Jacques Pepin's Plum Galette

Are you there Food Blog Reading Friends? It's Me, Amanda. It's been a while. I feel like something has been missing in my life, and it's you. 

I find it hard to believe that it is March already. I feel like I just woke up on New Years Day and now it is already, almost Spring. Can you believe this???? 

So I am back, and I'm coming atcha! I'm going to begin with taunting you with this beautiful tart and sweet and just oh so delightful plum galette. 

I find it necessary that when the winter blues hit you that you need to do things that make you feel happy. Visit a friend that you haven't seen for a while, go for a long walk with a camera in your hand, catch a cheap movie or like me you make a dish that makes you think of summer. 

When there is a lot of fruit around I always think it is summertime and fruit pies will always remind me of the warm summer months. I will admit that I love pie but it is usually way too much for me. The slices are too big and too rich and too filling. I am that person that just wants about two bites and is completely satisfied. 

So a galette for me is just about perfect. It has all of those pie elements but in a smaller and to me, more satisfying form. 

And as my friend Megan indicated the word "galette" too, is much more distinguished than "pie". And I have to agree. 

What I like about this recipe is that it is very simple and has some great ingredients. Plums are very underrated. And they have some great qualities. Plums are a great source of dietary fiber and contain Vitamins A, K, and C. When you combine this with the almonds, which contain that good monounsaturated fat and B vitamins you are treating yourself to something rather good. 

Yes, this treat contains sugar but try baking with less refined sugars, like Turbinado or you can always use natural sugars like honey or agave nectar to add a bit of sweetness. Feel free to try other fruits in this recipe like peaches, apples, cherries, and rhubarb and switch up the preserves by using seedless raspberry or maybe even some tangerine. 

Be creative and remember that happiness is homemade. Enjoy!

Plum Galette

1 single prepared pie crust

1/4 cup coarse sugar, plus extra for sprinkling

3 Tbls ground almonds

3 Tbls all-purpose flour

4 large plums, halved, pitted and sliced

3 Tbls cold, unsalted butter, cut into small bits

1/3 cup good-quality apricot preserves

Preheat oven to 400 degrees

Make filling: Combine the flour, almonds and sugar in a small bowl. Take out your prepared pie crust and place on a heavy baking sheet. Spread the almond mixture onto the pie crust, reserving 2 inches around the edge of the crust. 

Arrange the galette: Layer the plum slices onto the pie crust and then dot the top of the plum slices with the butter. Fold the edges of the pie crust over the plums. Then sprinkle the edges of the galette with a little bit of coarse sugar.

Bake: Place the galette in the center of the oven and bake until is soft and slightly bubbly and the crust is nice and browned. It will take about 40 minutes to an hour depending on your oven. 

Remove the galette from the oven and cool for about two minutes on the baking sheet. Slide a knife under the galette and lift gently from the baking sheet. Place on a plate to finish cooling. Brush the preserves over the hot galette. If the preserves are cold place in the microwave for a few seconds so you are able to gently brush over the plums. Let the galette come to room temperature before serving.