena (for light and happy dreams)

- Sage (for cleansing and protection)

Instructions:

1. Start by dip-dying your muslin bag. I used some lovely indigo dye I had rolling around in the back of my craft closet. Follow dye instructions and allow bag to dry. Once dry, I used a small glass to trace the new moon with gold ink.

2. Add your dried herbs to your moon pillow. There is really no precise formula here. Just add small amounts of each herb, smelling as you go until you reach your desired mixture. Follow your nose on this one. Don't forget to toss in a bay leaf or two to inspire prophetic dreams.

3. Place dream pillow beneath your pillow and breathe deep.

xo,

DIY :: Sandlewood Beard Oil with Rosemary and Cedarwood

February 14, 2017 by Hailey Faust in :: Apothecary, :: DIY, Gifts

A fast and furious post for you today lovelies!

This little elixir comes to us from one of my very favorite souls - the lovely Kendra Potter of Sistermoon Wellness. Kendra whips up a batch of this fragrant oil for the bearded men in her life every holiday season. My husband has gotten so addicted to the stuff that come November he starts to drop her a series not-so-subtle hints that his supply is running low. It smells warm and earthy and woodsy and romantic all at once. A subtle fragrance for the man who loves the mountains.

And if you are a procrastinator like myself, you're in luck! This little gem only takes 5 minutes to mix up. Package it up in a vintage tin with a beard brush or comb and you have a unique and personal handmade gift he will actually use.

Happy love day, dear ones!

***Disclaimer: I’m not a doctor, nurse, or licensed healthcare practitioner. Some herbs, botanicals, and essential oils are not safe for pregnant or nursing mothers or children and may not be suitable to take with certain medications or conditions. This information is not meant to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Always consult your doctor before beginning any kind of new vitamin, herbal, diet, or exercise regime. Make sure to research all of the ingredients to make sure they are safe for you and your family.

Recipe by Kendra Potter. I used organic oils wherever possible. If you are looking for high quality essential oils, I highly recommend our friends at White Stone Essentials.

Ingredients

2 oz organic Jojoba Oil
7 - 9 drops Cedarwood essential oil
7 - 9 drops Rosemary essential oil
7 - 9 drops Lavender essential oil
4 - 5 drops Sandlewood essential oil
4 - 5 drops Cypress essential oil
4 - 5 drops Rose essential oil

Instructions

1. Add jojoba oil to a small vial. I found that the metal tip of a pastry bag makes a perfect little funnel.

2. Add all oils, feeling free to modify amounts to preference.

3. Close vial and shake well. Use a few drops in beard after bathing.

xo,

Apothecary :: Mood-Lifting Lemon + Rose Winter Tea

February 01, 2017 by Hailey Faust in :: Apothecary, :: Eat, Gifts

I learned a deep love of tea from my mother. Growing up, every morning before school I was cheerfully greeted with a tiny steaming mug of English Breakfast and a thick slice of homemade pumpkin bread. It's her answer to just about every scenario. Bad day at work? Tea. Horrible breakup? Tea. Being audited by the IRS? Double tea. To this day, the first words out of my mother's mouth every morning are, "Let me make you a cup of tea." Before "good morning." Before "hello." Before anything - tea first. There's a woman who has her priorities straight.

So it's no surprise that a cozy cuppa is my go-to when I am in need of a little comfort. I don't think I'm alone when I say these past few weeks have been...challenging. The political and meteorological climate, combined with a marathon of sunless grey days has left me feeling a bit lost. Untethered. Overwhelmed. Exhausted. Let's be honest - January is always a little brutal, but this year felt particularly rough.

In life's more difficult seasons, it's especially important for us to double down on self-care. In order to show up for each other and the world, we first need to fill our own tanks and hold space for ourselves. Brewing a cup of soothing herbal tea is a wonderful exercise in daily self-care. I love the act of mixing the fragrant herbs, boiling the water, quietly meditating as it steeps. This simple ritual feels so grounding and restorative. A momentary time-out from the daily chaos. One of my favorite recipes for this time of year includes lemon balm and rose petals. The lemony flavor is bright and cheerful while the rose adds a lovely floral note and the smell of spring. Both have been long prescribed by folklore to lift the spirits and chase away the mid-winter blues.

