Vanilla Biscotti

My husband is only supporting my biscotti addiction.  He requested some plain Vanilla Biscotti.  So I took up the challenge and apparently the results were so good that he won't even share them with me!

(One note: When I made these I did a double batch and used 3 vanilla beans instead of 2. I was planning on sharing them with family at a bday party yesterday but Tom said they were all his!)

Ingredients:

   2 1/2 cups flour
   1 cup sugar
   1 vanilla bean
   2 eggs
   1/2 cup butter, softened
   3 tsps vanilla extract

   1 tsp baking powder
   1/2 tsp salt (or less)

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350.
• Mix flour, baking powder, and salt in a small mixing bowl, set aside.
• Beat sugar and softened butter until smooth. 
• Crack eggs into a small bowl, scrape vanilla bean with the bake side of a knife into eggs.  Add vanilla and wisk.  Add to sugar/butter mixture and beat until smooth. 
• Add flour mixture to egg mixture and mix just until just blended.
• Divide dough into two pieces. Form into long flat loaves about 1/2 inch tall and 12-15 inches long. Place the loaves 3-4 inches apart on a prepared or non-stick baking sheet.
• Bake for 30 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool for 5 minutes (or until you can handle the loaves without burning yourself) on a cutting board. With a serrated or extremely sharp kitchen knife, cut diagonally into 1/2 inch thick slices. Lay the slices flat on the baking sheet.
• Bake for 10-15 minutes, turning over once.