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Bonnee Klein Gilligan (pictured above at The Asylum Restaurant in Jerome, AZ) is a foodie who loves eating, cooking, and going to new and different restaurants in the Sedona-Verde Valley.

Bonnee's Food Corner: Pizza Picazzo

A restaurant for the gourmet pizza lover!

Picazzo’s – Gourmet Pizza & Salads
1855 W. Highway 89A
Sedona, AZ 86336
Phone: (928) 282-4140
Website: http://www.picazzos.com/

Sedona, AZ - Picazzo’s - friendly, warm, noisy and eclectic, good service and delicious gourmet pizza too. What more could one ask for? How about indoor or outdoor seating, a view of the red rocks, fun art, a full bar, great wine list and did I mention the salads? Yum. Picazzo’s is one of my favorite places for lunch.

I peruse the interesting, extensive menu and decide upon the lunch combo. My choice a slice of Pizza Puttaneca with Pear Gorgonzola salad and a draft root beer. I bite into pizza… crunchy, chewy, fragrant, piquant, tangy and creamy with a hint of basily, licoriceness… I groan with delight. Now salad… sweet and crunchy, crisp, green and astringent, creamy and heady. A gulp of cold, woody, sweet, foamy root beer... mmmmm… oh… ah…a symphony of lusciousness is playing on my tongue.

And for desert we split a freshly baked chocolate chip cookie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. It’s so huge! We dig into hot, melty chocolatey, sweet and gooey, cold and creamy ambrosia. Absolutely delightful!

Prices range from $7.50 to $25.00. I whole heartedly recommend the lunch combo, Pizza Puttanesca, Pear Gorgonzola salad and hot chocolate chip cookie with ice cream…yum!

Hours: Open for Lunch or Dinner daily 11am – 9pm. Friday and Saturday until 10pm.

Recipe… a delightful, crunchy, chocolaty dipper

Brownie Biscotti

This is a chocolate version of an Italian favorite. I made it for my friends… they raved. Biscotti gone… more, more, more!

1/3 cup softened butter
2/3 cup white sugar (or organic evaporated cane juice)
2 eggs
1 tsp. Vanilla extract
1 ¾ cup flour (unbleached white or whole wheat pastry)
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 tsp. baking powder
½ cup semisweet chocolate chips (mini or regular)
¼ cup chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 375 F. Grease baking sheets, or line with parchment paper. In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. Combine the flour, cocoa and baking powder; stir into the creamed mixture until well blended. Dough will be stiff, so mix in the last bit by hand. Mix in the chocolate chips and walnuts.

Divide dough into two equal parts. Shape into 9x2x1 inch loaves. Place onto baking sheet 4 inches apart. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until firm. Cool on baking sheet for 30 minutes.

Using a serrated knife, slice the loaves diagonally into 1-inch slices. Return the slices to the baking sheet placing them on their sides. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes on each side or until dry. Cool completely and store in and airtight container.

Serve a couple of Brownie Biscotti with a wonderful cup of coffee or tea.

A Great Find… decadent ice cream goodies

If you are looking for a creamy, rich, decadent ice cream treat, Sedona has a great place. Cold Stone Creamery offers goodies like sundaes, cones, shakes, smoothies and cakes all created with fresh homemade ice cream (made in store daily). There are lots of yummy flavors like cake batter, sweet cream, mint, chocolate, cheesecake, coffee, cotton candy and more… to combine with mix ins and added toppings, nuts and whipped cream. All mixed in front of your eyes on an iced cold stone. Open Sunday - Thursday 11:00am - 9:00pm, Friday and Saturday 11:00am - 10:00pm. Cold Stone Creamery (Sedona), 101 N. Highway 89A (located in the Shops at Pinion Point), Sedona, AZ. Phone: 928-203-7701, Website: http://www.coldstonecreamery.com/.