So let's all take a moment to slow down and breathe deep and drink some flowers. Here's to a brighter month ahead, dear ones.

Ingredients

- 1 part organic edible rose petals

- 1 part organic edible lemon balm

- 1/2 part organic edible linden leaf

- 1/2 part dried lemon peel

Instructions

1. Loosely measure out all ingredients in a bowl. You can use a mortar and pestle to break up any large pieces if necessary. The ratios here are merely suggestions so feel free update according to taste. I would recommend experimenting with a few pots of tea to see what you like before mixing a large batch.

2. Store in an airtight jar or tin (these also make lovely gifts!)

3. Use 1 tsp of the mixture per cup, or 2 - 3 tsp per pot of tea. Pour boiling water over strainer with tea and let steep for 3 minutes. I like to use this opportunity for a little mini-meditation.

4. Garnish with a slice of fresh lemon. Breathe, relax, enjoy.

xo,

Apothecary :: Elderberry + Echinacea Syrup & Golden Turmeric Milk

September 25, 2016 by Hailey Faust in :: Apothecary, :: Eat, Gifts

When I was a kid, I always had this strange sense of dread when it came to Sundays. Sundays meant piles of unfinished homework and lists of chores and early bedtimes. They meant the weekend was over and it was time to get back to reality. To responsibilities. To the daily grind. Sunday was just a nicer word for Monday.

But the older I get, the more and more I appreciate the quiet productivity of a slow Sunday spent at home. Baking and cleaning and preparing for the week. Folding laundry. Making lists. Roasting chicken. Sharing space. I notice I tend to have a markedly more positive and productive week when I carve out the time to cleanse and nest and practice self care on Sundays. Slowing down for even a moment can feel like such a luxury these days.

This Sunday I found myself trailing my fingers across endless rows of glass spice jars in my favorite little dusty corner of Missoula. If you are from around these parts, you know that Butterfly Herbs is a magical apothecary/teashop/bulk-spice oasis located in a turn-of-the-century pharmacy. Floor to ceiling bookshelves house enormous jars containing every herb, tea, and spice you can imagine. Oh, and did I mention they have a sliding library ladder used to access said herbs, teas and spices? Yeah, well...they do. It's the dreamiest and the loveliest and it's my happy place.

After much meandering and much jar-smelling, I chose dried elderberries, echinacea, rose hips, calendula flowers, star anise and turmeric to add to my fall apothecary. A personal arsenal to fight off a lingering head cold. Oh, and a few scoops of my favorite loose leaf Irish Breakfast tea. Just for good measure.

Elderberry syrup is one of the most effective herbal remedies I have ever personally experienced. I admit, I was very skeptical at first, but when I take a spoonful daily, I just do not get sick. Which is saying something, because I get sick a lot. And when I run out, like clockwork, I will come down with something within a week or two. This elixir is powerful stuff. To kick it up a notch for cold and flu season, I also threw in some dried rose hips (loaded with vitamin C and antioxidants), echinacea (immune boosting and antiviral), ginger (anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, antioxidant), and cinnamon (anti-inflammatory and antioxidant.) Top it off with some local, raw honey and you have a cold and flu fighting powerhouse.

Another immune booster I have been brewing this fall is this gorgeous Golden Turmeric Milk. You guys. This is the coziest, most soothing fall drink. Think foamy hot-spiced hug in a mug. And that color! Come on. Not to mention how wonderful it is for you. An ancient Ayurvedic remedy, Turmeric has been used to treat everything from inflammation and arthritis, to depression and even cancer. Combining Turmeric with black pepper greatly increases it's bioavailability, so be sure to include an extra dash of pepper just before drinking.

So take a moment to slow down and reset. To brew up something warm and natural and soothing and seasonal. To prepare for the coming week and the coming season. To tend to the housekeeping of your space and mind and body.

Happy Sunday. Have a lovely week, dear ones.

