It is peach season – Hooray!!!! Luscious globes in variegated shades of pink,red,coral..pass by a display of them and be seduced by the sweet and unique fragrance. First they catch your eye and then as you go closer, your fingers are teased by the velvet touch of them and then finally, that lifting to the nose and inhaling the sweet smell of summer.
Cobblers, pies, ice cream, sangria, parfaits, trifles, shortcakes, coffeecakes, bread, upside down cakes, grilled, salsa-ed or just eaten as they are, peaches are one of the most versatile of the summer fruits. The standard peach and its cousin, the white fleshed peach which tastes the way an exotic flower would taste, go all too quickly into our past, to be dreamed of during cold and grey winter days. Enjoy them while they are here – become a peach glutton.
Two recipes for you with peaches: Peaches and Cream Pie – a sweet silky southern belle of a dessert. Not quite crème brulee but dancing on the edge of it; the edges caramelize and add a different layer of flavor and texture. And – from Southern Living Magazine, Governor’s Mansion Sweet Summer Peach Tea. Cooling and refreshing. An excellent drink for brunches, prissy bridal or baby showers, afternoon tea, or just for serving to friends at a cookout as something totally different and delicious.
Try both of them and I think you will be on your way to being a true Peach Hedonist!
Peaches and Cream Pie
¾ c. granulated white sugar
½ c. all purpose flour
1 unbaked 9 inch pie shell
2 c. peeled and sliced fresh peaches or, frozen peaches, defrosted and room temperature
1 c. heavy cream
Good splash of vanilla added to the cream
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Mix sugar and flour together in bowl. Sprinkle about one-third into the bottom of the pie shell. Add peaches and sprinkle with remaining sugar and flour. Slowly pour heavy cream over fillings. Gently stir peaches to cover them completely with cream. Bake until peaches are tender and crust is golden – about 45 minutes. Let cool on rack until a bit warmer than room temperature. It will slice better.
Governor’s Mansion Summer Peach Tea Punch
3 family-size tea bags
2 cups loosely packed fresh mint leaves
1 (33.8-oz.) bottle peach nectar
1/2 (12-oz.) can frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed
1/2 cup Simple Sugar Syrup***
1 (1-liter) bottle ginger ale, chilled
1 (1-liter) bottle club soda, chilled
Garnish: fresh peach wedges
Preparation
Bring 4 cups water to a boil in a medium saucepan; add tea bags and mint leaves. Boil 1 minute; remove from heat. Cover and steep 10 minutes. Discard tea bags and mint. Pour into a 1-gal. container; add peach nectar, lemonade concentrate, and Simple Sugar Syrup. Cover and chill 8 to 24 hours.
Pour chilled tea mixture into a punch bowl or pitcher. Stir in ginger ale and club soda just before serving. Garnish, if desired.
** Simple Sugar Syrup
2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup water
Bring sugar and water to a boil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Boil, stirring occasionally, 4 minutes or until sugar is dissolved and mixture is clear. Cool to room temperature (about 30 minutes) Syrup can be made in batches and when cooled, stored for up to two weeks in the refrigerator. I keep a batch of it all through the summer for quick drink preparation.
Jul 08, 2014 @ 12:34:26
Yummy!!! 🙂 I wish I could taste that pie that you have baked!! 🙂
Jul 08, 2014 @ 13:07:37
I do too. I think it would make you smile!
Jul 08, 2014 @ 13:10:16
Yes, it would!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂 I love sweet things! ❤
Jul 08, 2014 @ 13:28:45
That’s because you are such a sweet thing.
Jul 08, 2014 @ 13:34:40
Hihihihi!! 🙂 That made me laugh 🙂
Jul 08, 2014 @ 16:03:02
🙂 ❤
Jul 08, 2014 @ 13:12:09
YUMMY! I will making some of that punch tonight.
Jul 08, 2014 @ 13:28:21
It really is good and it is pretty too!
Jul 08, 2014 @ 13:20:48
I don’t do well with sweet desserts, but that Peach Tea Punch sounds tempting. We won’t have peaches till some time mid to late August. Our strawberries were a month late because of poor weather. 🙂
Jul 08, 2014 @ 13:27:57
It really is good. and it is pretty. You could use frozen peaches for the garnish
Jul 08, 2014 @ 17:22:06
Nah. Fresh is the way to go for me. The worst are canned peaches. Bleh.
Jul 08, 2014 @ 13:31:07
The peach slices are only to pretty it up. the main peach flavor comes from peach nectar.
