After the holidays, right when I thought I consumed enough foie gras to shut down the State of California, it is on to January’s flavor of the month. The galette des rois, or king’s cake, is as ubiquitous in France as New Year’s resolutions. There’s another French paradox for the list. Nonetheless, two layers of buttery puff pastry hide a rich layer of almond paste or apple compote. Buried in the cake is a teeny tiny charm. In the spirit of Epiphany, whoever wins it is crowned king or queen for the day. Although galettes are found in abundance at any boulangerie and social event in the month of January, they are a cinch to make at home. Mine includes an apple compote with a Yankee Doodle dose of cinnamon and plenty of vanilla bean. So hold onto your teeth. You may be king or queen today!
For much more coloring fun, please preorder my forthcoming book Amazon.com: Edible Paradise: A Coloring Book of Seasonal Fruits & Vegetables (Rizzoli’s Universe Imprint), March 15th, 2016. It sets its readers on an enchanting journey, discovering the seasonal delicacies and creatures found in forests, fields, gardens, and urban farmer’s markets. This charming, elegantly designed volume of freehand illustrations is a treat for the senses, guaranteed to inspire food lovers, nature enthusiasts, gardeners, and parents wanting to encourage their children to appreciate the wonders of nature’s edible bounty. Preorder here.