Pommes à Lauvergnate Auvergne Apples Recipes

FRENCH APPLE TART (TARTE DE POMMES A LA NORMANDE)

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, stir together 1 1/3 cups of flour and salt. Add the butter, 1 egg yolk and water, and stir until the mixture forms large crumbs. If it is too dry to press a handful together, stir in more water. Press the dough into a ball, and wrap in plastic wrap. Flatten slightly, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or until firm. This part can be done up to three days in advance.
• To make the frangipane, cream together the butter and 1/2 cup of sugar in a medium bowl until light and soft. Gradually mix in the egg and the remaining egg yolk one at a time. Stir in the apple brandy. Stir 2 tablespoons of flour into the ground almonds, then mix into the batter. Set aside.
• Roll the pastry dough out to about a 12 inch circle on a lightly floured surface. Fold loosely into quarters, and center the point in a 10 inch tart or pie pan. Unfold dough, and press into the bottom and up the sides. Prick with a fork all over, and flute the edges. Return pastry to the refrigerator to chill until firm.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Place a baking sheet inside the oven while it preheats.
• Spoon the frangipane into the chilled pastry, and spread into an even layer. Arrange the apple slices in an overlapping spiral pattern. Each slice should have one edge pressed into the frangipane until it touches the pastry base, and then overlap the previous slice. Start at the outside edge, and work towards the center.
• Place the pie plate on top of the baking sheet in the preheated oven. Bake for 15 minutes, or until the filling begins to brown. Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Bake for another 10 minutes, then sprinkle sugar over the top of the tart. Return to the oven for 10 more minutes, or until the sugar caramelizes slightly.
• Cool the tart on a wire rack. A short time before serving, warm the apricot jelly. Add some water if necessary to make it a liquid consistency. Brush onto the tart for a nice shine.

APPLE AND CALVADOS TART (GALETTE DE POMMES AU CALVADOS)

Steps:

• Roll out pastry on a lightly floured surface with a floured rolling pin into a rough 16-inch round (1/8 inch thick), then transfer carefully to parchment-lined large baking sheet. Loosely fold in edge of pastry where necessary to fit on baking sheet, then chill, covered loosely with plastic wrap, 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 425°F.
• While pastry is chilling, peel and core apples, then cut into 1/8-inch-thick slices. Toss slices with lemon juice and 1/3 cup granulated sugar.
• Put baking sheet with pastry on a work surface and unfold any edges so pastry is flat. Spread applesauce over pastry, leaving a 2-inch border, and top sauce with sliced apples, mounding slightly. Fold edges of dough over filling, partially covering apples (center will not be covered) and pleating dough as necessary. Dot apples with butter, then brush pastry edge lightly with water and sprinkle with remaining 1/2 tablespoon granulated sugar. Bake galette in middle of oven until pastry is golden and apples are tender, 40 to 45 minutes.
• While galette is baking, melt apple jelly in a very small saucepan over moderately low heat, stirring.
• Slide baked galette on parchment onto a rack, then brush with melted jelly and cool galette until warm or room temperature.
• Beat together cream and confectioners sugar in a bowl with an electric mixer until cream just holds soft peaks, then beat in Calvados. Serve galette topped with dollops of Calvados cream.

BAKED APPLES (POMMES BONNE FEMME)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Fit apples snugly in a medium oval baking dish (apples should not tip over).
• In a small bowl, combine sugar, butter, and orange zest until well incorporated. Transfer to a piping bag; pipe butter mixture into each apple, dividing evenly. Add 2 tablespoons water to baking dish.
• Bake, basting twice with pan juices, until apples are tender but not falling apart, 40 to 50 minutes.
• Transfer baking dish to a wire rack. Add a heaping tablespoon of jam to each apple; sprinkle each with a scant tablespoon of hazelnuts. Serve warm with cookies, if desired.

