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Anything You Like Galette

Anything You Like Galette

Anything You Like Galette

Keep pie dough in the freezer, and a galette for dinner is surprisingly simple. Anything can become a galette filling—saute some mushrooms or greens, roast up some root vegetables, or just rummage through the fridge for leftovers. As Irene will tell you, baked brie is technically a galette! Once you’ve got your filling, spoon it onto the crust, make a few simple folds (so easy a six-year-old can do it, we promise), bake, and eat. You can also layer a sauce on the bottom of the crust, mix in some herbs or spices, or sprinkle on bits of cheese or meat. Experiment on the outside of the crust too, by dusting on some grated Parmesan, everything bagel spice, or just a few grinds of black pepper and a pinch of flaky salt.

 

2 T. extra-virgin olive oil, plus more as needed

1 small onion or large shallot, chopped

4 garlic cloves, chopped

3 cups filling of choice

1 pie crust, thawed if frozen and unrolled

1 egg beaten with a small splash of water, for egg wash (optional; a bit of olive oil or heavy cream works too)

 

Heat the oven to 400 degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment or a silicone baking mat. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat, then add the onion and garlic. Sauté until the onion is tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in any other filling ingredients as directed below, then season to taste with salt and pepper. Roll out the pie crust and place on the prepared baking sheet. If you’re adding a sauce or cheese to the base of the galette, smear it across the center, leaving a roughly 2-inch border around the edges. Scoop your filling on top and spread it around. Fold the edges up over the sides of the filling in all directions (galettes are meant to be rustic, so don’t worry too much about the shape), then brush with an egg wash, olive oil, or cream, if using. Bake until the crust is a deep golden brown, 35 to 45 minutes. Let cool slightly before serving.

Chili Oil

Chili Oil

Chili Oil

 

1 cup extra-virgin olive oil

3 whole dried Calabrian chilies, stemmed

2 tsp. dried red chili flakes

 

Heat 2 T. of the olive oil in a small heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat. When the oil is shimmering, add the chilies and chili flakes, swirling the pan, until they release their aroma and start to sizzle, a matter of seconds. Watch closely; the chilies can burn quickly. Add the rest of the oil to the pan, reduce the heat to low, and continue to cook just to warm the oil through, 2 to 3 minutes—it should be hot to the touch but not scalding; a thermometer inserted into the oil should read about 180°F. (If it’s a bit hotter, don’t worry.) Remove the pan from the heat and let the oil cool to room temperature, about 2 hours. Transfer the cooled oil to a sealed airtight jar or bottle, leaving the chilies and chili flakes in it. Store it in the refrigerator for up to 6 months, letting it come to room temperature before using it.

Chili Powder

Chili Powder

Chili Powder

 

1 ½ tsp. cumin seeds, toasted and cooled

1 dried arbol chili pepper, stemmed, toasted, and cooled

¾ tsp. dried oregano, preferably Mexican

 

In a spice grinder, combine the cumin, chili, and oregano, and grind into a blended powder. You can prepare this a few hours or even a couple of days in advance and store it in a sealed plastic bag until you need it. But it’s best freshly made.

Classic Country Gravy

Classic Country Gravy

Classic Country Gravy

 

4 tablespoons Butter

¼ cup All Purpose Flour

2 cups Whole Milk

Salt and Ground Black Pepper to taste (I used ½ of salt and about a teaspoon of fresh ground black pepper)

 

Melt the butter in a skillet or sauce pan over medium heat. Next, add the flour to the melted butter. Using a spatula; combine the flour and butter together and use the back of the spatula to press out any clumps of flour. Next, use a small whisk to whisk the flour mixture (roux) so that it is smooth and cook for 3 to 4 minutes to get rid of the raw flour taste. Slowly add about a half cup of the milk to the flour mixture while whisking to keep the gravy mixture smooth. Continue to whisk in the remaining milk. Season the gravy, bring to a simmer and cook for 8 to 10 more minutes until thickened; whisking as it cooks. Once the gravy has thickened to your liking; remove the pan from the heat and carefully transfer the gravy to a serving dish or gravy boat. Serve hot.

Oven Roasted Bacon

Oven Roasted Bacon

Thick Cut Bacon

Line a half sheet pan with heavy-duty aluminum foil, shiny side up, and place a wire rack on top. Lay the bacon slices on the rack without overlapping. (I usually grind on some black pepper at this point, but that’s just me. Place on the middle rack of a cold oven, close the door, and crank the heat to 400 F. Roast for 30 minutes, or until desired doneness.

Instant Pot Roasted Garlic

Instant Pot Roasted Garlic

Instant Pot Roasted Garlic

 

4-6 large Garlic Bulbs

½-1 T. EVOO per bulb, for drizzling

 

Using a good chef’s knife, slice off the top of each garlic bulb so all the cloves are exposed.  Place the trivet in the Instant Pot, pour in 1 C. of water, and rest the garlic bulbs on the trivet, sliced side up. (You can use the basket that came with the air fryer lid instead of the trivet if you prefer.) Secure the lid, move the valve to the sealing position, and hit Manual or Pressure Cook on High Pressure for 5 minutes. When done, allow a 10-minute natural release followed by a quick release, then hit Keep Warm/Cancel to turn off the pot.  Remove the trivet and garlic bulbs, drain the liner pot, and return it to the Instant Pot, then replace the trivet or basket and garlic bulbs (still sliced side up). Drizzle the oil onto each bulb, allowing it to seep into every nook and cranny. Add the air fryer lid, hit Broil (400°F) for 12 minutes, and hit Start to begin. Check on the garlic periodically until it’s roasted to your liking (it should be a rich golden brown). When done, remove the air fryer lid and let rest for 10 minutes.  Once cool to the touch, pull off each garlic clove and squeeze the flesh into a bowl (it will pop right out of the skin and be almost paste-like). Discard the skins (your hands will get messy from this, but that means you’re doing a good job). You can now do anything you want with the garlic! Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days

Roasted Fresh Sunflower Seeds

Roasted Fresh Sunflower Seeds

Roasted Fresh Sunflower Seeds

 

1 C. in-shell sunflower seeds, harvested and raw

2 ½ T. kosher salt

1 quart of water

 

Preheat the oven to 450°. Harvest sunflowers when the flower head is drooping and the petals around the center are dried. Note — the best seeds come from larger varieties of sunflowers such, as Mammoth Sunflowers. Use your thumb to rub the sunflower seeds out into a collection bowl. Place seeds, salt and water into a medium saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer for 15 minutes, then drain the water. Spread seeds onto a sheet pan in a single layer and roast for 20 to 30 minutes (check often and stir so they do not char). When dry and roasted to your satisfaction, remove from the oven and enjoy!

