It’s been surprisingly difficult for me to source this year but maybe that’s just my local market. Either way, I absolutely love rhubarb so I’m happy to find it. It pairs so well with apples and raspberries… and obviously I use any excuse to put ginger in things.
This is also one of those that I love cold – refrigerating it makes the crisp topping chewy and SO good. Also highly recommend is a large scoop of vanilla over everything.
The poppies are so pretty right now! They’re all over the city.
Actually, ALL the flowers are so pretty right now:
Low key weekend over here for me, just mostly chilling and being mellow.
Happy weekending!
Rhubarb, Apple and Raspberry Crisp with Ginger
Gluten free, refined sugar free, dairy free and vegan. Springy and fresh! A Wait are Those Cookies original. Yield: 1 8 or 9″ crisp; serves several.
1 granny smith apples, chopped into cubes 3 stalks of fresh rhubarb 2 c frozen/fresh raspberries juice of two limes 1 tbsp tapioca starch 1 tbsp maple 1/4 c water
1 cup old-fashioned oats (use certified gluten-free oats for a gluten-free crisp) ½ cup firmly packed almond flour ½ cup chopped walnuts 1/4 c unsweetened shredded coconut 2 tbsp maple syrup heaping ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt 2 tsp vanilla extract 1/3 c coconut oil, melted 1/3 c dried ginger, chopped (mine isn’t crystalized; if yours is, thats fine!)
Preheat the oven to 350. Toss apple, rhubarb and raspberries into your baking dish of choice (my dish is 8×8, 2 qt capacity; 9″ square or 9″ deep pie dish would also be fine). In a liquid measuring cup, whisk together the lime juice, tapioca starch, maple, water until combined. Pour the mixture over the fruit and toss to combine. Bake for 20 minutes.
While the filling is baking, make the crisp. In a mixing bowl, stir together the oats, almond flour, chopped walnuts, shredded coconut, and salt. Mix in the maple, vanilla, and coconut oil, followed by the chopped ginger. Stir until everything is mixed thoroughly.
Once the filling has baked for 20 minutes, stir it and and redistribute evenly in the dish. Plop spoonfuls of the crisp topping evenly over the filling – no need to pack it down. Return the dish to the oven and bake for 25 to 30 more minutes, until the filling is bubbling around the edges and the top is golden.
Let the crisp rest for 5 to 10 minutes before serving. Serve with vanilla ice cream, obviously! Keep leftovers, covered, in the fridge for 2-3 days (yeah right – would take some major feat to make it last more than overnight..)
More rhubarb! Lately, I can’t get enough of it. Some years I’ve been more ambivalent towards it, but not this year apparently. I’m out now though – I’m going to have to track some down again in short order.
I’ve actually never put rhubarb and pears together but I actually really love the combination. Plus, it works well in the shoulder season between winter pears and early spring rhubarb. Not to mention they both are amazing with spices like cinnamon and five spice; I added ginger as a garnish as well because I can’t get enough of that either.
I did a bunch of houseplant work the last two days – my giant hanging pothos got a haircut (his name is Kuzco and he’s been with me probably 4+ years at this point, I’ve lost track). I’m propagating the cuttings so that I can stick them back in the pot when they’ve rooted.
before… getting out of hand, he’s literally resting on my nightstand.after!
Another little guy got a new pot since he was incredibly rootbound in his last pot, so I have a bunch of much happier plants in here.
The wildflowers around the city are blooming too! So fun to see them up on Twin Peaks and at Crissy Field.
Anyway, rhubarb galette. Per usual, eaten for dessert and breakfast. I love it both ways… I can’t ever say no to eating things with ice cream, so obviously that’s a hit. But I also love it for a midmorning snack alongside coffee – can’t go wrong with that either.
I think rhubarb is starting to be a bit more easy to find in the market – normally it’s paired with a TON of sugar, which I obviously hate. I love it this way instead, alongside a sweeter fruit.