Jul 08, 2014 @ 17:22:47
Yum. 😮 😮 Bring it ON.
Jul 08, 2014 @ 20:28:20
Show it who’s boss!
Jul 08, 2014 @ 21:11:03
I’m a weakling when it comes to good stuff. 😛
Jul 08, 2014 @ 21:29:04
It is a hard job but someone has to do it.
Jul 09, 2014 @ 17:45:47
Who, MOI? 😮
Jul 09, 2014 @ 22:23:34
oui – vous Date: Wed, 9 Jul 2014 21:45:49 +0000 To: thspencer51@hotmail.com
Jul 10, 2014 @ 13:11:46
~(*_~)~~
Jul 08, 2014 @ 19:37:27
I love crème brulee! And now, with peaches, that sounds tantalizing. I can’t wait to try it this weekend when I get home. Thanks so much for sharing.
Jul 08, 2014 @ 20:26:17
I hope you will enjoy!
Jul 17, 2014 @ 19:39:13
I think we need to write a poem about this Peaches and Crème…it just seems so deserving…one day…and then put it under tastes.. :0) Enjoy!
Jul 17, 2014 @ 21:15:43
I actually tried acouple of times but tje ended up sounding less than PG. It truly is a sensual dessert. If you have ideas, i’d be happy to collaborate. I evem have a haiku rolling around in my head but still chewing it over.
Jul 08, 2014 @ 21:40:48
Oh, that delicious pie recipe reminds me of one from my childhood. I am with you: peaches=summer lusciousness. Thank you for the lovely post. xo
Jul 08, 2014 @ 22:10:18
Thank you! It was a pie we had when I was a child as well.
Jul 09, 2014 @ 12:41:07
Both recipes look wonderful! I never had a peach pie – at least I don’t remember having one! I do love summer and all the fresh vegetables and fruits!
Jul 09, 2014 @ 13:18:08
I’m off to a local farmer’s market this afternoon – things are really starting t roll in and therefore, cheaper than a couple of weeks ago. I can hardly wait – nice summer tomatoes all juicy and with some bite, freshly pulled corn, canteloupes, green beans, squash…I’ll be printing some summer recipes soon. and the peaches are better this year than I think they have been in awhile. You can also do peach pie the way you would do apple – put in a crust with sugar, spices, some lemon juice, a bit of thickener and then a top crust. wonderful. Date: Wed, 9 Jul 2014 16:41:09 +0000 To: thspencer51@hotmail.com
Jul 10, 2014 @ 20:48:22
That all sounds wonderful!!!
Jul 10, 2014 @ 20:57:31
they are! Date: Fri, 11 Jul 2014 00:48:22 +0000 To: thspencer51@hotmail.com
Jul 09, 2014 @ 12:48:14
Kanzen, Smiling, you got me in my weak spot I love peaches !!!!! The peaches and cream pie looks to die for, but being honest I will pass on the drink it looks way to sweet for me. But I still gain weight just looking. Take care, Bill
Jul 09, 2014 @ 13:20:00
The tea isn’t as sweet as you would think. the ginger ale and club soda help cut it and the lemonade adds tart. We southerners how ever, do love our sweet tea. Date: Wed, 9 Jul 2014 16:48:15 +0000 To: thspencer51@hotmail.com
Jul 10, 2014 @ 07:06:03
I like the sound of that pie! I can almost smell it!
Jul 10, 2014 @ 12:02:20
Well, I hope your bipeds will fix it and give you a bit for a treat – no chocolate in it!
Jul 10, 2014 @ 13:28:03
Kanzen – Here I go again – having to convert your recipes into being acceptable for a diabetic. As much as we’d love the peach pie, it’s simply too much work to convert. However, the iced tea I can do and we will enjoy. Our peaches are just right and as you know, they won’t stay that way for long. We’re still having fresh peach ice cream 2 and 3 times a week thanks to your nudging.
Jul 10, 2014 @ 17:15:02
Excellent. I don’t think doing the conversion of the tea will affect the taste at all. Glad you are having the ice cream. That is much easier to convert!
Jul 30, 2014 @ 03:39:47
I always cringe when I see something like “a splash” or “a pinch”! lol My little Cake Boss is a peach lover… Gotta try this…but I’ll make my own crust! 🙂
Jul 30, 2014 @ 12:25:01
Good for you! If you make your own crust, then I imagine you have mastered well the art of “splash” or “pinch”! I hope you and your Cake Boss thoroughly enjoy.