This week’s French Fridays with Dorie recipe choice, a buttery sweet shortbread galette slathered with lemon curd and topped with seasonal berries, is a fabulous dessert which can be made by committee. Last evening at my house, six of us created this delicious cookie tart.
Sablé Breton Galette with Berries
When I moved back to Aspen in April, my neighbors and good friends, Fred and Cathy, suggested we get together once a week – on Thursday – for Dinner Not a Dinner Party. Cathy’s cousin, Ann, a newcomer to Aspen and my neighbor, was also game. Cathy suggested guidelines. Simple fare prepared by the host. Nice wine. To avoid talking about our health issues, golf, or other people, our host would e-mail a Question for dinner discussion. For example, the first DNDP question I proposed was, “What event most changed the course of history?” (My answer: Joseph Gutenberg’s invention of a printing press in 1440.) Everyone always has a different response- there are no rights or wrongs – that provokes further discussion. We’re surprised at the fun of these gatherings.
Le Sablé Breton: buttery shortbread cookie dough made into a Galette.
Since I was the host last night, I decided it would be fun for us all to put together this week’s recipe choice, Sablé Breton Galette with Berries. Earlier in the day I made the galette, a giant shortbread cookie formed in a 9-inch fluted tart pan. I purchased a jar of Wilkin & Sons Tiptree Lemon Curd at Whole Foods (lemon curd and the high altitude don’t play nicely). I also bought blueberries, blackberries, strawberries and raspberries.
Because the lemon curd will spread, Dorie suggests leaving a 1/2 to 1-inch of the edge bare. Luky was a bit obsessive about lining this border.
Our friends, Luky and Gene, not only joined us for ham, black bean & quinoa salad and very tasty wine but also helped with the dessert. A picture is worth a thousand words so……..
Ann spread the remaining lemon curd and circled the tart with blackberries.
It’s Luky again, with the blueberries.
Did I mention, obsessive? Notice that Ann does throw on some blueberries.
Cathy loves raspberries. Serious business.
Gene puts both whole strawberries and halved berries on the tart.
Fred finishes it off with more blueberries and seeks approval from the hecklers.
A Job Well Done. (Might I add that all my friends are good sports.)
The question for the evening was, “What are five Objects/Things/ or Pieces of Equipment that have made the most difference in your life that weren’t around when you were born?” Our answers were as amazing as our dessert. My answers were: 1) All of Apple’s High Tech Equipment; 2) Garage Door Openers; 3) Pacemakers; 4) International Airliners like the 747, 777, Airbus and Dreamliner; and 5) Well-designed Sports Equipment, especially Helmets. Both Luky and Cathy voted #1, Blowdryers!
To see who my colleagues shared their desserts with, go here. If you wish to make this recipe (and, I suggest you try it), go here.
I love that this was a group effort. What a gorgeous tart! This will make a regular appearance on my table this summer. Maybe next week. We picked 20 pounds of strawberries today. What fun and thought provoking questions. I’m having trouble coming up with a list of 5. Have a great weekend, Mary!
What a fun “project” 🙂 I made one that was a bit haphazard and another that was more carefully topped, so I “get” being fastidious with the berries!
What a fun idea, Mary! Love the collaboration on dessert…and the dinner party rules! I’d love to start this up with my friends 🙂
That looks so fun!! The Q&As are such a great idea for an undinner party. And i bet that galette tastes even better with all that group effort. A joy to read Mary.
What a great idea to email out a question ahead of time! 🙂 You tart looks fantastic and with all the help and love I am sure it was terrific!
Blowdryers was the first thing that came into my mind and I felt so shallow for thinking of it, but oh how I hated sitting under a hot helmeted hair dryer. 2) laptop computers 3) cell phones, 4) microwaves, 5) the food network.
Love the team effort… you seem to be surrounded by the most wonderful people.
My question: How did I get so lucky to have such an interesting and creative mom?
what a fabulous dinner party…lots of food for thought. what I don’t understand is how Fred got to display the finished product. Where is your cute face???
Next week you should make a MOOSE/ sp?
When Donna Grauer and I were Rangering at the Maroon Bells today (Saturday) we were lucky enough to see Mama Moose and her new baby sauntering through the forest right near us. It was amazing. Mousse, it shall be.
Mary, what a fun idea for a wonderful dinner party. Your galette with all those fresh berries looks utterly delicious, of course – it is always nice to share good food with friends and see the delight in their faces as they sit around the table and thorougly enjoy themselves! You did pick a great topic – Gutenberg – how fitting for a journalist! You reminded me of the parcel that has been waiting to be shipped off…goodness, I totally forgot all about it but will send it a.s.a.p.
Did you follow President Obamas vsit to Berlin? I listened to his speech in front of the Brandenburg Gate.
Hope you will have a great Sunday!
Mary, Although I use my blowdryer almost everyday…I think laptop computers top my list, along with microwave ovens, dishwashers (because I hate to wash dishes) and food processors, oh…and the smart phone!
Love your Dinner not Dinner Party idea. Casual evenings with friends are always the very best. Your galette is gorgeous…your helpers did a great job! Great photos! Have a great weekend!
BTW, I live inland in NJ…about 2 hours from the beach. However, If you ever get to the east-coast, you are always welcomed to come visit…I’m sure we could find a lot of fun things to do! Would love to meet you, Mary! September will be fun!
Oh I loved everything about this post as usual. It is just so much fun to see how your friends enjoy the results of FFWD and it always looks like so much fun. I was rolling on the floor with your sweet but accurate comments about the contributions- I think we all have the same personality make up in our groups of friends. One “ladies night out” I joined a group of friends as we did that make your own ceramic deal. It took me so long to decide on a design (I went with sponge dabble all over…with a dragonfly in the middle…..who cares ???:) I had the rest of the party laughing hysterically at my surprise inability to make a decision. My cover and coolness was officially blown and I was outed as a perfectionist. Luckily we all drank well afterward. Also loved that you have a theme so you don’t have to talk about health, golf or other people. PRICELESS.
Fun! I bet everyone enjoyed the dessert that much more because they had a hand in making it. My answer to the evening’s question: the Internet.
You always make life so fun Mary. What a delightful group, I want to come! Sounds like your tart was not only fun to put together but also very delicious. Wish I had a slice to go with our dinner tonight :)!
How fun to make the galette a group project.
What a great way to get conversations going.
Like the others, I want to come to one of your Dinner, Not a Dinner Parties. Love the team tart.
Wow, a list of five things that wasn’t around when I was born… I think its mostly technology related. I-pod, for sure. Would be lost without my Kindle and Smartphone. E-mail & Google – well, the internet in general…
E-Z Pass – can’t live without E-Z Pass when driving on the NYS Thruway or the Jersey Turnpike/ Garden State Pkwy or the Mass Pike.
Although, I am glad for anti-lock brakes and powered windows and sun roofs (rooves? 🙂 )
Mary, I know how you feel about missing France, Paris especially. Tricia and I both enjoy
roaming the shops and cafe’s. I’m keeping my fingers crossed this time around after our
two cancellations. `A votre sante´.
I love how you always make things fun! And I’m sure your friends loved helping out with this beautiful tart – very nicely done!
Your galette looks superb – and I love that everyone pitched in to decorate it.