One of my favorite seasonal thrills it the arrival of stone fruits in late spring. Fresh peaches, plums, apricots and cherries brings back hundreds of memories that have benchmarked the passing of time.
Some of my relatives had cherry orchards. I love the pictures of my young children, stripped down to their diapers, wandering the orchard with a strung coffee can around their necks as they picked one for the can, then one for the mouth. They would return with chery juice stains down the fronts of their bodies and big smiles on their faces. I got pretty good at pitting them with a cake icing tip, which leaves the fruit somewhat whole and improves the appearance in desserts.
And then there is a favorite concoction of mine that I call Sunshine Peach Pie. I make a crust that's baked in a pie tin. A thin layer of sweetened cream cheese goes in next, followed by sliced, fresh peaches in a tangerine glaze. The bright flavors are perfect for a summertime gathering.
The picture above is a fresh peach and plum cobbler. The fruit is sliced up, then cooked with some tapioca and just enough sugar to compliment the sweetness level of the fruit. The composition is dumped into a baking pan and covered with a dough layer before baking in the oven. The richness of plums and sweetness of peaches goes so well together. We enjoy it with just enough vanilla ice cream to create a creamy texture that can't be beat!
I'll be posting some of these recipes in PeakD as we ease into summer. Until then, here's hoping the warmth of the sun brings fond memories of family gatherings from your past into the present.
(photo property of the author)