Culinary Uses for Flowers

Culinary Uses for Flowers

Name Flavor and Use
Apple Blossoms Apple blossoms have a light, floral flavor with both sweet and sour undertones, just like apples! They can be candied like rose petals or used to garnish fruit or citrus dishes.
Basil Basil is found on most spice racks. But it’s also a flowering plant and the flowers are edible. Thai basil is often harvested once it’s fully flowered. The whole flower is edible and carries the distinct savory flavor reminiscent of anise and mint with a touch of pepper.
Bee Balm Bee balm has pretty, round flowers. It tastes similar to oregano and sage together and it is most often included in savory dishes such as salads, vegetable dishes, and herbal butters. It can also be included in herbal tea recipes.
Borage Borage comes in a beautiful form, blue blooms in a star-like pattern. This shape gives it the nickname starflower. It taste sweet with a honey-like zest. It’s great as a garnish on drinks. It’s often an ingredient in desserts or treats.
Camellia Camellias have beautiful, delicate blooms and come in hundreds of species with thousands of hybrids. The flowers are edible while the leaves are a long-standing ingredient in teas.
Carnation Carrie Bradshaw is not a fan of receiving carnations, but the foodie in her might have enjoyed the spiciness their petals offer. They have a flavor that is almost peppery and similar to cloves.
Chamomile Chamomile is most commonly used in teas. Its subtle apple-ish flavor complements other flavors, like mint or citrus. While known in teas, it can also be used in desserts like custards. The petals can also be used in candied form or as dessert ornament.
Cherry Blossom Called sakura in Japan, cherry blossoms have a long history of use in Japanese culture including edible blooms. The Japanese have pickled them in salt and used them as a confectionary.
Chives Chives are a well-known herb with a distinct and popular onion-like flavor. Common chives produce purple flowers and can be used in salads, as garnishes, or to add savory flavor to other dishes. Chinese chives have an even more pronounced garlic-like flavor.
Chrysanthemum Chrysanthemum has a taste that resembles chamomile. It can be used in teas and desserts. It’s also mixed into stir-fry recipes, chop suey, and other traditional Asian dishes.
Cilantro Also known as coriander, cilantro is a very common flowering herb. It has a unique flavor reminiscent of citrus and parsley. It’s used as a spice and as a garnish in many dishes.
Coltsfoot Coltsfoot has many edible uses. Toss it into a salad to brighten it up, use it to make an aromatic herbal tea, or mix the flowers with honey and use it as a natural cough remedy.
Cornflowers Their blooms don’t look like popcorn. These beautiful purplish-blue blossoms have an intriguing flavor profile. They mix a touch of sweetness with a clove-like spicy flavor. They are also a popular food dye with their beautiful bluish-purple color.
Cucumber Cucumber blooms can be used to add a little nutrition with flair to your salad. You can eat them raw or stir fry them. The flower is a pretty yellow color and has a cucumber-floral flavor.
Dahlia Known for their beauty, dahlia flowers are also edible. The celery-like tubers offer additional benefits. The tubers contain potassium, vitamin B, and riboflavin but the flowers make an attractive garnish or colorful addition to dishes. The flowers make a great edible adornment for cakes.
Daisy This colorful flower’s petals can be added to the recipe of any dish to offer a sweet perfume taste.
Dame’s Rocket Dame’s Rocket has eye-catching purple flowers that make an excellent addition for color to salads and other dishes. Their flavor is mild and rather bland so it’s best included as a complementary ingredient. It’s best consumed in small doses as it large amounts might cause nausea.
Dandelion Dandelions are considered a flowering herb. Commonly used in salads, they have a distinctly earthy and nutty flavor with hints of bitterness. Their flavor can balance other sweet ingredients in recipes.
Daylily Despite its name, the day lily is not a member of the family we think of as common lilies (lilium). It has attractive orange blooms and its flavor is grassy and similar to peas.
Dill Dill grows with small clusters of yellow flowers. It’s been cultivated for cooking and herbal use for thousands of years across Eurasia. The flowers are more pungent and flavorful than the leaves. Dill has been used in ayurvedic medicine, as an oil, and as a spice often coupled with fish.
Echinacea Echinacea has a pretty, usually purple, flower in the wild. Its petals have been used traditionally in teas and herbal remedies. It also goes by the name purple coneflower and is cultivated around the world for its herbal benefits.
Fennel All parts of the fennel plant are edible which includes the stalk, bulb, and fronds. Fennel is commonly used in cooking. Usually, recipes use the bulbs which have a celery-like texture and an almost licorice-like flavor.
Garden Pea The common garden pea’s well-known pods grow with white flowers. Pea flowers can be included in anything made with peas. The flowers also carry a grassy, herbal flavor. *Warning:* Do not confuse the common pea with sweet peas (lathyrus odoratus). Sweet peas are poisonous.
Gardenia Gardenia can be eaten raw, boiled, pickled, or preserved in honey. They can be used in tea like jasmine, with a similar flavor profile. They also have been used as a food dye for their yellow coloring.
Hibiscus Its flavor is tart and very cranberry-ish. It’s a tropical flower and its blossoms are bright and beautiful. It’s often used in teas but can play a role in desserts, as a candied treat, a dried garnish, and an ingredient in cakes.