Ingredients

2.5 cups water

1/2 cup dried elderberries

1 TBS dried echinacea root

1 TBS dried rose hips

1/2 tsp cinnamon or 1 cinnamon stick

1 tsp dried ginger

1/4 - 1/2 cup raw local honey (to taste)

Instructions

1. Bring water and all ingredients except honey to a boil in a small or medium sized pot.

2. As soon as the water boils, reduce heat to low and simmer covered for 45 mins. Stir occasionally to keep anything from sticking.

3. After 45 - 60 mins the mixture will have reduced by half. Remove pot from heat and let cool.

4. Use a mesh strainer to strain the juice from the berries into a clean bowl. You may want to use the back of a wooden spoon to really squeeze the liquid out from the mixture. Lining the strainer with cheesecloth can make cleanup a bit easier.

5. Transfer liquid to mason jar and mix in honey until combined. Keep in fridge. Take 1 TBS of this medicinal syrup every day to boost immune system.

Ingredients

1 cup milk or almond milk

3/4 tsp dried turmeric

1/2 tsp dried ginger

1/4 tsp cinnamon (or to taste)

1 tsp coconut oil

2 cloves (or a dash of powdered)

Fresh ground black pepper (I usually do about 5 grinds on our pepper mill)

Star anise (optional - if you are into that kind of thing. I add mine after as a garnish.)

Instructions

1. Mix all ingredients in small saucepan over low heat.

2. Gently simmer, stirring constantly, until coconut oil has melted. Use a whisk to foam up the milk to make it nice and creamy.

3. Pour and serve. Garnish with a few grinds of black pepper, a dash of cinnamon, and a star anise.

xo,

DIY :: Hand Stamped Brass Bracelets

March 14, 2016 by Hailey Faust in :: DIY, Gifts

March blew in on a cold wind from the east and brought with it the smell of fresh rain and the promise of Spring. It's coming, you guys. Spring. Is. Coming. There may still be a few late snows standing between us and it, but the light at the end of the tunnel is growing brighter every day. In like a lion, out like a lamb...isn't that what they always say?

The first fluttering breaths of spring are some of my favorite moments of the whole year. There is something so lovely and cleansing about throwing open the long-sealed windows to welcome fresh air into the house. This season buzzes with new energy. It encourages us to venture out from our cramped dens to stretch our legs and feel the cool breeze against our skin. To let the smell of wet soil and new grass fill our nostrils and refresh our spirits. To plant seeds of both the vegetable and spiritual variety. To sweep out the old and create space for the new.

Spring cleaning. It's a thing for a reason.

Rooster and I spent the weekend shaking off the dust of winter and embarking on our own mini spring clean. We moved into this nearly century-old house on the first blizzard of winter (literally - 10" of snow the day we moved in), so we are happily unearthing little surprises that were hidden by the snow until now. Yesterday, R discovered a secret bed of irises sprouting triumphantly near his wood shop. They had been completely covered by a pile of old wood and were yellowed from lack of sunlight, but still they grew. Plants are magic like that.

After cleansing the house, I was feeling refreshed and wanted to take the opportunity to plant some seeds of a different nature. I had a few brass bracelet blanks rolling around the back of my craft drawer that seemed to be just the ticket. I brewed a cup of strong tea and stamped each bracelet with a phrase or intention that reminded me of it's recipient, then popped them in some pretty envelopes heading for far away friends. I'm hoping these little lovelies work as gentle, pretty reminders to slow down, make space and smell the rain in the hustle and bustle of the coming months.

Supplies

- Brass Bracelet Blanks

- Hammer

- Steel block

- Metal Stamping Alphabet

- Masking Tape

- Permanent Marker

- Rubbing Alcohol

Instructions

1. Start by using masking tape to attach your bracelet blank to the steel block. Make sure the tape is straight, as you will use this as a guide for your letters. Next, take a marker and evenly mark a dot on the tape for each letter in the phrase you are stamping. This should help you keep the letters even and at least kind of straight.

