Father’s Day and Peach Cobbler

Happy Father’s Day to all of you out there who are fathers, uncles, cousins, brothers, teachers…any of you men who took the time to nurture, mentor, love, inspire, encourage, and be a role model for a child – whether that child was yours or not.

I know many people have issues with their fathers, for whatever reason. I was blessed with a wonderful father. My Papa was gentle, funny, compassionate, and one heck of a cook. I have posted several posts about him and those of you who have read about him, know the love there was between us. You know there wasn’t an animal or baby that could resist him. church ladies who thought he was the cat’s pajamas, men who called him brother, uncle, and friend with equal love and respect.  You also know he was one fine Southern Cook!

From the time I had to stand on a chair by his side, he taught me how to cook with love. One of his specialties was his peach cobbler. It was A-mazing. Because Father’s Day comes around about the same time the first peaches of the season come around, the two are forever linked in my heart and stomach. Papa would take three cobblers to church dinners and the dishes always came back, virtually licked clean. He was a resourceful cook as well, using whatever fruits were in season and when times and economy was rough, he would use canned peaches or pineapple. The Grand Duchess of his cobblers was his Peach Cobbler. It was to die for with or without vanilla ice cream (homemade or purchased), topped with fresh whipped cream, cool whip, plain, warm out of the oven or spoonfuls of it snuck out of the refrigerator on a midnight run for a snack. There was no way that cobbler wasn’t delicious. And if you wanted to make it the ultimate, serve it warm with full cream homemade peach ice cream.  That’s what I am doing this Sunday in his memory and in memory of all those times our family was together enjoying good food and each other.

So…to all you men out there (and to some of you women who had to hold down two jobs as mother and father), Thank you for your love and guidance. Happy Father’s Day to you all. And make it a super one by making this cobbler for someone you love or for yourself. Enjoy. Cook it with love and love will make it even better.

Papa’s Peach Cobbler
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 ½ cups sugar, divided
1 tablespoon baking powder
Pinch of salt
1 cup milk
1 tsp. vanilla
6 cups fresh peach slices
1 tablespoon lemon juice
¼ tsp ground mace
¼ tsp. ground ginger
Ground cinnamon

Melt butter in a 13- x 9-inch baking dish. Combine flour, 1 cup sugar, baking powder, and salt; add milk, stirring just until dry ingredients are moistened. Pour batter over butter (do not stir).   Bring remaining 1/2 cup sugar, peach slices, spices, and lemon juice to a boil over high heat, stirring constantly; spoon over batter (do not stir).   Bake at 375° for 40 to 45 minutes or until golden brown. Serve cobbler warm or cool.