IN THE KITCHEN WITH: Lauri Gill

Lifelong local woman finds career at Red Cross, By Laurie Gordon Lauri Gill grew up in Stanhope. She’s always been a Sussex County gal, and now she holds a position at a county-wide chapter of the The American Red Cross. Gill is the Volunteer and Youth Services Coordinator in Newton. “I love working with the kids from local schools through the Red Cross Clubs,” she said, “I also coordinate the blood drives held at our chapter every 56 days and I am responsible for our chapters communications. In addition to those duties, I am currently working as the Service to the Armed Forces Grant Coordinator, conducting outreach to military members and their families and I find this extremely rewarding.” Gill graduated from Lenape Valley High School in the early 1980s and has a degree from Sussex County Community College in Business Administration. “I’m considered a life-long learner as I occasionally still take classes there,” she said. She lives in Sparta with her husband Tim and their teenaged son and daughter, who is — surprise — in the Red Cross Campus Club at SCCC. They also have a dog named Flash, described by Gill as, “living up to his name anytime he’s near an open door.” Gill started working at the Red Cross in August 2007 after answering an ad and completing interviews with the Business Development Manager. “The American Red Cross has been affected by declining donations as have most other non-profits. Most people think that we are a government-funded organization. We are not. Each year, we must fully raise our operating budget and we do this thanks to the generosity of the people who live and do business in Sussex County,” Gill said. The holidays are a big time for the Red Cross. They are a drop-off site for Toys for Tots. They are currently asking people to bring unwrapped toys through Dec. 11. Gill said, “We will host a blood drive at the chapter on Dec. 21 from 12:30 to 6 p.m. and are offering unique holiday gifts for sale in the form of gift certificates for CPR, First Aid, Pet First Aid and Responsible Babysitter’s Training. They make great holiday gifts and are available on-line at sussexredcross.org or at the chapter.” The Sussex County Chapter of The American Red Cross is located at 93 Spring Street, Suite 101. Gill can be reached at 973-579-1600 or via e-mail at: lgill@sussexredcross.org

Lauri Gill’s Orange-Chocolate Biscotti
1/2 stick butter, softened
1 1/4 C sugar
1 Tbsp finely grated orange peel
1 tsp baking powder
4 large eggs
2 cups flour
2/3 C semisweet mini chips
2/3 C chopped pistachio nuts
1 - Heat oven to 350 degrees
2 - In a large bowl, mix on high speed - butter, 1 C. sugar, orange peel and baking powder until well blended. Beat in 3 eggs.
On low speed, beat in flour just until blended. Stir in chips and pistachio nuts.
3 - Turn dough out on a well floured work surface. Dough will be sticky. Divide into quarters and roll each quarter into a 9-inch log.
4 - Place logs 3 inches apart on a lightly greased cookie sheet (I prefer to use parchment paper).
Beat the remaining egg in a small bowl with a fork. Brush on logs, then sprinkle with the remaining 1/4 C sugar.
5 - Bake 20 to 25 minutes until golden brown. Let cool on a wire rack for about 5 minutes then move to a cutting board.
6 - With a long, sharp knife cut each log diagonally in 1/2 in thick slices. Arrange slices upright on cookie sheet.
7 - Bake 15-17 minutes longer until crisp. Remove to a wire rack to cool.
Can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 weeks or frozen up to 3 months.