2. You may want to place your steel block with the taped blank on a book to dampen the noise a bit. Take your first letter stamp and line it up with the first dot you marked on the tape. I gave mine about 5 - 8 good whacks with a stamping hammer and it made a nice impression. Repeat the process with the rest of your letters, using the tape as a guide to keeping them straight and even. If you miss a part of a letter, you can try to slip the stamp back in the impression and give it a few more whacks. As you can see, my letters are far from perfect, but I think the imperfections just make it that much more "handmade."

3. Once you have stamped out your phrase, take a permanent marker and draw over each letter. Don't worry about being careful where you mark as you will wipe off the excess ink. Focus on getting the ink deep in the grooves of each letter. Then take a little rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball and rub off the extra ink on the rest of the bracelet. This will help darken the letters a bit to make them more visible.

4. Bend the bracelet around something round to get the basic shape (I used the top of a mason jar) and then form it to the shape of your wrist. This brass is really flexible, so even if you are making this as a gift, the recipient should be able to reshape to fit their own wrist as needed.

Have a great week, dear ones!

xo,

Apothecary :: DIY Lemon + Rosemary Sugar Scrub

February 03, 2016 by Hailey Faust in :: Pamper, :: DIY, :: Apothecary, Gifts

We are still restlessly hibernating here in the mountains of Montana. A fresh six inches of snow over the past few days has dashed any hopes of an early spring and forced us to retreat back to our blankets and books and baths with a general harrumph. For someone who strives to live seasonally and embrace the beauty of each phase, late winter has always been the hardest to love for me. One of my favorite littles recently asked her Mama, "Can we at least pretend it's spring?" I hear you, sister. And yes. Yes we can.

But if we can see past the grey, there is also a lovely energy buzzing beneath the surface this time of year. Days are slowly getting longer. Seeds are stirring in the ground, preparing to launch triumphant green shoots when given the word. Animals and humans are rolling over in their dens. It reminds me of that final hour of sleep in the early morning, when you are subtly aware the sun is rising, but still lost in a dream world.

I'm using these last moments of rest to indulge in some serious self care. At home spa days have become a weekend staple over here. This Lemon Rosemary Sugar Scrub takes about 5 minutes to make and feels super pampery. I love using lemons in beauty rituals because they are bright and cheerful as well as highly beneficial. They have antibacterial and immune-boosting properties and also reduce the sight of blemishes. Win-win-win. Rosemary is an inflammatory and improves circulation. Also, it smells awesome. Sugar is a great exfoliator and moisturizer. Coconut oil has approximately one million beneficial properties. You are killing like 15 birds with one sugar scrub.

Take a few moments to slow down and pamper yourself. You deserve it.

Ingredients

2 cups organic raw sugar

1 organic lemon

1 - 2 sprigs of rosemary

3 - 4 tablespoons coconut oil (olive or jojoba oil work great too)

10 - 15 drops lemon essential oil

Instructions

1. Add sugar to medium bowl and squeeze in the juice of one lemon.

2. Coarsely chop the rosemary leaves and add as much or as little as you'd like.

3. Melt coconut oil and add a little at a time until you reach your desired constancy. I like my scrubs to be a little grittier so I used about 3 tablespoons. Mix in chopped rosemary leaves and essential oil.*

4. Store in mason jars or other airtight container for up to one month.

* Tips: Add a few drops of essential oil at a time to make sure you don't create an aroma that's overpowering. There is no right way to do this, just keep adding ingredients until it feels finished. I like to use this in the shower so that there is no cleanup and the sugar goes right down the drain. My skin has been so so soft. I used 1/2 pint jam jars (recipe makes 5) and delivered to some of my girl friends as an early Galentines day treat. (Yep. Galentines. I went there.)

xo,

Easy Homemade Maple Pecan Granola

January 26, 2016 by Hailey Faust in :: Eat, Gifts

The last few weeks have been a blur of meetings and deadlines and head colds and wedding planning in our little corner of the world. The days have been true to their January nature and unflinchingly grey. It's taking more and more resolve to get out of my warm blanket cocoon every morning and plod down the chilly steps to begin the day. Sometimes I lose the battle and end up bringing my work back to bed with me. Winter: 1, Hailey: 0.

