Ah, summertime. The farmer’s markets are full of fresh produce, and it’s a foodie’s paradise.
Peaches are a taste of sunshine, happily plentiful and cheap during the hottest days of the year. Here are four ways to enjoy summer’s best fruit.
- Eat out of hand. This is the most popular way to eat fresh peaches, and it’s portable, too. Wash carefully and chomp away!
- Slap ‘em on the grill. Use freestone or cling free peaches, as the pit is easily removed. Peel, cut in half, and pit. Place on a hot, oiled grill for about three minutes, flip, and repeat. Sprinkle with cinnamon or baste with butter for extra flavor. The smoky heat really brings out the flavor, and it’s a great, healthy summertime dessert!
- Salsa can be sweet. Salsas don’t have to burn to be good! Fruit salsas are wonderfully refreshing and add sweet flavor to an otherwise bland meal. Dice two peaches, a mango, and a jalapeno, and mix together with a squeeze of lime juice. Garnish with chopped cilantro, and serve over grilled chicken.
- Save some for winter. If you have a freezer, you can preserve your peaches for the dark, cold days to come. Simply peel, pit, and cut 4-5 peaches into slices. In a saucepan, combine ½ cup of water and ¼ cup of sugar. Heat and stir until the sugar dissolves, but do not boil. Add 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon. Let the mixture cool, then pour over the sliced peaches. Put it in a zipper style freezer bag, and freeze. These are great over waffles, pound cake, or ice cream.
Peaches are naturally healthy, and one cup provides 20% of the recommended daily allowance of vitamins A and C, and only 70 calories. Enjoy this decadent treat, guilt-free!
