Friday, November 8, 2013

French Fridays with Dorie: Compote de Pommes

When I glanced at this week's French Fridays with Dorie recipe, Compote de Pommes, or applesauce, I was thankful it was quick, easy and something relatively healthy that I wouldn't mind having around the house for a few days. I've made it through a week of NaBloPoMo and finding it difficult to post daily. Although I truly enjoy it, I'm spending far too much time cooking, photographing, and blogging on a daily basis.


Dorie provides directions to make a basic applesauce or a darker compote (halfway between applesauce and apple butter). The darker compote is cooked much longer and has a few tablespoons of salted butter added at the end, and a specialty of Normandy and Brittany. Both recipes use apples, water, brown sugar and vanilla extract. I added cranberries, a squeeze of lemon juice, and teaspoon of cinnamon. I also doubled the recipe and cooked it down about an hour, over medium-low heat, and then mashed the apples and cranberries with a potato masher. I like thicker, chunkier applesauce.



Dorie also suggests making petite chaussons aux pommes (apple turnovers) with puff pastry. If I had more time today, I would have tried that with part of the applesauce. But, it's Friday afternoon already and I need to get going on a few other things. Enjoy your day!


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French Fridays with Dorie is an online cooking group, dedicated to Dorie Greenspan‘s Around My French Table: More Than 300 Recipes from My Home to Yours. As members of the group, we have purchased the cookbook and cook along as much as we can. There is a new recipe each week, and we post about that recipe on Friday. We are asked to refrain from posting the actual recipes on our blog. The book is filled with stunning photography, and personal stories about each recipe, which makes it that much more intriguing. I highly recommend adding it to your cookbook collection if you haven't already!

9 comments:

Diane Balch said...

I'm not a super sweet dessert fan so the addition of cranberry sounds wonderful to me… great variation.

Mary Hirsch said...

Hmmm, this sounds good. And, the look is beautiful. One week down, three to go. Don't give up - your posts are wonderful. 33

Betsy said...

I love the color the cranberry adds to your sauce. Looks delicious. I'd like to try the chaussons too.

TeaLady said...

I really considered adding the granberries. Glad it came out well. Next time.

Rose said...

Wow, looks delicious. With the addition of cranberries it looks fancy enough for the holiday table. Good luck with your daily posting, I'm exhausted just thinking about it.

Anonymous said...

I like your cranberry idea - I've done that before too. I have to say I'm a little exhausted by your blog-a-day project! :) Whew!

I usually make mine as you did - just a quick mash, but made another batch with pears, cardamom a bit of lemon zest and the vanilla, and then used the food mill. Delicious too!

tricia s. said...

So fun to see a post from you (and your Newfie !!) again. As usual your photos and your results are gorgeous. Love love love the idea o incorporating the cranberries. The taste as well as the color is worth it. Yes, I post only one recipe a week and struggle to keep up with that little old one and the comments. Love it, but time consuming. Do what you can and know you have fans :) (who understand you have a life....)

Teresa said...

Your version sound like a perfect addition to a holiday table. Nice to see you back!

Emily said...

Just love that color cranberries lent the applesauce! Spectacular! Am tempted, cos I do have cranberries in the freezer!