But when I must join the land of the living, I like to use the early hours to reset and indulge in a few moments of quiet self care. A steaming shower with eucalyptus oil, a foamy almond milk latte and this sweet, toasty granola do wonders for softening the blow and luring me out of bed on chilly days. This granola recipe is absurdly easy and can likely be made with what you already have in your cupboard. It's best served with plain greek yogurt, fresh fruit and cozy slippers.

Enjoy, lovelies.

Ingredients

2 3/4 cups old fashioned rolled oats

1 cup unsweetened coconut chips

1/2 cup coarsely chopped pecans

1/2 cup coarsely chopped almonds

1/2 tsp coarse kosher salt

1/3 cup real maple syrup

1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil (coconut oil would work too)

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup dried cherries or other dried fruit

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 325° F. Mix the oats, coconut chips, chopped nuts and salt in a large mixing bowl.

2. Over medium heat, mix the sugar, olive oil and maple syrup in a small saucepan. Stir constantly until the sugar is completely dissolved.

3. Pour the hot syrup mixture over the oat mixture and mix together until all dry ingredients are completely coated. You may want to use your hands to combine.

4. Spread the granola out evenly over a large, ungreased baking sheet.

5. Bake for 20 minutes. Toss and flip granola with a spatula. Return to oven and continue checking and flipping granola every five minutes until golden brown. Do not undercook, this granola is best nice and toasty.

6. Let cool and mix in dried cherries. Store at room temperature in airtight container.

xo,

DIY :: Watercolor Moon Phase Flags

January 22, 2016 by Hailey Faust in :: DIY, Gifts

I am in the midst of a deep love affair with the moon. Can you tell?

She and I have always been close, but recently we have taken things to the next level. It's serious, you guys. Every time I put pen to paper, a moon seems to find it's way to the page. I have moon magic on the mind.

I think, as a species, we are hard-wired to love the moon. She and the stars were our first calendar after all. Our first discernible method for knowing when to plant seeds or hunt or harvest or get married or baton down the hatches. Ruler of the tides. Our companion in the darkest hours of the night. The thing every-single-human-who-ever-lived-in-all-of-history has in common. Our nightlight. Our sister moon.

Tracking the ebbs and flows of the lunar calendar is a lovely way to stay connected to the rhythms of the natural world during the long dark days of winter. It also helps set clear times each month to start and finish projects, give thanks, check in with ourselves and manifest intentions. If this resonates with you, and you haven't checked her out yet, run (don't walk) over to Chani Nicholas's amazing blog. This woman is a mystic moon mama / lunar guru who has changed the way I connect to the night sky.

I am a big fan of marking occasions, and pretty much any excuse to use gold leaf, so to honor this Saturday's full moon, I pillaged my craft drawer and created these delicate paper moon phase flags. This is one of those projects that is very forgiving and soothing to work on. A creative meditation of sorts. Light a candle, put the kettle on and curl up with the moon for a spell.

Supplies

- Watercolor paper (at least 7 sheets)

- Watercolors

- 2 paintbrushes ( I used one soft round brush and a shader with a hard edge for details..but whatever you have on hand will work.)

- Adhesive size for metal leafing

- Gold leaf sheets (Just a bit. I used less than a sheet on the whole project.)

- Hole punch

- Roughly 6 ft of hemp or ribbon

Instructions

1. Start by tracing something circular very lightly with a pencil to get the shape of your moon on one of your pages of watercolor paper. I used a roll of masking tape as a guide and chose square paper so that I wouldn't have to worry about cutting the flags to an even size.

2. Start filling in the circle with water with a wet brush. Slowly add little blooms of watered down color (I used grey) around the edges of the circle. Let dry. Repeat, allowing the layers to instersect and flow into one another.

3. Now you can start adding some darker splotches of color for depth. Play with using less water and more paint on your brush to create craters. Layering is key. Let dry between layers. Experiment and play. My only advice would be to only add a little paint at a time and know when to stop...it's easy to go too far. I found that I liked mine best when I left a little white space within the moon. What I love about this project is that it is very forgiving. If you make a mistake, just add a little water. Easy peasy. You can also use a dry brush to brighten areas if they start to feel too dark. I haven't used watercolors in ages but I could see how they could be very addictive. So calming.

