Its
August, (at least for a few more days) and along with that we find our
kids heading back to school, and National peach month! I don't know
which one I like more. Haha. No really, I love my kids but who doesn't
like a few moments to yourself? With a little of my "extra free time" I
have been busy picking, peeling, slicing, baking, jamming, preserving
PEACHES!!! Ok, I might have been singing "Peaches", from the band The
Presidents of the United States of America as well. "Moving the the country, gonna eat a lot of peaches. Millions of peaches, peaches for me. Millions of peaches,
peaches for free."
If
you aren't a fan of the song, you should be a fan of peaches!!! These
seasonal, sweet and juicy gems are at their peak right now and they
offer a wealth of nutritional benefits!
Peaches
are great for runners because they are hydrating and contain potassium
and Vitamin C. Peaches are high in phenolic compounds, antioxidant
capacity capacity that may help prevent oxidative damage, heart disease
and some cancers. Plus they have a high ORAC score -- a measure of total
antioxidant activity.
Some
of my favorite ways to eat peaches are sliced and peeled solo in a
bowl, on top of my oatmeal, pureed in my blender (lighty on pulse) then
used as a fruit puree topping from anything from chicken to yogurt to
ice cream. My family LOVES peach cobbler, we have been known to have
cobbler two nights a week. My freezer is stocked with freezer jam and
preserved peaches in ziploc bags, ready to whip up smoothies in to the
fall. Grilled peaches are some of my mouth watering favorite snacks.
When it comes to peaches...you can freeze, can or dry.
Below, learn how to turn summer's
freshest fruit into a snack you can enjoy year-round. It's like
nature's candy, and it requires no special equipment.
While you could use a dehydrator or old-fashioned drying cabinet, you don't need one. All you need is an oven, parchment paper or silicone liners and sheet pans or pizza screens if you have them.
The method is quite simple. You're simply heating the fruit at a low temperature to allow enough water to evaporate so the chance of bacterial growth is minimized.
How to Dry Your Own Fruits
Prep your fruit
Choose ripe or just overly ripe fruits and berries
Wash in cold water
Remove any blemishes
Remove any pits or stones from stone fruits
Remove any stems from berries
Cut and slice fruits evenly so that they will dry within the same time frame
(Optional) Remove the skins
Some fruits, such as peaches, nectarines, and apples, dry better if the skin has been removed. Score the bottom of each piece of fruit by making a shallow "x" with a paring knife. Bunk into boiling water for 30 seconds, then transfer to a basin filled with ice water. The skins should slip right off.
Soak it
To keep fruit looking pretty and minimize discoloration, soak it in lemon juice and water.
Soak fruit for 10 minutes, drain and blot dry with a lint-free towel.
While you could use a dehydrator or old-fashioned drying cabinet, you don't need one. All you need is an oven, parchment paper or silicone liners and sheet pans or pizza screens if you have them.
The method is quite simple. You're simply heating the fruit at a low temperature to allow enough water to evaporate so the chance of bacterial growth is minimized.
How to Dry Your Own Fruits
Prep your fruit
Choose ripe or just overly ripe fruits and berries
Wash in cold water
Remove any blemishes
Remove any pits or stones from stone fruits
Remove any stems from berries
Cut and slice fruits evenly so that they will dry within the same time frame
(Optional) Remove the skins
Some fruits, such as peaches, nectarines, and apples, dry better if the skin has been removed. Score the bottom of each piece of fruit by making a shallow "x" with a paring knife. Bunk into boiling water for 30 seconds, then transfer to a basin filled with ice water. The skins should slip right off.
Soak it
To keep fruit looking pretty and minimize discoloration, soak it in lemon juice and water.
Soak fruit for 10 minutes, drain and blot dry with a lint-free towel.
To the Oven
Preheat the oven to 130-160 degrees F. Use a lower temperature for thin sliced fruits such as apples or peaches. Strawberries and other whole berries love the higher heat.
Place parchment paper onto sheet pans. Arrange fruit in a single layer, and do not allow pieces to touch. Top fruit with a pizza screen or silicone pan liner to keep them from curling up as they dry.
Place fruit into the oven and rotate pans every 2 hours.
How do you know if it's ready? Dried fruit should feel like leather but still be pliable.
Preheat the oven to 130-160 degrees F. Use a lower temperature for thin sliced fruits such as apples or peaches. Strawberries and other whole berries love the higher heat.
Place parchment paper onto sheet pans. Arrange fruit in a single layer, and do not allow pieces to touch. Top fruit with a pizza screen or silicone pan liner to keep them from curling up as they dry.
Place fruit into the oven and rotate pans every 2 hours.
How do you know if it's ready? Dried fruit should feel like leather but still be pliable.
| Plums | 6 hours |
| Pears | 6 hours |
| Peaches | 6 hours |
| Bananas | 6 hours |
| Apples | 6 hours |
| Grapes | 8-10 hours |
| Citrus Peel | 8-10 hours |
| Cherries | 12 hours |
| Strawberries | 12 hours |
| Apricots | 12 hours |
Cure it!
When the fruit is ready, remove it from the oven and place in glass or plastic containers to "cure." Leave the container open for 4-5 days so that any moisture left from the drying process can evaporate. Shake the container every day or so to move the fruit around.
Seal the containers after 5 days and enjoy dried fruits until next harvest season, about 10 months.
One more yummy recipe!!!
PEACH SALSA!!!
1 1/2 Cup ripe peaches, diced (4-6 depending on size)
1 Cup tomato, diced (about 2 medium)
1 tablespoon jalepeno, finely minced (about 1/2)
1/2 Cup yellow pepper, small dice (substitute red or
green pepper if you'd like)
1/4 Cup red onion, finely diced
1 tablespoon cilantro, chopped
Juice of lime
1/4 teaspoon ancho chili powder or other chili powder
Salt and Pepper to taste
For a spicier version add more Jalapeno or cayenne powder
or other ground pepper to taste
Mix all ingredients together well
Serve right away
Here is a fun website with 50 of the best peach recipes!!
I am sure there is something for everybody on this list, but just in case...
What are your favorite peach recipes?
Favorite ways to eat your peaches?
Sing along with me...."If I had my little way, I'd eat peaches everyday!"
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDelete