13 August, 2010

Introductions


A photo essay on my first conscious gluten free baking experience. Lauren from Celiac Teen came over this morning, a date arranged shortly after we realized we only lived blocks from each other. Through a rainy walk she brought with her a backpack full of flours. We were going to make pie. 

The girls took to her immediately, probably assuming she was some fantastic creature known as the babysitter. Their excitement was no less once they realized we were all going to bake together. We donned aprons, we measured flour, we drank tea while our pastry chilled. Then we cut up peaches and plums to mix with blackberries and tonka bean. And while our galettes baked the little ones chased us around the house. It was comfort and chaos all at once. Welcome to our home, Lauren.

And the pastry? Fantastic. It tasted great raw, and even better cooked. It was a tender dough to work with, so I worried that it wouldn't be very flaky. I was wrong. To be honest, you would be hard pressed to pick out out from a conventional pate brisee.

We filled it with our fruit, a touch of sugar and millet flour and a whole tonka bean grated in. The crust we brushed with cream. The galettes baked for 30 minutes. And after our conversations we sat silently with our tonka bean sweetened cream on top of our galettes. Silent only as the four of us devoured an entire galette for lunch.












9 comments:

H.Peter said...

For sure you partnered up with the right expert to come out of the gates running.

Because it can be tricky.

Lauren said...

I love this, and I loved that! It was so much fun with you and the girls, the galette and of course all of the tonka bean! You described the day so beautifully. It was completely easy and comfortable and lovely :). I would love to do it again, sometime soon.

Vincci said...

It looks like a lovely day, and nice to hear that the girls loved it too. I love Lauren's apron!

elle said...

ah, now you have my full attention, Cheryl. I'm off to meet Lauren!

gwendolyn said...

Those look amazing and I'm so jealous of all that natural light coming in to your kitchen! Lovely shots.

Charmian @Christie's Corner said...

We're on the same wavelength. I've been experimenting with gluten-free baking, too. Haven't tried pastry yet. Nice to find a new recipe. Love the use of almond flour.

Kudos to Celiac Teen!

Iris said...

Aww...so fun! Lauren's blog is a favorite of mine. I'm glad she linked to yours. It's always fun to find new blogs to read!

Julie said...

So beautiful! Isn't Lauren lovely?

gfe--gluten free easily said...

I love reading both sides of this great baking experience--what fun! I love it when you find out someone is nearby and you can actually meet in person. :-)

Nice to find your blog, Cheryl!

Shirley