Peach & Blackberry Galette

If given the choice between cake and pie, undoubtedly I would choose cake. I come from a cake family, specifically chocolate cake, where frosting spatulas are licked clean and rarely a birthday passes without one gracing the table. I know cake well; we have become close friends over the years.

Pie, on the other hand, was not a large part of my childhood. Every Thanksgiving, my grandmother made it a point to place a chocolate pudding pie in front of my father and a pumpkin pie in front of my mother, but that was quite the extent of my family's involvement with pie. There were no pies enjoyed in the heat of summer or the chill of winter. Instead, the pies were replaced with other beloved desserts; there were puddings during the Fourth of July and cheesecakes during Christmas. Even so, the best part about food is that there is always time to make up for lost pie.

Galettes are a simpler, easier-to-assemble version of pie. Instead of using a pie pan, the pie crust is spread out on a baking sheet, the filling is poured in the middle, and the edges of the pie crust are folded up and in to hold in the sweet fruit. I love the rustic look and feel of a galette. It feels as old and loved as time, striking a sharp contrast against the perfectly assembled bakery pies. As it bakes, the fruit sings, staying within the bounds of the flaky pie crust, and releasing juices that thicken once the galette begins to cool. Served warm, room temperature, or cool, these galettes are just right.

Today, I choose pie.

This Peach & Blackberry Galette has a refreshingly bold flavor combination. Sweet, ripe peaches and tart, juicy blackberries are a match that deserves a second glance. The crust is an all shortening crust (perfect for vegans!) and bakes up into fantastic flaky, crusty layers. You can also use your tried and true pie crust recipe or buy a pre-made refrigerated version, but I found something special in this crust recipe and I hope you will too.

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Peaches & Cream

Sometimes we all need a little simplicity in our lives. Life has a sneaky way of quickly becoming a list of things that need to be done—a giant checklist that seemingly never ends. The list is filled with work and chores. Dinners to make and dishes to clean. Clothes to be washed and clothes to be put away. Deadlines to meet and cookies to bake.

Oh so many cookies to bake.

I've been feeling overwhelmed lately. I've been working between 12 and 15 hours a day for the last few weeks. To say that it's draining would be an understatement. I'm exhausted. My list of things to do each day ends up rolling over onto the next. And the next. And soon my list of things to do is so long and intimidating, I wish I could hide it and pretend it didn't exist. Just the other day I scheduled in an hour of "fun time" (aka television watching) to let loose, but I was too busy stressing over the to-do list that "fun time" wasn't really... fun.

I guess you can't force yourself to de-stress between the precise hours of 8 and 9 pm.

When life gets crazy and hectic, it can be easy to forget to keep things simple. Even if you have a list the length of a football field of everything that needs to be done, it won't hurt to take a moment to breathe and allow yourself to relax (I know, easier said than done!). In fact, you just might find that those few moments of peace are exactly what you needed to recharge.

Tonight I plan on sitting back, eating a bowl of Peaches and Cream, and forgetting my list of things to do, if only for a minute. Work will just have to wait. Peaches are more important tonight.

This week is all about simple desserts. So simple, in fact, that you hardly need to follow a recipe to make them (but I'll share them with you anyway!). A common misconception seems to be that simple desserts are also plain desserts. Such lies! I'll set out to prove that even the simplest of desserts can pack the most flavor (just check out this easy recipe for roasted pineapple).

Even you can find time in your busy schedule to whip up this dessert. Yes, you.

Peaches and Cream is a simple, yet elegant dessert. Fresh, ripe peaches are peeled and sliced before being placed in a bowl and lightly covered in heavy cream. The peaches are then sprinkled with cinnamon and almonds. This dish is uncomplicated and easy to prepare (in fact, you could have done so in the time it took to read this post!). Peaches and cream are a simple match and make an ideal dessert.

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Honey Peach Bubble Tea

I was first introduced to bubble tea two years ago. A friend had taken me to a tea house specifically to try it after finding out I was a bubble tea virgin. You've never tried bubble tea before? What's wrong with you? I was initially very wary of it, wondering why anyone would ever want to drink tapioca pearls through a straw. Weren't tapioca pearls supposed to be reserved for puddings? Nevertheless, I gathered up my courage and ordered myself a drink.

One sip changed my mind. I suddenly wanted to put tapioca pearls in every drink imaginable. The pearls gave the bubble tea a texture that was unique and addicting.

Since then, whenever I pass a shop that sells them, I can't resist buying myself a treat. Some people are addicted to coffee shops; I'm addicted to bubble tea houses. Luckily for my bank account (and unfortunately for everyone else), bubble tea houses are nearly impossible to find in the Midwest. However, as I've shown you before, they are very easy (and cheap!) to make at home.

Regrettably, large tapioca pearls are one of those ingredients that are hard to find in supermarkets. You may spot them in the international aisle (very rarely the baking aisle), but, more often then not, they will elude you and your searching eyes. Luckily, bubble tea tapioca can be found in abundance at your local Asian market. If you can't find it there, or if you don't have a local Asian market, bubble tea tapioca can be found easily with a quick search on the internet.

I've also seen the large tapioca pearls substituted for small jelly candies. Bubble teas are traditionally a low calorie drink but, if you don't mind upping the sugar content just a bit, you could easily chop up some fruit snacks or gummy bears and use those in place of the tapioca pearls. It is definitely a way to play around with multiple flavors in one drink.

Though, if you're like me, you might just agree that the original is the best way to enjoy it.

This Honey Peach Bubble Tea is very light, refreshing, and fruity. Honey and peach are two of those flavors that were meant to be together—they complement each other well. The black tea is actually quite hidden in this drink, making it taste more like rich smoothie than a tea (all while keeping the calories down!). The tapioca pearls are perfect in a drink like this, giving it an interesting texture and a twist on the traditional beverage.

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