Happy weekend! I hope you are able to do something fun :)
Rhubarb & Pear Galette with Cinnamon and Five Spice
Lightly sweet and perfectly springy. Whole grain and refined sugar free – easy to swap in a gluten/grain free galette crust if needed – just add the cinnamon & five spice to whatever crust you use. Yield: 1 galette, serves several. A Wait are those Cookies original.
for the crust:
1 c whole wheat flour 1/2 c cornmeal 1/4 c almond flour 1/2 tsp sea salt 1 tsp cinnamon 1/2 tsp five spice 4oz/1 stick of unsalted butter, cubed 1/2 tsp almond extract 2-3 tbsp ice water
In a food processor, pulse together whole wheat flour, cornmeal, almond flour, cinnamon, five spice & sea salt. Add in cubed butter and pulse until it resembles coarse sand. Add almond extract and ice water. I typically add three tbsp water, pulse a few times, then add more if need be, 1tbsp at a time, stopping just when the dough starts to come together. Turn it out onto a board and knead it into a ball. I like to roll it immediately since it’s most pliable – typically I haven’t had trouble with this dough sticking or cracking if rolled immediately. I roll it between two sheets of parchment paper and use the bottom one to bake the galette on; makes an easy transferral method between cookie sheet & cooling rack. If you’re not rolling immediately, stick it in the fridge on a plate. Can be made ahead the night before if need be. If you are rolling immediately, roll it out into a circle about 1/4″ thick.
for the filling:
2 pears, sliced (mine were d’anjou) 2-3 stalks rhubarb, sliced 2 tbsp apricot jam (I use St. Dalfour’s, which has no added sugar – just fruit juice) sprinkle of coconut sugar + milk/half and half for brushing
Preheat the oven to 425. Spread the apricot jam over the middle of the dough, leaving a 1″ border, then pile on the sliced pears and rhubarb. Fold up the sides of the dough over the fruit and sprinkle with coconut sugar. Brush the dough with milk or half and half. Pop in the oven and bake for 30-35 minutes, until the crust is lightly browned. Remove to a cooling rack and let cool completely before slicing and serving. Store leftovers in the fridge overnight – it’s great for breakfast :)
I had to work a little to track some down – my usual market didn’t have any, but luckily I found some when I was out and about in a different neighborhood. Which also meant that I was that person walking down the street with a bunch of rhubarb clutched in my fist – but I am definitely okay being that person.
This cake is another variation on the grapefruit one I posted a few weeks ago – it’s a perfect snack or breakfast cake, as it isn’t all that sweet. It’s lightly spicy from the five spice, and the top gets jammy from the softened rhubarb + the actual jam involved. I use a jam that is fruit-sweetened only, which keeps this guy refined sugar free, but use whatever you have!
Almost wishing this had come out with the rhubarb slightly less soft – I may play around with it a little and see if I can make that happen.
Another insanely busy week here – I would like to stop working on the weekends please (insert eyeroll)…. this week should be less crazy though so I’m hoping for some downtime. At least I was able to swim most days this week; it is definitely preserving my sanity. Took today off since I know the humidity is supposed to drop next week which will trigger some autoimmune stuff – which means I’ll also be spending most days in the water, if at all possible.
Today was also a day of a food-photography mishap… I definitely broke the cake when I moved it from cooling rack to plate. Whatever, nothing some well-placed coconut won’t hide, and we’re going to eat it anyway so who cares. Not everything needs to be perfect.
I hope it is springy and nice where you are! I’m still hoping for some spring rains (CA needs it, but also I just love it.) Happy weekend :)
Rhubarb & Five Spice Upside Down Cake
Gluten free, dairy free & refined sugar free. Lightly sweet, slightly spicy, and perfect for spring. A Wait are those Cookies original. Yield: 1 8″ cake, serves several.
1.5 c almond flour 1/3 c cornmeal 3/4 tsp baking powder 1/4 tsp baking soda heaping 1/4 tsp sea salt 1 tsp five spice 2 eggs, lightly beaten 1/4 c maple syrup 1/3 c coconut oil, melted 1.5 tsp vanilla extract 1 tsp almond extract 2 stalks of rhubarb, thinly sliced 2 tbsp apricot jam (mine is fruit sweetened only) 2 tsp coconut sugar
Preheat oven to 325. Lightly grease an 8″ cake pan with coconut oil and line the bottom with parchment paper – I flip it over, trace the outline & then cut, to get a perfectly sized circle. Spread the apricot jam evenly over the parchment, then drop the rhubarb slices into the bottom of the prepared pan. Sprinkle with coconut sugar.
