One more peach post. Ecstatic to find good peaches at Costco

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Found a flat of peaches on Friday at Costco that actually looked, smelled and felt like peaches. I put the beauties on the counter in the kitchen to use this weekend. So today I pulled out a pie plate (I always use 10" deep dish pie plates) and rolled up my sleeves (not really because it is so HOT but figuratively). I pulled out a perfect peach....and found it rotting on the bottom. Oh NUTS! Then another and another and in fact all of them were that way. Okay, so I pulled out a second pie plate and thought about the blueberries I have in the freezer in case I don't get enough good peach for two pies. I dumped in simmering water to loosen the skin and as I skinned them I cut off the bad stuff. I found I still had a lot of perfect peach flesh to use and didn't need blueberries to fill in. I just pulled both pies out of the oven and they smell delicious. But what a bad start to a good bake.

 
Sending you hopeful wishes that it turned out fantastic. But what a swear-inducing start. Well, it

would have involved lots of swear words in my kitchen...one per peach at a minimum, rising exponentially.

 
The peaches this year seem to be more delicate than what I have noticed in the past.

I am very careful at the Farmers Market when I pick them up to inspect, trying not to squeeze them. I am careful putting them into my market basket, as I carry one for the soft stuff and hubby gets to carry the melons, squashes, beans, etc. Yet, by the time I get home and place them on the counter, I can already see the bruising. I have had to cut out so much of the peaches this year. White peaches are especially tender. We have just enjoyed eating this season, nothing special done with them except pairing with vanilla bean ice cream.

 
White peaches are terribly delicate--that is why they aren't shipped. They will just

bruise if you look at them. I had never seen a white peach until moving south to where the peach orchard was within driving distance!

 
Growing up, my aunt used to get white peaches in PA

and use them to make spiced peaches, which she canned to enjoy all winter.

The variety is Raritan White and they are fabulous!

Our local (Massachusetts) super markets carry white peaches and when I have purchased them, they have been fine...not bruised at all.

 
We get white ones here even in the store, but of course hard as a rock.

Better at the farmers market, but still, I think my memory of any peaches must be better than they are. Because I’m years into the hunt for truly good ones. Of course I’m spoiled because we had a tree when I growing up.

 
KarenNoCA--That's a perfect dessert in my book--fresh peaches w/ vanilla bean ice cream. But if U'd

like to exert minimum effort, you might try this old recipe I clipped from a GOOD HOUSEKEEPING magazine ages ago (probably from the 1970s or 1980s)--

PEACH MELBA

3 pints vanilla ice cream, softened
1 10-ounce package frozen raspberries (I have always used Birds' Eye frozen raspberries that are sweetened.)
2 Tablespoons currant jelly
1 Tablespoon cornstarch
3 drops red food color
2 15- to 17-ounce cans peach halves, drained (Of course, fresh peaches are infinitely better! Wigs)
Slightly sweetened whipped cream

Early In Day:
In a large freezer-proof glass bowl (about 1-1/2 quart), evenly spread ice cream; cover and freeze.

Prepare Melba sauce:
In medium saucepan over medium heat, heat frozen raspberries and currant jelly to boiling, stirring frequently. In measuring cup, mix cornstarch, red food color and 1 Tablespoon water until smooth; stir into raspberry mixture and cook, stirring constantly, until mixture is slightly thickened. Into medium bowl, with spoon, press raspberry mixture through sieve; discard seeds. Cover and refrigerate sauce until thoroughly chilled.

To Serve:
Arrange peach halves over ice cream. Spoon Melba Sauce over peaches and garnish each peach half with a dab of sweetened whipped cream. Makes 8 servings.

Note from Wigs: I skip the ice cream prep above, but just scoop good quality vanilla ice cream into individual bowls, put freshly peeled and sliced peaches (slightly sweetened usually) on top, and drizzle the Melba Sauce over all. A few toasted sliced almonds on top would not be amiss! Yum--there you have a bit of heaven on earth.

 
Found bags of nectarines and plums at Aldi - all wonderful

but that was 2 weeks ago, so I'm looking forward to seeing if they still have those bags when I go shopping today. I did buy 4 apricots at our local grocery store that are just about ready to try. Can't remember EVER buying excellent apricots so this may be very cool smileys/wink.gif Colleen

 
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