French Word A Week: Pate Feuilletee
We have literally eaten our fair share of this edition of French Word A Week lately and we would gladly do it again. Actually we might later today. It’s puff pastry, who wouldn’t be?
Yes, we are furiously infatuated by pate feuilletee in this household. You can listen to the pronunciation here (and yes it’s my voice this time and yes I am quite aware it’s two words. Bonus)
Hmmm…puff pastry…That elusive pit-stop of a baker’s apprentice. The one that elicit words such as "difficult", "temperamental", "finicky", "a pain in the derriere" and a sleuth of other chosen adjectives.
Yeah…
Add "gluten free".
Now we’re talking about a whole other level of difficulty.
Yet, within the course of this past year and bouncing off ideas, ratios, trials and errors with Shauna and Danny, I can say that our family finally ate a gluten free mille-feuilles worthy of that name!(pictured above)
I have made it four times in the past two weeks just to make sure that the first time I yelled "victory" was not a dream. Everytime it worked perfectly. Imagine a dough that does not crack when you roll it, that you do not need to patch and doctor up as you roll and fold. A gluten free dough that behaves exactly as one loaded with gazillion strands of gluten. Oh yeah….
I wanted to post the full recipe today until Shauna gently nudged me to do it one more time with step by step pictures so that people who have never made it could see the method and you could clearly see what I am talking about when I say I want to rest my head on the dough it is so soft.
So….the step by step tutorial is being photographed as we speak (I am in between 2 turns right now) and I’ll post the full recipe and several dishes/desserts I made with it on Tuesday.
I hope you all have a wonderful Easter weekend. We are having a few get togethers with friends and family until Monday when my parents leave to go back home. I’ll be moping around the house that day. Good time to write about pate feuilletee then!
Have a great weekend!
Comments
m April 2, 2010 um 3:46 pm
I can't believe that is gluten free. I can't wait for the tutorial!
Jen Yu April 2, 2010 um 4:04 pm
Hey Superwoman, this is just brilliant. You are just brilliant. I am sending you the good juju of the "step-by-step" photo gods 🙂 I cannot wait to see the recipe. xxoo
Shauna April 2, 2010 um 4:23 pm
We have been SO excited to be part of the process, but this one is all you, my dear. I cannot wait to try it.
shumaila April 2, 2010 um 4:25 pm
I hope you are going to post the recipe of that white topping as well, it looks so smooth !
iga@thedelishdish April 2, 2010 um 4:45 pm
this looks too good to be gluten free! sound like a tried and true recipe…will be checking back for the tutorial!
Anonymous April 2, 2010 um 5:36 pm
Holy Moley they look beeeauuuutiful!
Helen April 2, 2010 um 5:41 pm
Having pictures will be really good as I imagine it's quite difficult to make. I look forward to your next post.
momgateway April 2, 2010 um 5:57 pm
It looks lovely,…can't wait for your tutorial. Your food is always so beautiful!
Joy April 2, 2010 um 5:57 pm
That looks great! I can't wait to see how you did it.
Unknown April 2, 2010 um 5:59 pm
Quite the difficult job and you did it! You should be very proud.
I'm excited to see this. I have gone gluten free because my better half is a Celiac. That is love.
Jessica @ How Sweet April 2, 2010 um 6:02 pm
Beautiful! And gluten free? Amazing.
Anna April 2, 2010 um 6:58 pm
It looks fantastic! Can't wait for that tutorial..
Anna April 2, 2010 um 6:58 pm
It looks fantastic! Can't wait for that tutorial..
pastrywitch April 2, 2010 um 7:32 pm
I can't wait! I love making puff pastry, and was despairing at the thought that I'd never be able to eat it again (recently learned I'm gluten intolerant:( ). Thanks so much for figuring this out!
Theresa April 2, 2010 um 9:11 pm
Wow! I almost wanted to cry when I saw what you made! I never thought I would be able to eat ANYTHING like that ever again… You're amazing! I can't wait to see the recipe!
gfs April 3, 2010 um 1:45 am
oh yum, that means I can make my favourite desserts with puff pastry now! I'm sure everyone else tells you that you're fabulous but I'm going to do it again for good measure: You are FABULOUS!
Ps bring on tuesday!
Bimmer April 3, 2010 um 4:12 am
I can't ever get enough of your pictures! And I can stare at the same one for a long time!
Love your blog
Anonymous April 3, 2010 um 7:08 am
Oh!!! Congratulations, I am so happy for you!!!!!
