Ep 1. Pate Sablee

Bake with Anna Olson is a cooking series that follows professional pastry chef Anna Olson as she teaches viewers about baking different desserts and pastry items. In season 1, episode 1, titled "Pate Sablee," Anna focuses on teaching viewers how to make the perfect French shortbread dough.

The episode begins with Anna introducing the concept of pate sablee and explaining its key attributes, such as its crumbly texture and buttery taste. She then moves on to preparing the dough, starting with the dry ingredients, which include flour, sugar, and salt. She notes the importance of using cold butter in order to achieve the desired crumbly texture, and demonstrates how to cut the butter into the flour mixture.

Next, Anna adds the wet ingredients to the dough, which include an egg yolk and some vanilla extract. She mixes the dough until it comes together and shows viewers how to roll it out to the desired thickness. Anna emphasizes the importance of chilling the dough before baking to prevent it from spreading too much in the oven.

After the dough has chilled, Anna demonstrates how to transfer it to a tart tin and trim the excess dough. She also shows viewers how to prick the dough with a fork to prevent air bubbles from forming during baking. Anna then bakes the tart shell until it is golden brown and crisp.

Once the tart shell is baked, Anna explains how to make a classic frangipane filling. She starts by creaming together butter and sugar, then gradually adding almond flour and an egg. She notes that this filling can be used in a variety of pastries, such as danishes and croissants. Anna spreads the frangipane filling evenly in the tart shell and neatly arranges some sliced plums on top.

Finally, Anna bakes the tart until the frangipane is set and the plums are slightly caramelized. She shows viewers how to glaze the tart with some apricot jam for a shiny finish. Anna then slices into the tart and serves it, noting the perfect balance between the crumbly tart shell and the sweet, nutty filling.

Throughout the episode, Anna provides helpful tips and techniques for making the perfect pate sablee, such as using a pastry cutter for cutting the butter into the flour mixture and using a rolling pin to press the dough into the corners of the tart tin. She also emphasizes the importance of using quality ingredients and taking care in each step of the process to ensure a great final product.

Overall, Bake with Anna Olson season 1, episode 1 is a great introduction to the art of French baking and provides viewers with a comprehensive lesson on how to make the perfect pate sablee. Anna's clear instructions and helpful tips make the baking process accessible to viewers of all levels of experience, and her enthusiasm for the art of pastry is contagious.