Paradise Dessert
Peaches are piled high in local grocers, neighbors' backyards, and grandma's baskets. They are in season for a bit longer, and they are in vast abundance. But, they are way too good to let go to waste.
Behind the scenes of a peach:
What makes those peaches so good? They're sweet as can be, but they've got the nutrition aspect, too. At only 50 calories a peach, it provides 15 % vitamin C, 2 g fiber, and some protein. That's a lot of bang for your buck!
Differences between apricots peaches, and nectarines:
Ever wonder what the true difference is between these super similar fruits? Really, apricot and peach candies are practically interchangeable, and you look at a true nectarine and peach and wonder what besides the fuzz separates the two.
Well, they are all part of the stone fruit family. If you want to be scientific here, it's the Prunus family (along with cherries and plums). If you want to get REALLY scientific, did you know that Nectarines and peaches are the same species? The only thing that determines what it will be is a recessive gene. If the seed inherits recessively, it's a nectarine. Crazy stuff, huh?
Other facts:
Apricot seeds fall out easier.
Apricot and peaches are fuzzy, nectarines are not.
Peaches and nectarines taste similar, apricots are more tart.
Apricots are closer to a plum in comparison.
Taste and texture of a nectarine/peach is more involved with the breeder.
Nectarines and peaches are in season longer.
Nectarines are more likely to be affected by disease than peaches.
Bottom line: Nectarines and peaches are the same species, and it shows. When you think of peach and apricot candies tasting similar, think what a nectarine flavor would taste like! They're practically sisters to peaches!
How to use these fruits ALL THE TIME:
Fruits are good for you. Simple as that. Add them in where you can. Make it different, make it fun. You can add them to your bowl of cereal, your oatmeal, your salsa, your lemonade, or even your green salad with maybe a sweet vinaigrette.
Often you can use nectarines in place of a peach. I find it easier to find crisp nectarines. They're great in the peach dessert below. You can call it nectarine dessert if you want. It's great as a raspberry dessert, too.
The desserts I've included are a way to use those peaches. I have used these before, but one was in January, and one was from two years ago. I know we have new readers and thought maybe some of you who recognize them might have forgotten about them by now. I thought they were worth using again. They're tasty. Have any of you tried them?
Peach Poundcake
Ingredients:
| 1 cup | real butter softened |
| 3 cups | sugar |
| 6 | eggs |
| 3 cups | all purpose flour |
| 1/4 teaspoon | baking soda |
| 1/4 teaspoon | salt |
| 1/2 cup | real sour cream |
| 2 cups | medium ripe (not juicy) peaches, peeled and chopped |
| 1 teaspoon | vanilla extract |
| 1 teaspoon | almond extract |
| GLAZE: | |
| 1 cup | powdered sugar |
| 1 tablespoon | butter |
| 1 2 tablespoon | milk |
| 1/2 teaspoon | almond extract |
Directions:
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a 10 inch tube or bundt pan. Cream butter and sugar well. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. In separate bowl, mix flour, baking soda and salt. In another small bowl, mix peaches with the sour cream and extracts. Alternately add flour mixture and peach mixture to creamed mixture, beginning and ending with the flour mixture. Bake 75 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Cool in pan 10 minutes. Turn out.†Combine glaze ingredients and pour over slightly warm cake. This is a delicious way to use fresh peaches. You can use canned when peaches aren't in season but it is definitely better with the fresh
Image: https://www.farmgirlfollies.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/peachcake7.jpg
Peach Dessert
12
Ingredients:
| Crust | |
| 2 cups | to 3 cups crushed graham crackers |
| 2 tablespoons | to 4 tablespoons butter |
| 2 tablespoons | to 4 tablespoons sugar |
| 1 (3-ounce) package | peach jello |
| 2 cups | water |
| 2 tablespoons | (heaping) cornstarch |
| 3/4 cup | to 1 cup sugar |
| 3 | to 4 fresh peaches (peeled), cut into bit-sized pieces |
| 2 envelopes | dream whip (found in baking aisle) |
| 8 ounces | cream cheese, softened |
| 1 cup | milk |
| 3/4 cup | to 1 cup powdered sugar |
Directions:
Crust:
Mix together to create a crust (amounts vary on preference of sweetness, thickness, and moisture). Reserve 1/4- 1/2 cup of crust to sprinkle as topping. Press remaining mixture into 9X13 pan.
Mix granulated sugar with the cornstarch. Add two cups water, and bring to a boil (until thickened and clear). Add jello packet. Stir until dissolved. Remove from heat. Place a piece of plastic wrap right on top to keep skim from forming. Cut peaches once the jello is almost cooled to prevent browning. Once cooled, add chopped peaches and set aside.
Whip both dream whip packets with the milk. In a separate bowl, beat softened cream cheese until smooth. Add powdered sugar to sweeten taste. Mix with dream whip mixture. Carefully spread half of dream whip mixture over crust (spreading to the edges). Very carefully spread jello mixture on top of the whip layer. Carefully spread the remaining whip mixture over the jello layer. (You can refrigerate in between each new layer to make spreading the new layer easier.) Sprinkle the reserved graham cracker crust crumbs on top. Refrigerate until set.
Last step: relish!
This is also delicious with raspberries (one 12 oz. unsweetened frozen bag or 3-4 cups fresh raspberries with raspberry jello.) This is a beautiful dessert to serve at Christmas time.
- https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/274620.php
- https://www.ehow.com/info_8532823_differences-between-peach-apricot-nectarine.html
- https://www.michiganpeach.org/facts/nectar.htm
- https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/31/Lala_Mountain_peach_%28Taiwan%29.jpg/800px-Lala_Mountain_peach_%28Taiwan%29.jpg
- https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8b/Nectarines_2.JPG/220px-Nectarines_2.JPG
- https://farm7.staticflickr.com/6121/5934139563_8f321eb4c9.jpg
- https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3425/3311854571_d43b05dd5f_z.jpg
- https://amandascookin.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Pineapple-Dream-print.jpg
- https://amandascookin.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Pineapple-Dream-print.jpg
- https://amandascookin.com/2013/07/pineapple-dream-dessert.html
Sydney Hill
Weekly Newsletter Contributor since 2012
Email the author! sydney@dvo.com
