July 29, 2008

TWD- Summer Fruit Galette

Lately, it seems I have been baking with fruit more than I ever have before. Before this summer, the only fruity desserts I really made were with apples or peaches (living in Utah will do that to you... I miss the fruit like crazy!) However, I liked the Blueberry Pie so much that when I found blueberries on sale, I made another pie to put in the freezer. I saved half of the pie dough in preparation for this dessert so it really came together quickly which was perfect. Although I will be the first to admit I've been aching to bake some beautiful, fancy chocolate creation, this fruit was just so pretty that I had a great time on this week's recipe, from start to tasty finish. I'm also a little more keen on fruit desserts and love feeling a little more confident in the pastry world.

I found some beautiful nectarines, plums, and blackberries at Trader Joe's. Just a quick wash and dry, then slicing into quarters, was all the fruit needed. I love simple things like that. They were also so pretty that my son kept trying to grab them off the counter to snitch while I was trying to photograph them!

To make the galette, roll out the pie dough and spread some jam in a circle on the bottom. I used strawberry blueberry freezer jam because, as my husband keeps informing me, we are woefully short on jam at our house (which means, if the Smucker's Raspberry Preserves are all gone, there's not really a point to getting up in the morning.) I couldn't really taste it at the end, though, so I suppose a particular jam-flavored deficiency isn't the end of the world. Then I topped the jam with some crushed graham crackers to help absord the fruit juice. Put the fruit, cut side down, on top and cram in as much as you can- it will shrink down when baked.

Gather up the edges and fold them over to enclose the fruit. Bake on a silicone sheet lined pan.

After the initial bake time, I was seriously tempted to just break out some forks and enjoy this beauty. Without any topping, it still looked juicy, bright, and delicious.

However, I resisted the urge to indulge immediately and put the custard on top, around the fruit. It started out kind of whitish but lost some of it's opacity in the oven. Even so, I thought the custard was a nice touch and I will definitely include it next time (though I only used less than half of the mix, so I will make less.)

She's finally done! I absolutely love this crust recipe and thought it was just the right color and texture. Can you see all the dark, juicy goo coming out of my galette? Even with double the graham cracker crumbs there was a little mess. Next time I'll use a bit more crumbs so that it looks a little nicer!

Out of the oven, the galette was a little intimidating to transfer, but I ended up just picking up either end of the Silpat, plopping it onto the platter, and sliding the mat out like a kitchen magician (that is, very carefully!)

This baby is all dressed up and ready to serve. I loved the rustic look and cutting into it didn't feel so wrong like it does when a dessert is "too" pretty if you know what I mean (but I usually get over that pretty quickly!)

Go ahead, dive in. This isn't a fancy pants dessert- it's a tell-the-photographer-to-hurry up-already and lick-your-fingers kind of dessert. Perfect. This week's Tuesdays with Dorie choice comes from Michelle and you can find the recipe on her blog.

32 comments:

  1. Yum, I went with plums as well. I like the powdered sugar touch.

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  2. Your galette looks fantastic! Plums sound so good. I didn't have much room for much custard in mine either. I think I have fallen in love with fruit desserts! :)

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  3. Oooh, good fruit combo! Makes me wish I were more creative.

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  4. Next time I don't use the custard, it gives the galette a gross or snotty look.

    I wish I hadn't have the space for custard. Your galette looks gorgeous!

    Ulrike from Küchenlatein

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  5. Your fruit combination sounds delicious. My galette was very juicy, too, even with the graham cracker crumbs.

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  6. It looks so good! I loved this dessert, too. And I really love that pie crust recipe. It's like dessert on it's own, know what I mean?? Anyway, great pictures and a fabulous galette!

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  7. I love your fruit combo. Very good looking galette. Keep baking!

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  8. Beautiful pictures.
    Your fruit selection is great.
    Lovely looking galette, pass the ice cream!
    I agree with the tell-the-photographer-to-hurry-up. My daughter has threatened to start a blog ranting about having to wait to eat while her crazy mother takes pictures of the food.

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  9. that last picture is amazing - well, they all are, but I LOVE that one!!
    (and I will certainly provide you with any Greece tips I can - just let me know where you are going and I will dig out the ol' journal!)

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  10. Your galette looks great ~ I like the fruit combo! As usual, your photos are beautiful.

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  11. The fruit you chose looks so good! I agree with you on the custard, it really made this great.

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  12. What a beautiful galette. The fruit looks so summery and fresh!! I want a bite NOW!! : )

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  13. yummmm...i LOVE how the way you layered all your fruit...it just makes it look that much more beautiful and colorful! I too was also wayyy tempted to eat it as soon as it came out of the oven, without the custard!...buttt i knew Dorie wouldnt have included it in the recipe if it wasnt good!...so i waited.
    But it was definitely worth it!
    Great job!
    <3

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  14. Your fruit looks absolutely amazing. And yes, this is a hurry up and dig in sort of dessert. Always a good thing!

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  15. Look at how gorgeous that is! The colors are beautiful!

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  16. It looks fantastic! So, you aren't in Utah anymore? :(

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  17. Looks like a fancy pants dessert to me...you chose all your fruits so well that it seems like an incredibly rich and sinful dessert...all with fruit! Beautiful job.
    www.grandmaskitchentable.typepad.com

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  18. Nice job! I've been trying to find some good blackberries...no luck.

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  19. The custard is worth holding out for and the extra is so good baked on some extra pie dough as a treat. Beautiful galette!

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  20. I am ready to dig in and enjoy a slice!!! Looks wonderful!

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  21. Your galette looks really, really, REALLY good! Love the mix of fruit you used.

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  22. That's just so beautiful-especially with the powdered sugar.

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  23. The galette looks and sounds delicious. This IS a great recipe dough, and I'm going to be using it a lot.
    Madam Chow
    http://www.mzkitchen.com

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  24. Very pretty galette. Love the powdered sugar (I forgot that step in the hurry to just dig in!)

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  25. Your galette looks great! I love the combination of fruit that you used.

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  26. plums...yum! Great fruit combo! It looks delicious! Great job!

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  27. Those pictures are gorgeous. We really liked this one, too.

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  28. Your galette looks amazing. Love the blackberry touch. I've been getting blackberries at our farmer's market the last few weeks. They are yummy and don't last long here.
    I'll have to try that pie crust recipe. Everyone keeps talking about how great it is!

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  29. Gorgeous fruit combination! I bet it tasted amazing! Great job!
    Clara @ iheartfood4thought

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  30. That looks delicious! I definitely have to make this again!

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  31. This looks really good. Love the fruit choices. Great Job!

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