Cantuccini or biscotti, are a twice-baked cake originating in the Italy. The cakes are large almond biscuits, made dry and crunchy through cutting the loaf of dough while still hot and fresh from baking in the oven and then putting it back in the oven to further dry.

Biscotti are traditionally served with a drink, into which they may be dunked (‘cos they’re very dry). In Italy they are typically served with vin santo and the Spanish serve them with the sweet dessert wine Muscat, but around here they are more frequently served with coffee. Although the wine sounds tempting, my coffee cup has a larger opening so it makes it a lot easier to eat more of them and so coffee wins. And no bright spark, I have no intention of drinking wine out of a coffee cup. Imbecile.

When Joerg and I sailed from Africa into the Med, our first stop was St. Helena island (you should know this ‘cos you read my blog, right? Right?!). The lovely local shop had very little on sale in the way of fresh fruit and veg, but they did have what they called “Twice-baked-bread” which was supposed to last twice as long as once baked bread (which only lasts once or what?). Although being the Superwoman that I am who baked her own bread on the boat, we bought a loaf of the miracle loaf to see if it would last doubly long.

Well it didn’t. It can’t if you eat it, now can it? Just kidding. We didn’t eat it and it went moldy, so thank you for trying mam, but unless one dried it out completely I can’t see that it could. Anyway, we used it on the lures and caught lots of (green) fish so all was not lost.

But have no fear when Anja is near! (That's her and her family in the photos below.) What is she on about I hear you ask. Anja is a German friend of ours who made the wonderful cantuchinis in the following recipe blog. They were perfectly dried with not a chance of mould. The way I slung them back though, there was definitely no chance of mould, just the odd crumb or two I was unable to find in the crevices of the couch. These babies are deeelicious and I can highly recommend you giving them a try.