It's French Friday with Dorie, and this week the recipe is Long and Slow Apples. I wish that my week had been long and slow, but instead it has been full on, and all rather a blur.
The name of Long and Slow Apples is rather apt for this dish, as it is long and slow, not only in cooking time, but in preparation - it took me an hour to peel, core and slice the apples, then arrange them in layers with butter and spiced sugar in 4 ramekins. After two hours in the oven, with the apples lightly compressed under an empty ramekin, the apples cook down into this:
Certainly, the end result is tasty, comprising soft apple layers in almost caramelised sugar, but is it worth the time? I'll leave that an open question.
I served my apples warm with raspberry swirl icecream rather than the ginger cream suggested in Around My French Table. I have friends over for dinner tomorrow, and will be serving the apples again for dessert, but this time, they will be chilled. It will be interesting to see how the chilled version contrasts in flavour and texture.
To see what the other group members thought, visit the LYL section of the FFwD website in due course.
Glad that I am not the only one with compression!
ReplyDeleteThis received very high compliments in our house, but it did leave me scratching my head.
It's like pie with no crust!
ReplyDeleteSounds like worth the time to me - yum :D
ReplyDeleteCheers
Choc Chip Uru
Long and slow apples sound like a lovely way to counter the hectic pace of life, but I think they would be more soothing if someone else made them for you! They do look and sound lovely though.
ReplyDeleteI was NOT expecting them to shrink either as much - certainly the recipe and pic in the LA Times does not look like they were cooked for 2 hours… Hmmm. I DO say they are worth the time, if you have it - a great dish to cook on a cold afternoon when you are pottering around the house. I guess with your recent heat wave you might not be quite in the mood for that though...
ReplyDeletesounds a wonderful dessert - I love the simplicity of the flavours but the time does make me wonder about trying it
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this dessert, but I'd still prefer an apple pie! I stared to eat one cold, but the butter had hardened, so you may want to let them come to room temperature.
ReplyDeleteI also enjoyed this one…they were a lovely treat for a cold evening! Yours look very tasty and quite lovely!
ReplyDeleteIt looks and sounds delicious. I, too, am wondering at the justification running the oven that long for this result. May have to try for myself and see. The chilled version sounds nice, too.
ReplyDeleteYour apples look delicious! I like the color.
ReplyDeleteYes, they did shrink quite a bit. But I am definitely going to make them again. Just too easy to be so good.
ReplyDeleteIt does sound lovely but I'd save these for a long weekend when it is perhaps raining outside :)
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of raspberry ice cream to serve these. Beautiful apples!
ReplyDeleteYeh, I didn't count on that much shrinkage either. Still they were good and I'll do them again. I especially enjoyed the spice combination.
ReplyDeleteI had one leftover from last night that I just popped in the microwave for about 20 seconds and ate with whipped cream. Yum!!! I loved this dessert but it was very time consuming.
ReplyDeleteAnything apple is ALWAYS worth the time involved! Yum
ReplyDeleteI love the sound of the soft apple layers with caramelised sugar. I can imagine the apples having an almost buttery texture to them after that long in the oven. They sound delicious!
ReplyDeleteThank you, thank you for posting that this dessert took you a long time to prepare. Most the other Doristas are talking about how easy and simple this was to throw together. It took me a long time. Your look lovely and I think you will like them cold as well. I made oatmeal this morning and threw my last ramekin of apples on top and it was cold and delicious against the hot oatmeal. I know you are experiencing hot weather and horrible wildfires in Austrailia. I'm thinking of you and everyone in your country, Gaye.,
ReplyDeleteThey were good warm served with ice cream. Such a light and elegant dessert to serve to guests!
ReplyDeleteThe people who stacked their apples much higher than the rim of the ramekin had the right idea, I think. I enjoyed them both warm and cold. What did your guests think?
ReplyDeleteit only took me about two hours to accomplish the task but I didnt take that much care in arranging them nicely either... it certainly didnt make a difference in the end product! it was delicious!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this one, but agree it took some time to put together. I liked it both warm and chilled. I only wish I had put less orange on mine.
ReplyDeleteYour card arrived today. Thanks! I knew you dropped out of the exchange, but wanted to send you a card anyway. It was sweet of your to send one in return. Happy New Year!