I have followed your blog for years, and adore your photography. I'm finishing up in culinary school and yes, puff pastry is difficult but so amazing when proper. Gluten-free baking is amazing. It's so nice that you and Shauna can bake together!
lo April 3, 2010 um 8:47 am
Happy Easter!
shaz April 3, 2010 um 11:01 am
Happy Easter Helene. I love these "word a week" posts. I had to head straight over to Forvo to listen to how to pronounce it properly. Thank you 🙂
bunkycooks April 3, 2010 um 12:17 pm
This is a beautiful pastry! I look forward to the tutorial.
Jolette April 3, 2010 um 12:20 pm
I can't believe you managed to make puff pastry gluten free! I LURVE puff pastry. This picture is so beautiful!
angela@spinachtiger April 3, 2010 um 12:40 pm
Very beautiful. I know I would love any version or whatever you did with it.
Gwendolyn April 3, 2010 um 2:13 pm
my entire gluten free family and I sat and practically drooled on the keyboard when I pulled this post up. We are SO excited!!
When you go gluten free, there are a few things that you just kind of resign yourself to never eating again and this was definitely one of them–I'm so glad you're defying that on behalf of those of us who aren't wizards in the kitchen. You are wonderful!
Sarah April 3, 2010 um 6:32 pm
Incroyable. I could not be more excited.
Lori April 3, 2010 um 7:25 pm
Bravo for you and your unrelenting tenacity!
adriprints April 3, 2010 um 9:26 pm
This is incredibly exciting! I can't wait for the corresponding photos to be posted. I love this dessert and am happy to know there's a gluten-free version just about ready! Thanks for sharing. 🙂
gail April 3, 2010 um 11:04 pm
Wow! Those are gorgeous!!
Breadpitt April 4, 2010 um 7:11 am
pretty cute and tempting ..;-) ..i guess the work behind scene took you some time, plus cleaning the mess is not fun;-p good effort though;-)
Carole Poirot April 4, 2010 um 9:07 am
Bonjour Helen, Thank you so much for stopping at my blog and leaving a comment, I really appreciate it. Mon Dieu, your photos are truly beautiful and I love inspirational food. Wishing you and your family a lovely Easter & Joyeuses Pâques, Love from London, Carole x
Unknown April 4, 2010 um 3:47 pm
I don't know you but I love you! I can't wait to see a step by step tutorial of this recipe!
meandering pearl April 4, 2010 um 4:37 pm
this looks so yumscious!!! Happy Easter!
Cafe Observer April 4, 2010 um 7:50 pm
I appreciate your weekly Friday French words. Keep it going!
ChichaJo April 4, 2010 um 10:36 pm
That looks gorgeous! What a fantastic job putting together gluten-free puff pastry!
marla {family fresh cooking} April 5, 2010 um 12:23 am
Great to hear you had success with your gluten free pate feuilletee!! Must be delish, looking forward to your step by step. Thanks for sharing your voice with us….I would have butchered that pronunciation!!
Valentina April 5, 2010 um 12:47 am
i can't wait for the step by step
veron April 5, 2010 um 1:15 am
(sound of tapping foot) so..where is the recipe?
Kidding aside, patiently waiting for your step-by-step instructions. It looks gorgeous!
Isa April 5, 2010 um 2:08 am
A gluten-free puff pastry? Vraiment? I never thought I'd see the day when flaky pastries could be mine again. I can't wait to try it! Merci Hélène et Joyeuses Pâques!
boogie. April 5, 2010 um 5:15 am
wow! can't wait for the tutorial! can't believe it's gluten-free. they look beautiful as always!
Evonne & Darren Photography April 5, 2010 um 10:44 am
Everything looks soooo good on your blog. It's making me hungry now!
Kim April 5, 2010 um 8:51 pm
Oh my! I have been waiting for this! If you post it early enough on Tues. I can try it with my GF Test Kitchen girls (there are 5 of them, all 5 years old!). Of course, provided the recipe isn't too time consuming.
I cannot wait to try it!
Tiffany April 5, 2010 um 10:32 pm
That looks amazing! I've heard you can imitate puff pastry with layers of rice paper, which is what I was going to try … until now that is. Now I'm going to wait until your step by step recipe comes out. The pastry looks fantastic!!
Julia @MĂ©langer April 6, 2010 um 4:16 am
What a fantastic effort to create a gluten free version of a classic. I'm sure all your readers who have this dietary restriction will also be yelling victory soon – with your fabulous step by step instructions to come!
Erin April 7, 2010 um 4:01 am
Gluten free puff pastry? That truly is something to be proud of. Thank you for the inspiration!
Julia April 11, 2010 um 7:22 pm
These look wonderful! it is amazing they are gluten-free.