Apple Crumb Crostata
Guys, I have a question:
Why are we generally taught that taking short cuts is a ‘bad thing’?
Think about it. From the time that we’re little kids we’ve been ingrained to believe that if you cut corners, go the easier route and make the work simpler, you’re setting yourself up for failure.
Take the fairy tale, “The Tortoise and the Hare”: The fast, energetic hare challenges the tortoise to a race, confident that because he can move faster, he’ll always win and be better than the tortoise. When the race begins, the hare does indeed begin out in the lead while the tortoise maintains a steady pace. Eventually the hare gets so far ahead that he figures he can just kick back, relax and take a nap and still have enough time to beat the tortoise. While he’s sleeping against a tree, the tortoise passes him by at his slow and steady pace. By the time the hare wakes up from his nap, he discovers that the tortoise has in fact managed to beat him.
Thus, the moral of the story: “Slow and Steady Wins the Race.”
Yeah, um…I kinda think that’s…not true.
In fact, if fables and fairy tales are supposed to be teaching kids valuable morals and lessons and whatnot…The Tortoise and the Hare is actually a load of a crap. Maybe the world was a lot more sunny, bright and idealistic at the time that it was written (though I doubt it). Maybe the ‘good guys’ won more often than the bad guys (again, more doubtful). However, these days I’ve observed that the people who are ‘faster’and better at winning the ‘races’ of life are the ones who come out on top. It sucks, and a lot of time it’s not even fair, but it’s the way of the world.
I know what I was taught growing up and it wasn’t the moral of “The Tortoise and the Hare”, even though I admittedly had the book. I learned pretty quick that you needed to try and be the fastest, the best and the most skilled. If you can cut corners and take short cuts to achieve the win, take ’em. The other ‘hares’ around you probably aren’t gonna fall asleep, so don’t count on that to give you the win. Start strong and fast, end strong and fast. That’s the only way you’ll win.
I’m kinda cynical about certain aspects of life, in case you guys couldn’t tell.
I have a point. I’m getting to it now. I CAN in fact make a post about general life philosophy and bridge it to food.
I believe in taking short cuts when it comes to cooking if need be. Yes, even in baking. It can be done. Slow and steady doesn’t always win the race.
Let me tell you a story of my own: I had six Honeycrisp apples sitting in my refrigerator with nothing to do. I wanted to make an apple pie out of them, but I was worried that what I had may not have been enough to make a full pie. Plus, I didn’t feel like making two crusts for a top and bottom layer pie. So I decided to take a short cut. When it comes to pie, the ”short cut” is the crostata.
One big crust gets rolled out, the apples get diced and laid inside, then the edges of the crust are folded up in a rough crimp. The whole thing gets baked off and voila: you got a crostata (the thing you make when you don’t have time or inclination to make a pie).
And doesn’t it look so yummy?
See? I toldya. Slow and steady doesn’t always win the race.
This baby is going to this week’s Fiesta Friday #45, hosted by Angie@TheNoviceGardener and co-hosted this week by Michelle @Giraffes Can Bake and MB @Bourbon & Brown Sugar. See you guys there!
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Apple Crumb Crostata
Recipe Courtesy of Claudia Felming via NY Times
Ingredients
FOR CRUST
- 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tbsp. sugar
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, chilled and cut into small pieces
- 1/3 cup ice cold water, more as needed
- 1 egg, beaten
- Raw sugar, for garnish
FOR FILLING
- 6 to 8 Granny Smith or other tart apples, peeled and cut into 16 slices each (about 6 cups total)
- 1/4cup brown sugar
- 1tsp. cornstarch
- 1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
- 1/4tsp. lemon zest
- 1/4 tsp. vanilla extract
FOR CRUMBLE
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted and cooled to room temp.
Directions
1. Make the crust: Combine flour, sugar, and salt in a food processor and blend for 5 seconds. Add butter, pulsing, until mixture resembles small peas. Add ice water and continue to pulse until mixture comes together in moist clumps; if mixture is too dry add a bit more water a tablespoon at a time. Gather dough into a ball, flatten into a disc, wrap in plastic and chill for at least 1 hour or freeze for up to a month.
2. Make the filling: In a large bowl toss together sliced apples, brown sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, zest and vanilla. Set aside.
3. Make the crumble: In a medium bowl, mix together granulated sugar, flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Drizzle in melted butter and, using a fork, stir until mixture is crumbly and all the flour is incorporated; the crumbs should be smaller than 1 inch.