In a large bowl, whisk together almond flour, cornmeal, baking powder, baking soda, sea salt & five spice. Add in eggs, honey, coconut oil, vanilla & almond extract, and stir until all ingredients are just incorporated. Drop the batter into the prepared pan – it’s thick! That’s normal – just even out the top with a spatula. Bake for 35-38 minutes, until the top of the cake is lightly browned, firm, and a tester in the center comes out clean. You can cover the cake with foil during the last 10 minutes of baking if the cake is browning too fast – though mine was done at 35 minutes, and I didn’t need the foil trick. Remove and let cool for a few minutes in the pan before flipping it out onto a cooling rack. Let cool completely before slicing and serving. Stores well overnight in the fridge, and is arguably even better for breakfast.
Pi Day! As C pointed out, it’s like my tailor-made holiday, haha!
I find it super rewarding to make “intricate” pies like this – it’s fundamentally not that difficult (just like drawing, but with dough!) and so rewarding. There’s always an element of heebie jeebies after it goes in the oven, when I wonder if it will turn out properly once it’s baked… but then it comes out and it’s so satisfying to see the final product!
It really all started with the Death Star pie I made years ago… now I find that I never really want to make a standard pie crust if I’m going to go ahead and make pie. I find it a super relaxing way to spend a morning anyway, so it has added benefits! The city weather was really blustery and overcast this morning – perfect pie making weather (I’m writing this on Saturday but am scheduling this to post on Sunday…. because Pi day… you know how it goes)
Got out for a long walk midday in the WIND. Holy moly it’s windy. Passed on a swim this morning because I was having fun making pie but mostly because I was tired and after a monster swim yday, I didn’t feel like fighting the chop today.
Speaking of swimming – obviously I love all things nautical and aquatic, hence the pie theme. I have a particular affinity for mermaids (C thinks maybe I am one – would honestly explain a lot) so here you have it – aquatic pie, complete with tentacles!
It was on an off rainy this week and I had so much fun going for walks in the drizzle. A few shots from the week’s ramblings:
The recipe for today’s wild blueberry + whole wheat pie is the same pie crust and filling I’ve made a zillion times – most recently here (today’s version is just all blueberries – use about 4.5 c or as much as it takes to fill your pie dish). It’s refined sugar free, of course – as always :)
Slight nod to the weekend’s Hallmark holiday down there in the lower right… couldn’t help it, but also had no inclination to make something overly themed. I had apples, wanted crisp. Easy!
Ever since I made that last one two weeks ago, all I can think about is the way coconut oil is SO GOOD in the crisp topping. I love how solid it gets when refrigerated… but maybe I’m just weird that way; it would seem that like love cold things (bay water, anyone?)
Regardless, this is another variation on a pretty stellar crisp. Excellent for using up a glut of tiny, rather blemished apples – they don’t have to be pretty to be tasty! This version has a bit of dark chocolate – the Manperson requested that I do something with chocolate this weekend, so here it is! Chocolate and ginger are a fave, and pecans just make things that much better.
It’s excellent for breakfast; since there is hardly any added sweetener, it’s basically just fruit / nuts / oats – C and I have compared it to muesli in the past. Not quite, but close! Or granola, either way. Of course it’s also great for dessert with a scoop of ice cream too – no complaints if someone plunks a bowl down in front of me.
Let’s see… in life news, I swam in the bay a bunch more last week because I seemingly can’t get enough, hiked on the beach, saw some pretty blooming trees (the cherry blossoms are out in my neighborhood!) and enjoyed the rain.
It was bath day for the plants today – thinking maybe Kuzco needs a bit of a haircut. It would help him fill out a bit up top so I really should but I love how trailing his vines have gotten and I’m really loath to trim them. Ah well, sometime soon.
I hope your weekend is full of outside time! Happy Saturday :)
Razapple Crisp with Ginger, Dark Chocolate & Pecan
Gluten free, refined sugar free, vegan, dairy free & whole grain. Yay! Fruity, nutty & not too sweet – perfect for breakfast. A Wait are those Cookies original. Yield: 1 9″ crisp, serves several.
