Greek Yogurt Parfait with Fresh Figs

My first post ever on The Forest Feast was exactly one year ago today! I didn’t really know what I was doing (until this fig recipe a month later), but started it as a way to reinvent myself and my work in a new place. Little did I know what it would become and what a following I would develop!  I can’t tell you how much your encouragement and praise has motivated me to continue and to post regularly, thank you!! It makes me so happy to hear people are actually trying and enjoying my recipes. My wish for TFF’s second year is to get a cookbook off the ground (which is actually looking quite hopeful!)

Thank you all so much, from the bottom of my parfait glass. Bon Appetit!

xo

Erin

Butternut Apple Tart

Be sure to brush the top with olive oil before baking and sprinkle with a bit of sea salt.

I know fall is here when my CSA starts to brim with apples and squash. This savory tart is very comforting when the weather starts to cool. I used a pre-made pie crust, but you can certainly make your own. It works for breakfast, lunch or dinner and is great with an herb side salad. This recipe concludes my guest recipe series at Anthology Magazine, please click here for more pictures and details. Bon Appetit!

By Erin Gleeson for The Forest Feast

Pomegranate Challah

The Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur is this week, which continues the season of the Jewish New Year. To celebrate this annual cycle, challah is often formed into a round (instead of being braided) and harvest type foods, like pomegranate, are often eaten. I combined these ideas into a sweet bread, baked with lots of honey and pomegranate seeds. You can work the pom seeds into the dough itself, or just sprinkle them on the top, or both!

I have tried a million challah recipes and came up with this combo of ingredients that I like best. Bread is not that hard, you can do it! Here’s how:

Put one packet of yeast in a bowl with ¾ cup warm water and let it sit for 5 min until it gets a little bubbly. Then toss in an egg, 1/3 honey, 2T brown sugar, a big pinch of coarse salt and a half stick melted butter. Mix it all by hand or using a mixer. Then add flour, little by little until it’s no longer sticking to the side of the bowl and is thick and doughy and doesn’t seem to absorb any more flour (you’ll know…). You usually need about 4 cups of flour.

Knead it for a couple minutes (or just let it go around in the mixer with the dough hook) then throw that lump of dough into a big bowl you’ve coated in oil, and cover the top of the bowl with saran wrap. It’ll rise to about twice the size in a couple hours. Then take it out, roll it into a snake, then coil it into a round. Sprinkle with pom seeds and brush with egg (optional, but makes it feel more official!). Let it rise on a cookie sheet for another 45 min or so, then pop it in the oven for about 25 min at 350 degrees. Check it once in a while to see how brown it’s getting, and tap it on the bottom to see if it’s done (it should sound kind of hollow). Enjoy!

By Erin Gleeson for The Forest Feast

Peach Ricotta Tart

I was so happy to have this recipe featured yesterday on a website I love, A Cup of Jo, as “The Best Peach Tart You’ll Ever Have”!. This peach tart (technically a galette) is simple, pretty and delicious! Just roll out one store bought pie crust (or make your own, if you fancy). I used the kind that comes rolled in the long red Pillsbury box in the refrigerated section. Spread a thin layer of ricotta cheese over the dough, leaving about a 1 inch border. Sprinkle the ricotta with a bit of cinnamon and sugar, then layer thinly sliced peaches over the cheese. Fold and pinch the corners over to make a little crust, then bake for 20 minutes or so on a cookie sheet at 350 degrees until browned. Before serving, I like to drizzle a little good olive oil and add a pinch of coarse sea salt to each slice.

You’ll need: 1 (pre-made) crust, 2 to 3 peaches (no need to peel), 1 small tub ricotta, cinnamon, sugar, olive oil, sea salt. Bon appetit!

by Erin Gleeson for The Forest Feast

Broiled Stone Fruit

I was so happy to get nectarines, plums and apricots in the CSA box this week. This is a quick and easy summer dessert- it also works great on the grill if you’re BBQing. When you broil these fruits, all the juices come out and they soften slightly.  Sprinkling a bit of sugar before you pop them in the oven adds a carmely coating. Broilers are different, so watch closely and take them out right when they start to blister a bit. As for the cinnamon cream, you can make your own whipped cream, but I used store bought. Cool whip, greek yogurt, creme fraiche or ice cream also work!

By Erin Gleeson for The Forest Feast