Thursday, November 27, 2008

Thanksgiving Day Pastries

First of all, Happy Thanksgiving! This is my favorite holiday and I anticipate this day all year long. I only made two desserts this year, plus all the side dishes. I opted to make everyone's favorite and most requested, apple crumb pie and a pear and cranberry gallette. I had wanted to make it as a pie, but I have never made a gallette and thought it would be easy and I was right on with my assumption! Still gorgeous and delectably enticing!




Pear and Cranberry Gallette:

Ingredients:

  • 4 Pears (anjou, barlett, or bosc)
  • 1/4 Cup dried unsweetened Cranberries (not craisins)
  • 1/2 Cup Sugar
  • 1/8 Cup Cranberry Jam (I used Red Currant due to availability) melted
  • 1/4 teaspoon Cinnamon
  • One 9" Pie Crust (Homemade or Store Bought)

Directions:

  1. Peel, core and thinly slice pears. In a mixing bowl, combine first five ingredients until well combined.


  2. Place a silpat onto a baking sheet and layout pie dough. Layer or pile pear mixture in the center of dough, leaving enough room to pull crust over.


  3. Gather first section of dough and fold, keep doing this until all dough is folded. Brush crust with egg wash and sprinkle glazed dough with course sugar.


  4. Bake for 50-60 minutes or until golden.










Apple Crumb Pie:

Apple Filling Ingredients:

  • 6 Granny Smith Apples, peeled and thinly sliced
  • 2 Gala Apples, peeled and thinly sliced
  • 1/2 Cup Granulated Sugar
  • 1/4 cup Brown Sugar (this is what makes mine more caramel like, usually you only put
  • granulated sugar)
  • 1 teaspoon Lemon Juice
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons Cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon flour
  • 1/2 Craisins or fresh cranberries (optional)

Directions:

  1. Mix all ingredients together and pack filling into pie crust.

For Crumb Topping:

  • 1 stick unsalted butter, cut into cubes
  • 1 cup flour
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 cup chopped Pecans (optional)
  1. In food processor or using pastry blender combine all ingredients until it consists of a crumbly mixture. Place pie on a foil lined baking sheet. Top apples with crumb topping.
  2. Bake at 350 for 50 minutes



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