Cooking with Love

with Gianna Conte    (Jan)

Got ice cream???

Got ice cream???

French Apple Tart with Frangipane

Had a few Granny Smith apples, so I thought, "why not make an apple pie". Didn't feel like making a strudel topping, so found out how to make Frangipane. If you like Almond paste, you will love this pie. Let's get started:

Ingredients:

Make Frangipane by combining -

1/2 cup almonds (I used roasted, whole)

1/4 cup white sugar

1/4 cup brown sugar

1 TBS white flour

3 TBS unsalted butter, cut into cubes

1/2 tsp almond extract

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 tsp salt

In processor container, add almonds, sugars and flour. Process until the almonds are completely coated and course crumbs.

You then add the remaining ingredients and process until it becomes loose paste.

Pie filling 

6 Granny Smith apples or another type of apple, or 1/2 and 1/2, peeled, cored and sliced into 8- 10 pieces 

Place pie dough into pie plate. Secure by fluting the edges. Place all the Frangipane on bottom of pie shell in one even layer.

Arrange apple slices anyway you feel like. Use all the prepared apples.

Top with 4-5 TBS sugar, sprinkled evenly.

Place in 375 degree preheated oven on center rack.

Bake for about 50-60 minutes. Test apples with sharp knife. If the knife easily pierces through, it's done.

Cool completely. If you want a finished shiny look you can place 2 TBS apricot jam warmed in microwave for one minute. It will become liquidity. Take clean pastry brush and paint the cooked apples.

Serve with ice cream, whipped cream or just plain.



Let's get baking!


Preheat the oven to 350 degrees


 1 whole thin skinned orange, remove the stem and cut in quarters. Keep the skin on the oranges.

In a clean large food processor, add the orange quarters, 1 1/4 cups of sugar, three large eggs, 1 tsp of vanilla, 1 tsp of orange extract, 1 tbsp of Triple Sec liqueur, optional, 2/3 cup vegetable oil. 


Pulse all ingredients in the processor and then puree until mixture becomes a batter with specs of orange peel.


Add to the processor:


2 1/4 cups all purpose flour

2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt


Process all dry ingredients until they are entirely incorporated into the batter.


Bake in a greased and floured spring pan, using a parchment paper circle on top of the greased bottom.*


Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Place in the center rack of the oven.  Bake for 30-40 minutes, depending on your oven.


Remove from your oven and let it cool down completely. Dust with powdered sugar or make a drizzle of 1/4 cup powdered sugar and fresh squeezed orange until thick and smooth.  Pour onto the cooled fresh orange cake.


*if you don't have a large processor, you can use a blender.


Enjoy with some espresso and close your eyes and it will feel like you're in Sicily.