It’s July and it’s Peach time just about everywhere in the country. All of your favorites like O’Henry, Red Top, SunCrest, or Red Haven are all in season or just about ready to be. And even though you can eat your fill of these mouthwatering, chin dripping, summer treats it still may not be enough if you are a real peach lover.
Are you a cook? Yes? Then you’ll love the flavor of this Easy Peach Cobbler recipe from http://allrecipes.com that helps to take advantage of the summer peach bounty. No? Then you’ll love how this easy recipe let’s you make a wonderful dessert that everyone will love without having to have gone to a culinary academy.
Here’s what you’ll need
• 12 fresh peaches, pitted and sliced
• 1-cup water
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1/2-teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 (18.25 ounce) package white cake mix (I told you this was the easy route, besides you can use organic cake mix if you like)
• 1 (8 ounce) package organic cream cheese
• 1/2-cup butter
DIRECTIONS
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Spread peach slices evenly into a 9x13 inch-baking dish, combine water and sugar in a small bowl. Stir to dissolve, and then pour mixture over peaches.
• Sprinkle cinnamon over peach slices, followed by dry cake mix. Top cake mix with pats of cream cheese. Dot cobbler with butter or non-dairy spread.
• Bake in preheated oven for 45 minutes, until golden.
If you really want to make it special add some fresh organic blackberries to the top before serving.
And even though this is called a dessert why not throw caution to the wind and serve as a special breakfast some hot summer morning with some cool yogurt. It will be a nice change from the norm for you and someone you love. Now that’s Hmmm, hmmmm great!
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
A DIFFERENT SORT OF SNACK SHACK
When I was growing up I remember after each Little League game we would get a quarter to buy something from the snack shack, which usually consisted of some sort of chip, soda or candy. But now the produce department is my snack shack of choice.
And let’s face it, with its longer days, a major holiday and warm weather, July is a month that is ripe for snacking morning, noon or night. Organic produce is the best snack choice around. After all it is always healthy for you, low in calories and bursting with flavor. Really, what’s not to like?
The interesting part comes when you ask someone what his or her favorite summer produce snacking item is. Some blurt it out as soon as the question leaves your mouth while others ponder as if they are drifting back to their childhood.
For instance, watermelon would be a popular choice if you asked around most offices or homes these days. Eaten in many ways — sliced, cut into chunks, with a spoon using it as the bowl, served with a little lime juice and cayenne pepper. Or as a friend once told me, watermelon is best served with a hammock and shady tree. I couldn’t agree more!
Watermelon is in full swing in July and English peas are starting to wane; too bad because I could eat a whole bowl of ‘em by myself right from the pod. Or how about red, purple or rainbow bunched, sliced radishes with a little sprinkle of salt.
Another friend gets her favorite snack idea from her grandparents and East Coast roots, fresh picked blueberries and heavy cream. I can see how that would be habit forming. I told her if she lets that secret out she might have company at her bowl. Especially since blueberries are so good right now.
July peaches are my favorite fruit, especially those grown after the 4th of July (yes, I think there is a difference in peach varieties depending on when they are grown). Try it out yourself. If you are going to do some peach sampling on your own, do so each week of the month. Ask about the varieties and make a mental note of the names; it will be worth remembering next season when the time comes around again.
I think my favorite summer snacking produce item is Thompson seedless and flame seedless grapes, so easy, so tasty, and so fun. For my favorite veggie I would probably choose Sun Gold cherry tomatoes. Both of these items start out firm and round and with a gentle bite burst their goodness into your mouth. Bunches and baskets of these get consumed in one sitting around my house this time of year.
How about these snack ideas. A big thick slice of rich red tomato, or perhaps whole eaten like and apple, warm and juicy, mmmm. California-grown cucumbers instead of crackers with a little fresh sour cream dip. A bag of Blue Lake beans is a crispy afternoon appetizer, either raw or slightly steamed. Steamed chard roll-ups stuffed with cilantro, hummus and fresh corn. Snap peas instead of peanuts for the baseball game. The list goes on and on!
What’s your favorite? What’s your best friend’s favorite? How about your sweetie? Can you name theirs? It’s fun to ask, and you may be surprised at the answer.
Whatever it is your produce department or farmers market will have the best freshest, organic produce available for your snacking pleasure all summer long.
So what are you waiting for? Let the snacking begin!
And let’s face it, with its longer days, a major holiday and warm weather, July is a month that is ripe for snacking morning, noon or night. Organic produce is the best snack choice around. After all it is always healthy for you, low in calories and bursting with flavor. Really, what’s not to like?
The interesting part comes when you ask someone what his or her favorite summer produce snacking item is. Some blurt it out as soon as the question leaves your mouth while others ponder as if they are drifting back to their childhood.
For instance, watermelon would be a popular choice if you asked around most offices or homes these days. Eaten in many ways — sliced, cut into chunks, with a spoon using it as the bowl, served with a little lime juice and cayenne pepper. Or as a friend once told me, watermelon is best served with a hammock and shady tree. I couldn’t agree more!
Watermelon is in full swing in July and English peas are starting to wane; too bad because I could eat a whole bowl of ‘em by myself right from the pod. Or how about red, purple or rainbow bunched, sliced radishes with a little sprinkle of salt.
Another friend gets her favorite snack idea from her grandparents and East Coast roots, fresh picked blueberries and heavy cream. I can see how that would be habit forming. I told her if she lets that secret out she might have company at her bowl. Especially since blueberries are so good right now.
July peaches are my favorite fruit, especially those grown after the 4th of July (yes, I think there is a difference in peach varieties depending on when they are grown). Try it out yourself. If you are going to do some peach sampling on your own, do so each week of the month. Ask about the varieties and make a mental note of the names; it will be worth remembering next season when the time comes around again.
I think my favorite summer snacking produce item is Thompson seedless and flame seedless grapes, so easy, so tasty, and so fun. For my favorite veggie I would probably choose Sun Gold cherry tomatoes. Both of these items start out firm and round and with a gentle bite burst their goodness into your mouth. Bunches and baskets of these get consumed in one sitting around my house this time of year.
How about these snack ideas. A big thick slice of rich red tomato, or perhaps whole eaten like and apple, warm and juicy, mmmm. California-grown cucumbers instead of crackers with a little fresh sour cream dip. A bag of Blue Lake beans is a crispy afternoon appetizer, either raw or slightly steamed. Steamed chard roll-ups stuffed with cilantro, hummus and fresh corn. Snap peas instead of peanuts for the baseball game. The list goes on and on!
What’s your favorite? What’s your best friend’s favorite? How about your sweetie? Can you name theirs? It’s fun to ask, and you may be surprised at the answer.
Whatever it is your produce department or farmers market will have the best freshest, organic produce available for your snacking pleasure all summer long.
So what are you waiting for? Let the snacking begin!
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