Well, after such a long hiatus, enjoying time seeing my daughter go to Prom... and other things... I am back at trying to get my blogging on... So, here I am...
PEACHES!!!!
These delightful orbs of fuzz are the first for me to harvest this year. From May through August, will be the special time to enjoy... We have nip and pinched ones that needed to be and it was hard, but thinking how wonderfully huge the rest will be didn't make me feel bad at all.
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| Florida Prince |
To ensure you bite into a juicy, sweet peach when you get home, look for these qualities when selecting peaches:
- An even background color of golden yellow for yellow peaches, and creamy yellow for white flesh peaches. Note that the red blush characteristic of some peaches does not indicate ripeness.
- A well-defined crease.
- A slight give to the flesh—neither rock-hard nor mushy.
- Avoid fruit with green around the stem (they aren’t fully ripe) or that have shriveled skin (they’re old).
- Most importantly, find fruit that smells how you hope it will taste.
http://localfoods.about.com/od/summer/tp/AllAboutPeaches.htm
Strawberry Anticipation....
I think I have glorious little berries coming to my awaiting culinary needs!
I have come come across a few cocktails that these babies will be used in!
Cocktail Tangent Time
So a non-alcohol cocktail works for those days that you worked to hard and just do not want to pass out... ;)
Strawberry Crush
Contributed by
The Strawberry Crush Cocktail
About the Strawberry Crush Cocktail
Forget crush, this has turned into a full-blown love affair.Ingredients in the Strawberry Crush Cocktail
- 3 to 4 Fresh strawberries, cut in half
- 3 Fresh mint sprigs
- Juice of half a lime
- 1 oz Simple syrup (one part sugar, one part water)
- Ginger beer
Garnish: Strawberry and mint sprig
Glass: Collins
How to make the Strawberry Crush Cocktail
In a shaker, muddle the strawberries, mint, lime juice and simple syrup to a juicy pulp. Pour (unstrained) into a tall Collins glass. Fill with crushed ice and top with ginger beer. Garnish with an additional strawberry and mint sprig.http://liquor.com/recipes/strawberry-crush/
How about a slight detour from Appetizers too.....
Tangent Dessert
Easy Peach Cobbler
Recipe adapted from Georgia Cooking in an Oklahoma Kitchen by Trisha Yearwood (c) Clarkson Potter 2008
Serves: 8 servings
Recipe adapted from Georgia Cooking in an Oklahoma Kitchen by Trisha Yearwood (c) Clarkson Potter 2008
Serves: 8 servings
Ingredients
Two 15-ounce cans sliced peaches in syrup
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
1 cup self-rising flour
1 cup sugar
1 cup milk
Homemade Whipped Cream, recipe follows
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
1 cup self-rising flour
1 cup sugar
1 cup milk
Homemade Whipped Cream, recipe follows
Cook's Note: If you don't have self-rising flour, substitute 1
cup all-purpose flour mixed with 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder and 1/8
teaspoon salt
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Drain 1 can of peaches; reserve the syrup from the other. Place the butter in a 9- by 12-inch oven proof baking dish. Heat the butter on the stove or in the oven until it's melted. In a medium bowl, mix the flour and sugar. Stir in the milk and the reserved syrup. Pour the batter over the melted butter in the baking dish. Arrange the peaches over the batter. Bake for 1 hour. The cobbler is done when the batter rises around the peaches and the crust is thick and golden brown. Serve warm with fresh whipped cream
Homemade Whipped Cream:
2 cups whipping cream, chilled in the fridge
4 tablespoons sugar
Chill a large metal mixing bowl and the wire beater attachment in the freezer for about 20 minutes. Pour the chilled cream and sugar into the cold mixing bowl and beat until it forms soft peaks, about 5 minutes. The mixture should hold its shape when dropped from a spoon. Don't over-beat or you'll have sweetened butter! Yield: 4 cups.
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Drain 1 can of peaches; reserve the syrup from the other. Place the butter in a 9- by 12-inch oven proof baking dish. Heat the butter on the stove or in the oven until it's melted. In a medium bowl, mix the flour and sugar. Stir in the milk and the reserved syrup. Pour the batter over the melted butter in the baking dish. Arrange the peaches over the batter. Bake for 1 hour. The cobbler is done when the batter rises around the peaches and the crust is thick and golden brown. Serve warm with fresh whipped cream
Homemade Whipped Cream:
2 cups whipping cream, chilled in the fridge
4 tablespoons sugar
Chill a large metal mixing bowl and the wire beater attachment in the freezer for about 20 minutes. Pour the chilled cream and sugar into the cold mixing bowl and beat until it forms soft peaks, about 5 minutes. The mixture should hold its shape when dropped from a spoon. Don't over-beat or you'll have sweetened butter! Yield: 4 cups.
Haven't tried these recipes yet, Please let me know your results...
Happy eats and gardening!