THE APPLE LADY'S APPLE CAKE (GATEAU AUX POMMES DE LA REINE DES POMMES)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Butter a 9-inch springform pan and set it aside.
• In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, and sea salt, and stir to blend. Add the vanilla extract, eggs, oil, and milk, and stir until well blended. Add the apples and stir to thoroughly coat them with the batter.
• Spoon the mixture into the prepared cake pan. Place the pan in the center of the oven and bake until fairly firm and golden, about 25 minutes.
• Meanwhile, prepare the topping: In a small bowl, combine the sugar, egg, and melted butter, and stir to blend. Set it aside.
• Remove the cake from the oven and pour the topping mixture over it. Return the cake to the oven and bake until the top is a deep golden brown and the cake feels quite firm when pressed with a fingertip, about 10 minutes.
• Transfer the cake pan to a rack and allow to cool for 10 minutes. Then run a knife around the sides of the pan, and release and remove the springform side, leaving the cake on the pan base. Serve at room temperature, cut into thin wedges.

POMMES à L'AUVERGNATE (AUVERGNE APPLES)

Steps:

• Wash apples and carefully remove top.
• Scoop out the center of the apple, taking care not to pierce the skin, rub the inside with a lemon wedge to prevent oxidation.
• Remove cores and seeds, cut the flesh into cubes, sprinkle with lemon juice.
• Clean and slice the endive (keep a few leaves for garnish).
• Mix the mustard with the vinegar and oil, salt and pepper throughly.
• Mash the blue cheese with a fork.
• Mix the diced apples, chopped endive and Roquefort.
• Fill apples with this mixture, sprinkle with vinaigrette and garnish with walnuts, celery leaves, and endive leaves.
• Serve chilled (at least 1 hr in fridge).

FRENCH APPLE TURNOVERS (CHAUSSONS AUX POMMES)

Steps:

• For filling:
• Peel, core, and cut apples into 1-inch pieces (about 4 cups). Place apples in medium saucepan; add 1/4 cup water, 3 tablespoons sugar, and lemon juice. Bring to boil, stirring occasionally until sugar dissolves. Cover; reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until apples are very tender, stirring frequently, about 12 minutes. Remove from heat. Gently mash apples with fork or potato masher until mixture is very soft but still chunky. Cool completely. DO AHEAD: Filling can be made 2 days ahead. Cover and refrigerate.
• Position 1 rack in top third and 1 rack in bottom third of oven and preheat to 400°F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
• For pastry:
• If using 14-ounce package (1 sheet), roll out pastry on lightly floured surface to 15-inch square. If using 16-ounce package (2 sheets), stack sheets together and roll out on lightly floured surface to 15-inch square. Cut pastry into nine 5-inch squares. Place 1 generous tablespoon filling in center of each of 8 squares (reserve remaining square for another use). Lightly brush edges of 1 pastry with beaten egg. Fold half of pastry square over filling, forming triangle. Press and pinch pastry edges with fingertips to seal tightly. Lightly brush pastry with beaten egg. Sprinkle lightly with superfine sugar, if desired. Repeat with remaining squares. Using thin, sharp knife, make 3 small slits on top of each triangle to allow steam to escape. Place triangles on prepared baking sheets. Refrigerate until firm, about 15 minutes.
• Bake turnovers until beginning to color, about 15 minutes. Reverse baking sheets from top to bottom. Reduce oven temperature to 350°F; continue baking until turnovers are firm and golden, 10 to 15 minutes longer. Cool at least 15 minutes before serving. Serve warm or at room temperature.

MAGRETS DE CANARD AUX POMMES (DUCK BREASTS WITH CALVADOS APPLE SAUCE)

Steps:

• Place duck breasts skin-side down in a nonstick skillet over high heat; cook for 2 minutes. Reduce heat to low; cook until golden brown, about 5 minutes per side.
• Melt butter in a separate skillet over high heat. Add apples; cook and stir until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Reduce heat to low; cook until tender, about 10 minutes. Remove skillet from heat; pour in Calvados. Cook and stir over low heat, scraping up browned bits from the bottom of the skillet, until alcohol evaporates, about 1 minute.
• Serve duck breasts with Calvados sauce.