4-5 small granny smith apples, chopped into cubes 1 c fresh raspberries (mine were frozen) 1 tbsp tapioca starch 1 tbsp maple 1/4 c water juice of 1 lemon
1 cup old-fashioned oats (use certified gluten-free oats for a gluten-free crisp) ½ cup firmly packed almond flour ½ cup chopped pecans 1/4 c unsweetened shredded coconut 2 tbsp maple syrup heaping ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt 2 tsp vanilla extract 1/3 c coconut oil, melted 1/3 c dried ginger, chopped (mine isn’t crystalized; if yours is, thats fine!) 1/4 c dark chocolate, roughly chopped
Preheat the oven to 350. Toss apples and raspberries into your baking dish of choice (my dish is 8×8, 2 qt capacity; 9″ square or 9″ deep pie dish would also be fine). In a liquid measuring cup, whisk together the tapioca starch, maple, water and lemon juice until combined. Pour the mixture over the fruit and toss to combine. Bake for 20 minutes.
While the filling is baking, make the crisp. In a mixing bowl, stir together the oats, almond flour, chopped pecans, shredded coconut, and salt. Mix in the maple, vanilla, and coconut oil, followed by the chopped ginger. Stir until everything is mixed thoroughly. Stir in chocolate.
Once the filling has baked for 20 minutes, stir it and and redistribute evenly in the dish. Plop spoonfuls of the crisp topping evenly over the filling – no need to pack it down. Return the dish to the oven and bake for 25 to 30 more minutes, until the filling is bubbling around the edges and the top is golden.
Let the crisp rest for 5 to 10 minutes before serving. Serve with vanilla ice cream, obviously! Keep leftovers, covered, in the fridge for 2-3 days (yeah right – would take some major feat to make it last more than overnight..)
Wow jeez apparently all I make anymore are citrus galettes! We both love them, they’re fast and easy, and citrus is perfect right now.
This week was a little better on the autoimmune front. Not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but at least better for the moment. I took a sanity break/mental health day on Thursday and C and I went up for a skiing day trip! Super fun, it felt so good to be back on skis. Haven’t done that much driving in a looooong time, but the Prius handled itself admirably in the snow AND a long fun day was followed by a faceplant into a carnitas burrito and a giant plate of nachos. Win win win all around.
I’ve also been swimming in the Bay lately! I LOVE IT. It’s very cold obviously – wet suit necessary – but omg. It feels so good. Maybe I’m just a freak of nature but I really like cold water. I’m not far from Aquatic Park either so it makes for a great lunchtime break.
very red little ice blocks pretending to be feet
I love living in the Bay for that reason: skiing one day, swimming in the bay the next. It is so worth the ridiculous rents… mental health > high rent, always!
hull breach!
But anyway. Back to the topic at hand: galette! Hopefully you’re not sick of seeing yet another iteration of citrus galette…. I swear they’re delicious. This one had a hull breach, as you can see… but I like when they’re less than perfect. I use a jam that is only fruit-sweetened, so this little guy is technically free of added sugars, wooo! It’s also full of whole grains. I posted the link to a gluten/grain free crust too, if needed – I love that one too, it comes together really easily in the food processor.
Happy weekend! I hope yours is full of outside time and sunshine.
Grapefruit, Blueberry & Hazelnut Galette
Refined sugar free and whole grain! If you need a grain and gluten free crust, I like this one. I used two small grapefruit for this – you might be able to get away with one large one and more blueberries. Lightly sweet and perfectly citrusy! Yield: 1 galette, serves several. A Wait are Those Cookies original.
for the crust:
1 c whole wheat flour 1/2 c cornmeal 1/4 c hazelnut flour 1/2 tsp sea salt 4oz/1 stick of unsalted butter, cubed 1 tsp vanilla extract 1/2 tsp almond extract 2-3 tbsp ice water
In a food processor, pulse together whole wheat flour, cornmeal, hazelnut flour, and sea salt. Add in cubed butter and pulse until it resembles coarse sand. Add vanilla & almond extract, and then the ice water. I typically add three tbsp water, pulse a few times, then add more if need be, 1tbsp at a time, stopping just when the dough starts to come together. Turn it out onto a board and knead it into a ball. I like to roll it immediately since it’s most pliable – typically I haven’t had trouble with this dough sticking or cracking if rolled immediately. I roll it between two sheets of parchment paper and use the bottom one to bake the galette on; makes an easy transferral method between cookie sheet & cooling rack. If you’re not rolling immediately, stick it in the fridge on a plate. Can be made ahead the night before if need be. If you are rolling immediately, roll it out into a circle about 1/4″ thick.