Honeysuckle The flowers, unsurprisingly have a honey-like flavor. Honeysuckle nicely complements soups, salads, desserts, and drinks. *Warning*: ONLY eat the flowers. Do not eat the berries, which are poisonous. It also produces a pleasant aroma.
Hops Hops are famous for their role in brewing beer. They are also a flowering plant. They provide a bittering balance to the sweetness of the yeast in beer. Beer isn’t their only use, however. Custards and sauces often incorporate hops for stabilizing flavor profiles.
Lavender Lavender is in the mint family and has a sweet floral flavor. It’s also used in a wide range of recipes from gourmet entrees to dessert. It gives off a pleasant aroma which adds to its appeal for cooking.
Lilac Often used in salads, lilac carries a lemony sometimes slightly bitter flavor. It’s also a pungent flower. It can also be used in syrups, beverages, and even beer.
Mallow Malva includes over 25 varieties of beautiful flowers. But that floral elegance doesn’t translate into culinary bliss. Mallow has a mild, earthy flavor that is usually sauteed. Historically, it’s also been used as an ingredient in love potions!
Marigold An herb and also traditionally a remedy for strengthening the immune system. Marigold comes in beautiful yellow, orange, and golden colors. Often used as a garnish or a decorative addition to dishes to add a pop of color.
Mint Everyone knows mint’s distinct, sweet flavor. It’s the basis of everything from gourmet recipes to candy canes. The distinct flavor comes from the leaves but the flowers are also edible and make an excellent garnish for all occasions.
Nasturtium Add some nasturtium blooms to add a pop of color and a bite in flavor. They have a spicy, peppery flavor that makes a good addition to a range of dishes. But if you’re cooking with it, make sure to add it at the end of the cooking process so it doesn’t overcook.
Orchids Orchids are typically used for the finishing touches as beautiful garnishes on any meal in need of a pop of color.
Oxlip Oxlip is a mild flavoring that can be used for soups when cooked or to pretty up salads when raw. It can be used in herbal teas or other mixtures.
Pansy Pansy is the common name for hybrid flowers in the viola family. Popular because they come in a wide variety of bright colors, these edible flowers are
Peonies Peonies have the same medicinal value as roses and can help ease sore muscles.
Plum Blossom Plum blossoms are a favorite flower around the world. Their flavor is more complicated with hints of spice, sweetness, and floral tangs. Because of their beauty, these spring blooms can be used for floral confections and desserts of many varieties. They can be used to make frosting or sprinkled on top of puddings.
Pumpkin flowers Field pumpkins are not just for Halloween. They produce pretty flowers that can have a culinary purpose. They are commonly used in Asian cuisines such as Bengali dishes. Their flavor is mildly sweet with earthy undertones.
Purslane Purslane is packed with nutrition. It contains a very high portion of vitamin A, C, iron, magnesium, manganese, potassium, and calcium. It’s also high in antioxidants and omega-3s. It has a slightly sour, salty flavor akin to watercress or spinach.
Primrose Primrose flowers have a range of flavors that span from a mild salad lettuce taste to a more bitter flavor. The flowers can be used as garnishes or even mixed in with the leaves for tea.
Red clover Red clover has a long history as an edible flower and plant. It has a very floral taste when eaten raw but when cooked, it provides a vanilla-ish taste. A healthy flowering plant, it’s a gluten-free ingredient that has a nutritional profile akin to alfalfa sprouts. It contains vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, and C along with antioxidants, calcium, and potassium.
Rose Flavors from roses will vary based on type, color, and soil conditions. While roses are also medicinal, their flower petals are a staple in many cocktails and dessert dishes.
Rosemary A common spice, rosemary is a flowering shrub native to Mediterranean regions. It has beautiful purple, pink, blue, or white flowers that carry a distinct fragrance. It has a lemony pine-like flavor that complements many dishes.
Sage Sage is a common name for two different types of flowering shrubs. Artemisia is sagebrush and salvia mellifera is black sage. Both can be used as flavoring herbs when cooking. They both have a slightly peppery flavor and are suitable for teas.
Strawberry Blossoms Everyone knows how good the fruit tastes. But, surprise! Strawberry blossoms are also great to include in dishes. Farmed blossoms tend to be pink while wild strawberry blossoms are white. Just be careful where you get the blossoms from though as some farms like to douse them in chemicals.
Sunflowers Sunflowers do produce the beloved sunflower seeds, but their stem can also be steamed and eaten like an artichoke. Not to be confused with a sunchoke!
Tansy Tansy has a long, interesting history as an edible flower. It was used as an insect repellant and also common for Easter pudding. Its nutmeg-cinnamon-like flavor is best used as a flavoring and the flowers can be used in tea. *WARNING* Don’t eat tansy in large amounts, it may upset your tummy.
Tulip You can nibble on some tulips with your own two lips! *WARNING*: Tulips can cause an allergic reaction. If you develop even minor allergic reactions do not eat the petals. Never eat the bulbs! When in doubt, avoid eating the flower.
Violet The beautiful violet flower has a subtle flavor, slightly sweet. The refreshing taste evokes the flavor of springtime.