4. Heat oven to 375 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Remove dough from refrigerator and let sit at room temperature for 10 to 15 minutes. On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough into a 14-inch circle. Transfer to baking sheet and chill until firm, about 15 minutes.
5. Remove baking sheet from refrigerator and let soften for 1 to 2 minutes. Arrange filling evenly in the center of the dough, leaving a 4-inch border all around; reserve the juices.
6. Brush exposed dough border with beaten egg and fold edge in up over fruit, making pleats every 2 inches. Pour remaining juices over exposed fruit, brush the folded outer edge with beaten egg, and sprinkle with raw sugar. Cover exposed fruit with about 1 cup crumble.
7. Bake crostata until crust is golden brown and filling is bubbling, about 40 to 50 minutes. Remove and let cool before serving.
Looks so good for a “short cut”!
Thank you- those are the best kind of short cuts aren’t they? Lol
This looks like perfection to me! I love everything about it. The crumble, the crust, the apple filling, everything! Your short cuts didn’t cause a problem for you at all in this recipe! I just wish I had a piece!:)
Thank you Shari- I’d definitely give you some if I could 😉
That crostata is beautiful, I love the crumble topping, I have nothing against short cuts, sometimes in life it’s necessary and even preferable. You are a fantastic cook/baker.
That’s so sweet of you to say Suzanne. I really appreciate that. Thank you <3
I like your way of thinking, Jess! Your shortcut appears to have paid off ten-fold…this crostata looks sooo good, it imagine it disappeared in no time. (That crumb topping appears to be the perfect finishing touch…yummy.)
Thanks Nancy- I’ll admit it…it only lasted about 5 days before it was gone lol
Yum, yum, yum! I love baked apple anything, but adding a nice, crispy crumble on top is my absolute fav.
The streusel really is one of the best parts- thank you Justine 🙂
Generally, I think shortcuts work when you’ve done something the original way and know what you are doing and also know the end result you are aiming for. Your delicious crostata is the perfect case in point, Jess!
Thanks Selma!
I’m a huge fan of short cuts! Life is too short to do everything yourself!
I agree 100% Melissa, thank you!
Wow – looking absolutely stunning! What a great recipe 🙂
I like how it turned out myself Ginger- thank you!
Ahhahah, looks so incredible, once again! Crostadas are so much more beautiful than pies are…love their rustic appeal, and THIS ONE is just gorgeous!!
I completely agree Bonnie- AND they’re easier to make. Thank you!
I think “slow and steady wins the race” definitely has it’s place, but it’s definitely not true all the time, particularly in the case of crostata! Even when you don’t have the time and/or patience to make a full pie, I quite often prefer a crostata, it’s nice to have a little less pastry sometimes.
The funny thing about fairy tales too is they’ve changed a lot of the years to be much milder and more child friendly, when they were first written they were very gruesome – take the little mermaid for example, it starts off the same – ariel falling in love with the prince, going to the sea witch to get legs but losing her voice isn’t the only catch, she also has unbearable pain whenever she uses her legs. The prince then ends up marrying somebody else and she’s heartbroken (and will soon die because she didn’t live up to her end of the bargain by marrying the prince), and the sea witch gives her a chance to turn back into a mermaid if she kills the prince, but she can’t bring herself to do it so kills herself instead!
It sounds pretty horrific, especially since they’re kids stories, but all these fairytales were originally written to help introduce kids to the horrors of the real world in a gentle way, preparing them for adulthood but without taking away the wonder of childhood. Which I kind of like!
Wow this comment got a lot longer than I intended haha, sorry!
Thank you for bringing this crostata along to to Fiesta Friday though, and giving us a very real example of how not all short cuts are bad!
Haha, it’s ok Michelle, I’m nearly always long winded when I write too- I just can’t help it lol Thank you!
Ok, I’m going to say something that for my poor english can be very hard… I hope you’ll understand!
In my opinion the possibility of making everything on your own is good as long as you have the possibility to make the same thing with short cuts. Your crostata looks very yummy! Suzanne is right, you are a very good baker!
I understand what you said completely- thank you so much, you’re very kind 🙂
Hmmm….looks so decadent! I love apple desserts!
Yep. That’s a pretty accurate description lol. Thanks Serena!
You bake such amazing things Jess! This is too good. Btw lovely write up. 🙂
Thank you Sadia, I really appreciate that 🙂
Made this today! turned out great!!
I’m very glad to hear that Annette. Thanks for commenting, happy future baking 😉