for the filling:
2 grapefruits, peeled & sliced crossways 1/2 c wild blueberries (mine were frozen; no need to thaw) 2 tbsp apricot jam (I use St. Dalfour’s, which has no added sugar – just fruit juice) milk/half and half for brushing
Preheat the oven to 425. Spread the apricot jam over the middle of the dough, leaving a 1″ border, then pile on the sliced grapefruit and blueberries. Fold up the sides of the dough over the fruit. Brush the dough with milk or half and half. Pop in the oven and bake for 30-35 minutes, until the crust is lightly browned. Remove to a cooling rack and let cool completely before slicing and serving. Store leftovers in the fridge overnight – it’s great for breakfast :)
Full disclosure: it was a rough autoimmune week over here – mentally and physically. So while I was very, VERY glad for the weekend, I’m haven’t been feeling quite as upbeat as usual. That being said, I spent a very nice Saturday evening & Sunday with C – worked out like a crazy today which helps, at least mentally.
I’m keeping this relatively short, but I wanted to share this crisp with you – it’s gluten free, refined sugar free, dairy free & vegan! I had half a bag of cranberries hanging out in my freezer that I wanted to use before they felt too out of season – plus, crisps are easy and delicious. I think this might actually be one of the best crisps I’ve ever made – at least, it’s probably my favorite that I’ve ever made, and that’s saying a lot!
I really couldn’t stop eating it today; very nearly all of it is gone (to be fair, we both worked out hard today so it was a great post workout snack.)
a few of the plants wanted in
I hope everyone enjoyed their weekends! I’m bummed it’s finished already – can we get on this 4-day workweek train already? Sheesh. Looking forward to the next one! Something grapefruity is on the menu I think; I have some coming in my imperfect produce box this week. Stay tuned :)
Apple, Cranberry, Date & Ginger Crisp
Refined sugar free, gluten free, dairy free & vegan. Yield: 1 9″ crisp; serves several. A Wait are those Cookies original.
5 small granny smith apples, chopped into cubes 1/2 c fresh cranberries (or frozen) 5 large medjool dates, chopped 1 tbsp tapioca starch 1 tbsp maple 1/4 c water
1 cup old-fashioned oats (use certified gluten-free oats for a gluten-free crisp) ½ cup firmly packed almond flour ½ cup chopped pecans 1/4 c unsweetened shredded coconut 2 tbsp maple syrup heaping ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt 2 tsp vanilla extract 1/3 c coconut oil, melted 1/3 c dried ginger, chopped (mine isn’t crystalized; if yours is, thats fine!)
Preheat the oven to 350. Toss apples, cranberries and dates into your baking dish of choice (my dish is 8×8, 2 qt capacity; 9″ square or 9″ deep pie dish would also be fine). In a liquid measuring cup, whisk together the tapioca starch, maple, water until combined. Pour the mixture over the fruit and toss to combine. Bake for 20 minutes.
While the filling is baking, make the crisp. In a mixing bowl, stir together the oats, almond flour, chopped pecans, shredded coconut, and salt. Mix in the maple, vanilla, and coconut oil, followed by the chopped ginger. Stir until everything is mixed thoroughly. Stir in chocolate.
Once the filling has baked for 20 minutes, stir it and and redistribute evenly in the dish. Plop spoonfuls of the crisp topping evenly over the filling – no need to pack it down. Return the dish to the oven and bake for 25 to 30 more minutes, until the filling is bubbling around the edges and the top is golden.
Let the crisp rest for 5 to 10 minutes before serving. Keep leftovers, covered, in the fridge for 2-3 days (yeah right – would take some major feat to make it last more than overnight..)
