 The galette (or crostata for the Italians in the crowd) is my favorite cousin of the pie and tart. They look fancy and sound fancy but the galette is quite possibly the most forgiving of all baked goods – a simple pastry dough rolled out, topped with some fresh fruit (or even savory meat/veggie fillings), fold the edges over to hold in the filling and voila! No special pans needed, no precise rolling, no specific filling recipe….just plain ol’ free-forming!
Galettes are so versatile – you can fill them with whatever fresh produce you happen to have at home. I’m loving using all the fresh strawberries to make berry galettes right now. Come summer, stone fruits are the BEST for this delightful snack – peaches, apricots, plums, nectarines pair perfect with a sprinkle of brown sugar and maybe even some chopped nuts. Fall brings apples, pears or figs. Top your galette with a little caramel sauce, vanilla ice cream and/or Chantilly cream (fancy term for lightly whipped cream) and you have something close to heaven. And if you’re not into sweets, sautéed or roasted veggies and cheese are amazing in the buttery crust – perfect for a quick lunch or dinner. You can make galettes to serve 8 or more, but I prefer making individual ones. That way, they can be eaten by hand - no silverware required! And unlike a slice of pie, the individual galette has no “juice run-off” – your filling/juices are all contained in your own personal serving, leaving no waste in the pie tin. If I’ve inspired you to make a batch of galette dough, here’s a fun little spring playlist to put some spring in your step. Enjoy!
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Christmas cookies have a long, rich history of representing home, family, comfort, joy, and tradition. Their history dates back to Europe in the 1500's. And America's melting pot has been filled with family holiday cookie recipes handed down through many generations from around the world. Christmas cookies are a tangible reminder of love, care and craft. Following are some fun facts about these delicious treats....and of course, a link to my holiday playlist for you to enjoy while baking a few treats of your own.
Crisp mornings and evenings… warm blankets and cozy sweaters…the sun low in the sky bringing out the best of the reds, oranges and yellows of the leaves…and fall flavors!! Apple, pears, cranberries, cinnamon, cloves, honey, pecans, and my favorite – pumpkin!!!
October and November are pure heaven! Maybe it has something to do with the change in weather, or maybe it’s cuz my family is a bunch of Libras and Scorpios, or maybe it’s because Halloween is right around the corner, followed by the ultimate food and family holidays – Thanksgiving and Christmas. Whatever the reason, fall gives me energy and brightens my mood. And fall baking is the best ~ the warm spices, the crispy fruits, crunchy nuts and crumbly toppings, the smells, the dough, the warm, gooey fresh-baked deliciousness cooling on the counter….mmmmmmmmmmm!! When it comes to my bake-along music…well, that changes slightly with cooler days too. The beach vibes and reggae of summer give way to some good ‘ol classic rock – Queen, ELO, Santana, Journey, Boston, Bowie, Pink Floyd (particularly the spacy sounds of Division Bell). For me, fall is rooted in wonderful memories from my childhood, so I guess that’s why much of my favorite fall music seems rooted in the 70’s/80’s as well. |
