Virtually Home Made Apple Galette ( Crazy Easy)

Virtually Homemade Apple Galette

I call this a "virtually" homemade Apple Galette because I think that it’s important to have complete transparency. I don't want anyone reading this blog to look at my pictures and think "wow, I wish I could make that." Nope, the recipes I make here are for the most part simple, I use everyday ingredients and I make food that I actually enjoy eating. I call this recipe “virtually" homemade because I used store brought dough for the crust. I was going to say semi homemade but I wasn't sure if that term was copy righted if you watch the Food Network then you know what I’m referring to. I call it a "galette" because I like the way it sounds, doesn't the word being to mind French pastries? Let’s be honest we could all use more thoughts about French pastries. I'll stop waxing poetic about pastries and get to what you came for... food

Virtually Home Made Galette

The very best picture I could get before I dived in head first I  sliced a piece and ate it in a dignified manner.

Ingredients

3 Medium- Large Apples (I used two Gala and one Granny Smith)

1 Store Brought Pie Crust (I used the Pillsbury version that comes from the refrigerated section the store, same area you get biscuits in. Two come in the box you only need one for this recipe)

1/3 Cup of sugar (I used cane sugar, but white or brown would work as well

½ of the juice of lemon

½ Teaspoon of ground cinnamon

1/8 Teaspoon of ground nutmeg

½ Teaspoon of vanilla extract

Pinch of salt

1 Tablespoon of cornstarch (I didn't have on hand so I substituted with all-purpose flour)

Melted Butter (to brush on pie shell)

1 egg (for egg wash)

*Take your pie crust out of the freezer about a hour before you are actually ready to bake, it takes a while to defrost enough for you to unroll it.

Utensils

Baking sheet

Parchment Paper

Directions

1.     Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

2.     Wash, peel, and thinly slice your apples.

3.     In a bowl combine apples, sugar, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, vanilla extract, and salt, then gently stir to mix thoroughly. Set aside. 

4.     In a cup squeeze ½ of lemon, dissolve your tablespoon of cornstarch/flour into the lemon juice and stir to remove lumps. Pour and stir this mixture in with apples. Set aside 

5.     Tear a piece of parchment paper large enough to hold your galette, unroll your pie crust on to the parchment paper, once you get the pie crust completely unrolled unto the parchment paper place it unto a baking sheet.

6.     Here you can take creative license; you can either gently arrange the apples slices in a circular pattern to achieve a more refined look or dump the apples into the middle of the crust for a more rustic look. Either way leave about a inch of dough free from apples to have room to form your crust.

7.     Hold the dough between your index and   thumb on one hand and fold it over the index finger of your other hand. The idea is to create a twisted pattern.

8.     Prepare your egg wash. Take one egg and combine it with a 1 tablespoon of cold water, mix thoroughly.

9.     Brush you’re the crust of your uncooked galette dough with the egg wash, then sprinkle crust with sugar.

10. Place into preheated oven and bake at 375 degrees for 45-50 minutes, turn hallway through.  ( I started to check for doneness at 40 minutes in the oven)

11.  Pull your galette from the oven and immediately brush with melted butter.

Feel free serve your galette with ice cream, and a bit of caramel sauce for a sundae like experience. I made this dessert during a week night. I went to the store earlier in the day and there was a sale on apples and since it is Fall/ Autumn I figured they would be at the peak of freshness and perfect for baking. What are some of your favorite fall desserts?  Do you find yourself wishing baking was easier? Are there any dishes that you prepare that are “virtually” homemade? Comment below. I would love to hear from you.

Ode To Ice Cream...

Ode To Ice Cream... 

There are few words in the English language that invoke the type of emotion as the mention of ice cream does. Just think about it a moment. Have you ever said to someone “let’s get some ice cream, or do you like ice cream” and they responded “no way, or I hate ice cream?” I can answer my own question, no, that would never happen. People sing songs about it; joy is instantly brought to the faces of everyone from kids to the elderly. Children run from their house, and sprint across school yards chasing after the beloved “ice cream man” in hopes of getting their own taste of the sweet creamy goodness. Everyone loves ice cream, even the lactose intolerant, they take their little lactaid pills and they have their ice cream. There is even ice cream wannabes, frozen yogurt is an ice cream impostor if I have ever seen one.  My favorite flavor of ice cream has to be vanilla, I love the simplicity of it, and it’s a good base for when I want to add toppings, or serve it with cake or pie. 

We all scream for ice cream. This treat is from Coldstone Creamery, the flavor is "Birthday Cake" blended with fresh raspberries, and strawberries. 

This is treat is from Coldstone Creamery, the flavor is "Strawberry Cheesecake" blended with fresh blueberries and strawberries.

Here are a couple of pictures of my all time favorite treat, vanilla ice cream served with fresh strawberries. You might notice a theme here, I tell myself if I add fresh fruit then that make it healthier.

 

There won’t be any recipes in this post, I just thought it would be a fun post to do; you can’t be serious all the time. What is your favorite of ice cream? Have you ever tried to make ice cream at home? Comment below, and remember to subscribe for updates. 

xx. Toya