Another beautiful Saturday out here in the city – sunny but cold. Karl is nowhere to be seen today – I wanted to go out to the beach again, but had to be home midafternoon for a computer dropoff so I settled for a long walk along the Marina and through the Presidio, along Lover’s Lane (mostly because I love the name).
I did get out to Ocean Beach a few times last week though, once to catch the sunset – I really couldn’t live anywhere else. The pull of the ocean is too strong – I get twitchy if I’m too far inland.
fave manperson came with to watch the sun set
In other news, made yet another galette this weekend – I know, I know, try to contain your astonishment. This is a bit new though, as I layered lemon curd in the bottom of it – I’ve never tried that before but it’s definitely a winning proposition. Blood oranges are in season now out here too, so I’m trying to take full advantage. I love the ombre effect you get when you cut into them – so pretty! Like nature’s stained glass.
This galette is refined sugar free and whole grain – the crust could easily be swapped out for a grain/gluten/dairy free/vegan version if needed. The whole thing is very minimally sweetened – I like citrus things to actually be tart, you know? Usually lemon curd has a whole boatload of sugar in it but we know that’s not how I roll. This version uses only a couple tablespoons of maple; if you’re skeptical about maple + lemon, don’t worry! The lemon is really the only thing you taste.
Happy weekend, internet friends! I hope you spent some time in nature this weekend, no matter where in the world you are :)
Blood Orange & Meyer Lemon Curd Galette
Refined sugar free & whole grain – this galette is minimally sweetened with maple, and for those who like their citrus as nature intended: tart! The lemon curd can be made up to a week in advance if you want to cut down on prep time – it keeps really well in the fridge and can even be frozen (use a snapware or something that seals really well). A Wait are those Cookies original. Yield: 1 galette; serves several.
For the crust:
1 c whole wheat flour 1/2 c cornmeal 1/2 tsp sea salt 4oz/1 stick of unsalted butter, cubed 1 tsp vanilla extract 1/2 tsp almond extract 2-3 tbsp ice water
In a food processor, pulse together whole wheat flour, cornmeal, sea salt. Add in cubed butter and pulse until it resembled coarse sand. Add vanilla & almond extract, and then the ice water. I typically add three tbsp water, pulse a few times, then add more if need be, 1tbsp at a time, stopping just when the dough starts to come together. Turn it out onto a board and knead it into a ball. I like to roll it immediately since it’s most pliable – typically I haven’t had trouble with this dough sticking or cracking if rolled immediately. I roll it between two sheets of parchment paper and use the bottom one to bake the galette on; makes an easy transferral method between cookie sheet & cooling rack. If you’re not rolling immediately, stick it in the fridge on a plate. Can be made ahead the night before if need be.
Maple Lemon Curd:
3 whole eggs 2 egg yolks 1/3 c meyer lemon juice zest of 4 meyer lemons pinch of sea salt 2 tbsp maple syrup 4 tbsp butter, unsalted 1 tsp vanilla
I used a double boiler for this lemon curd, which literally is a game changer. Highly recommended! Heat water in the bottom of the double boiler until it’s at a high simmer. In the top of the double boiler, whisk together eggs, egg yolks, lemon zest and juice, sea salt, and maple syrup. Add in the butter one tbsp at a time, whisking continuously, not adding the next tbsp until the first is completely melted. Whisk in vanilla. Cook, stirring constantly, until the lemon curd thickens and will coat the back of a spoon (or your whisk leaves tracks) – usually around 5 to 8 minutes. It’s a noticeable change when it happens, so just watch the cooking magic! Remove from heat, and strain through a metal strainer to remove zest. Store in a glass container in the fridge until ready for use – can be made up to a week ahead.
For the fruit:
4 blood oranges, peeled & sliced a few dabs of butter & splash of milk or half and half
Preheat the oven to 425. Roll out the dough between two pieces of parchment paper until it’s about 1/4″ thick. Spread the lemon curd over the middle of the dough, leaving a 1″ border, then pile on the sliced oranges. Fold up the sides of the dough over the fruit. Brush the dough with an milk or half and half. Dot fruit with butter if you like, though it’s not strictly necessary. Pop in the oven and bake for 35-40 minutes, until the crust is lightly browned. Remove to a cooling rack and let cool completely before slicing and serving. Store leftovers in the fridge overnight – it’s great for breakfast :)
Wow what a week. I don’t have much I think I can even say, other than I think most of us took a big psychic hit this week. Over here in my corner of the internet, we’ll keep it to in-season produce and pretty things. By no means am I ignoring what is going on – merely attempting to provide a momentary brain break before diving back into the mental fray.