4. Repeat process with the rest of your moon phases, using a pencil to shape out the area you will be painting for each phase. I only created 7 phases (including 2 new moons) but you could easily add as many phases as you'd like. To create the new moon, I simply splotched* (technical term) my brush around the outside of my masking tape to get this effect.

6. Once all your phases are totally dry, get a clean brush and apply a small amount of the adhesive size to the areas of the moon you want to gold leaf. I found that asymmetrical brush strokes looked the most "moon-like" when the leaf was applied. Let size dry for 10 - 15 minutes or until clear.

7. Apply gold leaf to the clear adhesive size. The leaf should stick only to where the adhesive was painted. I just used my fingers to apply it, taking little scraps from here and there to make interesting crater shapes. Use a soft paintbrush to gently brush away the extra gold leaf. Again, work in layers as a little gold goes a long way.

8. Punch holes in the top 2 corners of your moon phases. I used a jewelry hole punch to get teeny tiny holes, but a regular hole punch would also work.

9. Carefully string your phrases together with twine or ribbon. Be delicate as you work, it would be easy to rip the paper. I used a little bit of candle wax on the end of my hemp to help make threading it through the holes a bit easier. Worked like a charm. Feel free to add beads or tassels or feathers to the end of your flags if you are feeling extra fancy.

When I finished my flags I realized how easy it would be to slip them into a pretty envelope and send to a far away friend. Spread that luna love.

Thanks for stopping by lovelies. Have a lovely cozy lazy wonderful weekend.

xo,

Dark Chocolate Cherry Almond Biscotti

January 12, 2016 by Hailey Faust in :: Eat, Gifts

January is...formidable. For humans. For animals. For all living things really. We don't get enough sunlight. The days are grey. Our feet are cold.

But there can also be something lovely about the quiet productivity of this first month. I personally find a lot of comfort in slipping back into my daily rhythms after the chaos of the holidays. Reading new books. Rearranging furniture. Trying recipes. Making plans. Folding laundry.

I woke up the other morning with a need to bake. To do something with my hands that didn't involve a screen and get a little dough under my fingernails. This Cherry Almond biscotti recipe came to mind immediately. It's barely-sweet, with a crisp crumbly texture perfect for dunking in your morning coffee. They are great right out the oven, but just wait. They get even better in about 2 - 3 days.

This is also one of those recipes that can be endlessly experimented with, which is my favorite kind. I think next time I will try pistachio cranberry. This recipe makes about 30 cookies so you will have plenty to share the love and run a quick batch to a friend or neighbor or colleague or mailman. A cozy little winter pick-me-up.

Ingredients

3 tablespoons Amaretto

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup melted butter

3 teaspoons almond extract

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup whole almonds

1/2 cup dried cherries

3 eggs

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

2 3/4 cups flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup dark chocolate chips

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350° and toast the almonds whole for 5 - 10 mins. Remove from oven and let cool. Chop almonds coarsely.

2. In a medium size bowl, stir together sugar, amaretto and melted butter until well combined. Stir in the almond extract and vanilla extract.

3. Stir in the eggs, chopped almonds and dried cherries.

4. Stir in the baking powder, flour and salt until well combined. Cover and chill in the fridge for 30 - 45 mins.

5. Remove the chilled dough and moisten hands to help make it more manageable (it will be a bit sticky.) Split the dough in half and make two 14 x 3" loafs on the baking sheet. Flatten the loaves so they have an even thickness all the way through.

6. Bake loaves at 350° for about 25 minutes or until golden brown.

7. Remove loaves from oven and let cool completely. Slice into 3/4" slices with a very sharp knife.

8. Place the biscottis back on a baking sheet and bake for an additional 25 minutes or until toasted. I like to flip them halfway through to make sure both sides get equally browned. Let cool.

9. Optional: Melt dark chocolate chips to dip biscottis in. You can just dip one end in, or if you are like me and are in it for the chocolate, dip one whole side in. Place on parchment paper and chill in the fridge until chocolate hardens. Keep biscottis on the counter in an airtight container.

Enjoy lovelies!

xo,