A Bit of French Nostalgia

This week I have found myself daydreaming about Paris for a handful of reasons: my guest blog on CheckYourParis, reading an old interview of author Kirsten Lobe of Paris Hangover and French Trysts: Secrets of a Courtesan, and the beautiful spring weather we have been having that reminds me of the perfect time to take a leap over the pond to the City of Light.

But, since I am tethered to my job at the moment, as most of us are, I thought I'd bring a little Paris to me and to you. 

I am thrilled to share with you one of my new favorite desserts.  After traveling for the first time in France, I, as many do, fell in love with their pâtisseries and all of the delicious treats that can be found at each one.  What impressed me the most was the attention to detail and the seemingly simple ingredients.  However, upon laying my hands on a recipe, while the ingredients may be simple in certain desserts, the attention to detail is what makes French pastries so attractive to the eye, and more importantly, so difficult to master.

Thanks to Ina Garten, again, I used her recipe for a French apple tart found on page 191 in her most recent cookbook Back to Basics: Barefoot Contessa and found, with her help, it wasn't so difficult after all.

Ingredients:

For the pastry (full disclosure: I use a Puff pastry sheet, and it tastes lovely and saves time too!)

*2 cups all-purpose flour

*1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

*1 tablespoon sugar

*12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) cold unsalted butter, diced

1/2 cup ice water

For the apples:

*4 Granny Smith apples

*1/2 cup sugar

*4 tablespoon (1/2 stick) cold unsalted butter, small-diced

*1/2 cup apricot jelly or warm sieved apricot jam

*2 tablespoons Calvados, rum or water

Directions:

*For the pastry, place the flour, salt, and sugar in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade.  Pulse for a few seconds to combine.  Add the butter and pulse 10 to 12 times, until the butter is in small bits the size of peas.  With the motor running, pour the ice water down the feed tube and pulse just until the dough starts to come together.  Dump onto a floured board and knead quickly into a ball. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

(For a really fast apple tart, you can use one sheet of frozen puff pastry, defrosted.  Roll out to 10 1/2 x 10 1/2 inches and then proceed with the apples.)

*Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.  Line a sheet pan with parchment paper.

*Roll the dough slightly larger than 10 x 14 inches. Using a ruler and a small knife, trim the edges.  Place the dough on the prepared sheet pan and refrigerate while you prepare the apples.

*Peel the apples and cut them in half through the stem.  Remove the stems and cores with a sharp knife and a melon baller.  Slice the apples crosswise in 1/4-inch-thick slices.  Place overlapping slices of apples diagonally down the middle of the tart and continue making diagonal rows on both sides of the first row until the pastry is covered with apple slices. (Barefoot Contessa tends not to use the apple ends in order to make the arrangement beautiful.)  Sprinkle with the full 1/2 cup sugar and dot with the butter.

*Bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour, until the pastry is browned and the edges of the apples start to brown.  Rotate the pan once during cooking.  If the pastry puffs up in one area, cut a little slit with a knife to let the air out.  Don't worry!  The apple juices will burn in the pan but the tart will be fine!  When the tart is done, heat the apricot jelly together with the rum and brush the apples and the pastry completely with the jelly mixture.  Loosen the tart with a metal spatula so it doesn't stick to the paper.  Allow to cool and serve warm or at room temperature.

*Enjoy!

(I find it to be a great treat in the morning as well with a warm cup of tea - Yum!)

So, I'm off to have a nibble and reminisce about my days in Paris and the Loire Valley.  Some day, some day, I will return. 

To all of my readers, have a lovely weekend and thanks so very much for entering my most recent giveaway, becoming a new follower or continuing to follow, following me on Twitter or simply taking a moment to revel in a few simply luxurious discoveries on Simply Luxurious.  I thoroughly enjoyed hearing from you this week, and don't forget, to stop by tomorrow for Saturday Style and a quick recap of the week.

Au revoir for now!

Images: (1) Source (2)- Source (2) - Simply Luxurious photo (4)-Source

Cups of Tea (3/7-3/13)

Good Sunday morning!  For some of us this is a treasured day because it represents the beginning of longer evenings filled with daylight, for others I’m sure they’re wondering where that one hour of sleep went.  No matter how any of us may look at it, just keep in mind that springing forward brings us that much closer to the actual Spring itself,  and I for one, am willing to do just about anything for warmer days, no snowy surprises and flowers displaying their wares.

This week’s cups of tea include a couple of what look to be delectable recipes that I am anxious to try, tips for getting ready for the tag sale/yard sale/estate sale/deal-finding season, an inspired quote from an actress who seems so very grounded in who she is, and a beautiful collection of one of my favorite types of furniture pieces.  Enjoy perusing through them all.

 

1. A Breakfast Idea

If you’re becoming bored with the same old pancakes or waffles for a special breakfast on the weekend, why not mix it up a bit?  Deb of Smitten Kitchen created a recipe for a Breakfast Pizza that looks magnificent. So simple, yet so imaginative, I can’t wait to give it a try. Click on the picture below or the heading above to view the recipe (includes a recipe for the pizza dough as well).

 

2.  Yard Sale Season

Classy and Fabulous this week shared a list of great tips for those of us who are revving up for the yard sale season.  For anyone who has not participated in this sport (if you do it right, it can be quite taxing mentally and physically, so yes it could be considered a sport; just picture it – two women, one gorgeous armoire, need I say more?), Karla shares a list of things to keep in mind to ensure a successful outing.  And for those of us who are old hats, it’s a great refresher.  After all, we wouldn’t want to get rusty, now would we?

3. Dining On Wood

Since we’re on the topic of hunting for deals, I must share one of the best finds I have ever had the pleasure of stumbling upon when it comes to garage sales.  My mother and I came upon a pile of oak pieces one year that looked like wooden legs of at least six to eight inches in diameter.  After looking closer, we realized it was a dining room table that simply needed to be put together.  The suggested price was must lower than it should have been, so we jumped, and with some help from one of the best carpenters I know, I now have a gorgeous oak dining table that looks used, yet polished at the same time. Needless to say, the table itself is a perfect conversation starter at a dinner party.

This week I came across a post by the Material Girls that reminded me of the fateful day described above, and I couldn’t help but include it this week.  Take a look at the array of wooden tables all decorated uniquely to showcase beautiful wooden dining tables.

 

4. Divine Bruschetta

One of my favorite snacks or appetizers to treat myself to after a long day at work is bruschetta and a crisp glass of viognier or chardonnay.  There are many different recipes, and while I tend to stick to my favorite, my mouth began to water just a little (okay, actually more than just a little) when I came across this recipe by Creative Kitchen.  Denise has the opportunity to work just a few nights a week at an authentic Italian restaurant (no freezer on site!) and came up with this Bruschetta Recipe after having seen the delicious meals and cooking styles at work.  I am so thankful she shared.  Enjoy!

 

 

5. A Thought To Ponder

Happiness and how to achieve it have been on my mind a lot lately as I am in the middle of reading Gretchen Rubin’s The Happiness Project, so when I came across this quote posted on The Love List, I wanted to share it with my readers.  It poses an interesting question that doesn’t hurt being asked of ourselves,  when do we feel our best?

“I look my best after an entire hair and makeup team has spent hours perfecting me. When do I feel my best? When I haven't looked in the mirror for days, and I'm doing things that make me happy."

-Anne Hathaway