I’ll leave you with this recipe for a simple, seasonal galette that is as pretty as it is delicious. Blood oranges and grapefruits are totally in season right now – at least in California, yay west coast citrus season! The crust is a whole wheat and cornmeal, which is completely adaptable if you need one that is gluten and/or grain free. I laid a layer of almond butter and apricot jam between crust and fruit for bubbly, jammy goodness. It reminds me almost of a grown up pb&j.
Galettes are inherently adaptable and forgiving, which I think is very necessary and important right now. Let’s not complicate things where we don’t have to, hmm?
In other news, I’ve been trying to get back into the drawing groove by drawing daily. Here’s a favorite from this week:
you can also see the back of the previous day’s bialetti hiding on the opposite page…a pretty flower. we need more pretty things.
Give yourself a brain break and make some dessert – that happens to be free of all sweeteners. That being said, eat it with ice cream if that makes you happy – I am certainly not going to stop you.
Happy Saturday!
Citrus and Almond Galette with a Cornmeal Crust
A Wait are those Cookies original. Yield: 1 galette, serves several. The crust is whole grain; if you need one that is gluten & grain free, I like this one. Completely free of any added sweeteners – I use St. Dalfour’s apricot jam that is made of fruit only (not sponsored of course, I just love it!)
for the crust: 1 c whole wheat flour 1/2 c cornmeal 1/2 tsp sea salt 4oz/1 stick of unsalted butter, cubed 2-3 tbsp ice water
In a food processor, pulse together whole wheat flour, cornmeal, and sea salt. Add in cubed butter and pulse until it resembled coarse sand. Add the ice water 1 tbsp at a time until the dough starts to come together. Turn it out onto a board and knead it into a ball. I like to roll it immediately since it’s most pliable – typically I haven’t had trouble with this dough sticking. I roll it between two sheets of parchment paper and use the bottom one to bake the galette on; makes an easy transferral method between cookie sheet & cooling rack. If you’re not rolling immediately, stuck it in the fridge on a plate. Can be made ahead the night before if need be.
For the fruit:
3 small blood oranges, peeled & sliced 2 grapefruit, peeled & sliced 2 tbsp almond butter 2 tbsp apricot jam (I use St. Dalfour’s, which is just fruit – no sweetener) a few dabs of butter & splash of milk or half and half
Preheat the oven to 425. Roll out the dough between two pieces of parchment paper until it’s about 1/4″ thick. Spread the almond butter and jam in a thin layer over the middle of the dough. Pile the sliced citrus in the center, leaving a border of about 3″. Fold up the sides of the dough over the fruit. Brush the dough with an milk or half and half. Dot fruit with butter if you like, though it’s not strictly necessary. Pop in the oven and bake for 35-40 minutes, until the crust is lightly browned. Remove to a cooling rack and let cool completely before slicing and serving. Store leftovers in the fridge overnight – it’s great for breakfast :)
I love baking when it’s rainy, or really just doing anything when it’s rainy. I even like walking in it! Maybe because I lived in the pacific northwest for awhile, who knows.
We finally got some here in SF – and oddly enough, my autoimmune temperature disregulation stuff calms way down when it’s actively raining, or when the humidity is super high (bizarre, I know. If anyone has ANY insight into this…. please let me know!!) – so I definitely welcomed the day of respite. Plus, I love rain anyway, so no complaints there.
In other news, it’s mid-December already, what?! Insanity. It feels like it was just my birthday in September, and now we’re almost to the end of the year. To that end, I wanted to make something ridiculously “festive” and wintery – enter this cranberry curd tart! I’m in LOVE with the color. None of the photos are edited! This is just the unreal color that it naturally is.
