Pineapple Galette Food

PINEAPPLE GALETTE

Steps:

• Blend together flour, butter, shortening, and salt in a bowl with your fingertips or a pastry blender (or pulse in a food processor) just until most of mixture resembles coarse meal with some small (roughly pea-size) butter lumps. Drizzle 3 tablespoons ice water evenly over and gently stir with a fork (or pulse in food processor) until incorporated.
• Gently squeeze a small handful: If dough doesn't hold together, add more ice water, 1/2 tablespoon at a time, stirring (or pulsing) until incorporated. (Do not overwork dough, or pastry will be tough.)
• Turn out dough onto a work surface and divide into 4 portions. With heel of your hand, smear each portion once in a forward motion to help distribute fat. Gather dough together with scraper and press into a ball, then flatten into a disk, rotating on work surface. Chill, wrapped in plastic wrap, until firm, at least 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• Cut pineapple crosswise into 1/8-inch-thick slices.
• Roll out dough into a 14-inch round on a lightly floured surface with a floured rolling pin. Transfer carefully to a large baking sheet without sides.
• Mix semolina flour and 1 tablespoon sugar in a small bowl and sprinkle over dough, leaving a 1-inch border. Arrange pineapple slices on top of dough in overlapping concentric circles. (You will probably have a few slices left over.) Fold edge of pastry over outer row of pineapple, pleating dough to fit. Brush pastry with beaten egg, then sprinkle remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons sugar over pastry and pineapple.
• Bake in middle of oven until pineapple is lightly browned and pastry is golden, 55 to 60 minutes. Cool on baking sheet on a rack.
• Melt preserves with lemon juice, stirring, in a small saucepan over low heat, then pour through a fine sieve into a small bowl, pressing on solids. Discard solids and brush preserves over filling while galette is cooling.
• Serve warm or at room temperature.
• Available at natural foods stores and The Baker's Catalogue (800-827-6836).

FALL FRUIT GALETTE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F. Toast fennel seeds (if using) in a small dry skillet over medium-high heat until golden brown and fragrant, about 3 minutes. Let cool, then finely grind in spice mill or with mortar and pestle. Transfer to a medium bowl and add salt and 1/3 cup sugar. Toss with your hands to combine, then add apples and toss to coat. Add vinegar and vanilla; toss gently.
• Arrange apple mixture in the center of chilled dough (still on parchment on baking sheet) and spread out evenly, overlapping slices if desired and leaving a 3" border. Fold edges of dough up and over fruit, pleating as needed and being careful that folded edge of dough doesn't tear (if it does, patch with dough scraps and pinch to seal). Pour cream into a small bowl and brush all over dough. Sprinkle sugar evenly over dough.
• Place galette in oven and immediately reduce heat to 375°F. Bake, rotating halfway through, until crust is deep golden brown everywhere, apples are softened, and juices are bubbling, 45-50 minutes. Let galette cool 2 hours.
• Serve galette with whipped cream or ice cream if desired.

TRAMPOLINE FRAPPé

Steps:

• Blend 2 cups strawberries, leaves removed, halved, and 1 cup water in a blender on medium speed until smooth, about 1 minute. Pour into a small saucepan and cook over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally and reducing heat to low if mixture bubbles, about 7 minutes. (Rinse out and reserve blender.)
• Add 10 basil leaves to saucepan and continue to cook, stirring, about 4 minutes more. Remove from heat and let sit 15 minutes.
• Strain strawberry mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a liquid measuring cup, pressing on solids with a spoon-you should get 1½-2 cups. Return to blender along with an equal measure 1½-2 cups sugar. Blend until sugar is dissolved, about 1 minute-mixture should not taste gritty. Transfer to a resealable container and chill until ready to use. Do ahead: Syrup can be made 3 weeks ahead. Keep chilled.
• Fill a large frappé or pilsner glass with crushed, cracked, or pebble ice. Combine 3 oz. fresh pineapple juice, 1 oz. fresh lime juice, 1¼ oz. Strawberry-Basil syrup, and 2 dashes Peychaud's bitters (if using) in a cocktail shaker. Fill shaker with ice, cover, and shake until just mixed, about 5 seconds.
• Strain into prepared glass and add 2 oz. chilled seltzer. Top off with crushed, cracked, or pebble ice. Gently stir to combine. Garnish with a strawberry half and basil leaf (if using). You can dash bitters on these too!