It sounds complicated but really isn’t – basically just a riff on lemon curd, with the extra step of cooking the cranberries (which is fun anyway, I love listening to them pop). The tart itself comes together very quickly once the curd is made – all told, it’s in the oven for less than 30 min. The curd can be made in advance too, since it keeps really well in the fridge – and actually, the color deepens a little if you let it rest overnight. Fun!
See! Curd straight out of the fridge, after resting overnight.
We’ve had more gorgeous sunsets lately – a few that were worth climbing out my window onto the roof for photos. I happen to have the only apartment in my building that has direct roof access, so I try to take advantage…. I took the screen out of the window for that reason!
C and I also took a midweek mental health break walk over at Fort Funston – hands down our favorite beach out here. It was a beautiful, salty and humid 6 miles – perfect.
I hope all is well as can be in your worlds. I’m here to bring a little color to my corner of the internet and wish you a festive season, in spite what is happening in the world. Regardless of my own personal health stuff, I can always find joy in baking, and I hope that is true for you too! At the very least, you can come over here and look at pretty pictures, that’s good too :) Happy December baking!
Cranberry Curd Tart with a Cinnamon Cornmeal Crust
Refined sugar free & gluten free. Crust is easily grain free – just swap out the cornmeal for an equal volume of almond flour (or more shredded coconut). The curd can be made well in advance if desired – it keeps well in the fridge for several days. A Wait are those Cookies original, inspired by a New York Times tart that keeps cropping up in my feeds. Yield: 1 9″ tart, serves several.
For the crust
1.5 c almond flour 1/4 c unsweetened shredded coconut 1/2 c cornmeal heaping 1/4 tsp sea salt 1/2 tsp baking soda 1 tsp cinnamon 2 tsp vanilla extract 2 tbsp pure maple syrup 6 tbsp coconut oil, melted
In a large bowl, stir together almond flour, shredded coconut, cornmeal, sea salt, baking soda, and cinnamon. Add in vanilla, maple, and melted coconut oil, and stir until completely combined. The dough will look crumbly, but you’ll be able to press it together with your fingers.
Preheat the oven to 350, and lightly grease a 9″ tart pan (w/ removable bottom; or alternatively a pie plate) with coconut oil. Press the crust into the plate and up the sides with a spoon or your fingers, creating a smooth edge. Poke the bottom with a fork a few times, and bake for 15 minutes. Remove and let cool for a few minutes. Increase oven temp to 375.
Cranberry Curd
1 bag of cranberries, about 2 cups 1/2 c freshly squeeze orange + lemon juice (I used 4 small mandarins + 2 lemons) 1/4 c water zest of 1 lemon 4 tbsp butter 1/4 tsp sea salt 1/4 c maple syrup 1 whole egg 2 egg yolks 1 tsp vanilla
In a saucepan over medium high, heat cranberries, citrus juice, water and lemon zest until cranberries pop, about 10 minutes. Stir occasionally. Once the berries are very saucy, remove from heat and puree with an immersion blender (or a food processor). Strain the puree through a fine mesh sieve, pressing on the solids to extract all the good liquid. Make sure to scrape the bottom of the sieve too! Add liquid back into the saucepan (wipe it out first, if needed); discard solids.
Add maple, salt, and butter into the cranberry mixture, heating over medium-low and stirring continuously until butter is fully melted, about five minutes. In a separate bowl, whisk together egg and egg yolks. Temper the eggs by slowly whisking in a bit of the hot cranberries; then continue to whisk in the rest. Add the whole thing back into the saucepan (no need to wipe it out here), and continue to cook over low heat, stirring continuously, until the curd thickens and coats the back of a spoon – about 8-10 minutes more. Whisk in vanilla, then remove from heat and let cool completely (I usually let it cool in a pyrex snapware container, not the saucepan). You can strain it again if need be – I found mine was smooth enough to do without.
The curd can be made ahead – it keeps well for several days in the fridge. No need to bring it room temp before using in the tart.
Pour the curd into the crust and smooth the top. Bake at 375 for 8-12 minutes, until the curd is barely set. Cool completely before slicing and serving – even better, cool it in the fridge for a few hours before slicing. Leftovers keep well, covered, in the fridge at least overnight.
naked tart, with a small divot where I dropped a crumb and tried to get rid of it. oh well, perfection is overrated anyway.
Wait...are those...cookies?! 