{passionate about peaches}

A recent blog entry that I recently wrote for Wright Homes...and wanted to share here as well:

I’m not sure why I ever initially decided to buy peaches this year. I just did. That may sound funny, but it never really occurred to me to buy them. We eat our weight in watermelon, grapes, bananas, strawberries, blueberries and apples every summer, but I just had never brought home peaches. For some reason, I was feeling wild and crazy a few weeks ago and decided to bring home a pound of them to “try out on the kids.” Truth be told….not even a slice from that first pound of peaches made it into the mouths of EITHER of my children. From the moment I took a bite of one of those perfectly ripe peaches, I was HOOKED!!!! Of course I have had peaches before, but how could I ever have forgotten how perfectly DIVINE they are?! Needless to say, that was the first of three pounds of peaches that were eaten by our little family (at least a pound and a half, by their mother) that week. I have continued to buy peaches ever single week since….and every week, they barely last a few days.  Out of curiosity, just make sure I wasn’t making a drastic health mistake by eating so many of them, I decided to look up the health benefits of peaches. I was ELATED to find out just HOW healthy they are. For example:

• One large peach is only 68 calories and NO FAT. OK…so they aren’t completely calorie free, but they are MUCH healthier than donuts, yes?
• Peaches contain 10 different vitamins. A large peach provides 570 international units of Vitamin A (important to healthy vision) and 11.6 mg of Vitamin C (an antioxidant and tissue-builder). Peaches provide lower levels of Vitamins E and K, with about 6 percent of the daily value based on a 2,000-calorie diet. Vitamin E is another antioxidant, while Vitamin K is essential to your body’s blood clotting capabilities. Peaches are also a source of thiamin, riboflavin, vitamin B-6, niacin, folate and pantothenic acid.
• Peaches are also an awesome source of Potassium. A large peach provides 333 mg of potassium. Potassium can help you maintain healthy blood pressure as well as prevent kidney stones and bone loss. The Institute of Medicine recommends that all adults consume 4,700 milligrams of potassium a day (which I am now EASILY getting, with how many peaches I am eating daily). Peaches provide some magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, copper, manganese, iron and calcium as well. These minerals work to support red blood cell, bone and nervous system health.
• In the “Journal of Medicinal Food,” a study published in October 2009 reported that significant antioxidants are present in the flesh and skin of peaches (I LOVE the skin!!!). One of the major antioxidants in peaches, chlorogenic acid, helps scavenge free radicals — compounds that your body acquires through exposure to pollutants, food and the environment — to reduce the effects of aging and deter chronic diseases. This antioxidant may also help ward off cancer and reduce body inflammation.

While on my peaches kick, I decided to try a fun recipe…just to mix things up. What other recipe would be more appropriate for peaches, than peach cobbler?! And BOY, did I ever find a fantastic recipe, which I of course must share…

PEACH COBBLER

1 C. shortening
1 C. sugar
2 C. flour
4 T. baking powder (yes. 4. It’s not a typo.:-))1/2 tsp. salt
1 C. milk
2 C. peaches, sliced (canned peaches are fine, but FRESH peaches are DIVINE)
1/2 C. sugar
1 1/2 C. peach juice or water
1/2 tsp. cinnamon

Mix first six ingredients. Spread into a 9 x 13 pan (or a dutch oven, which is what I did). Cover with sliced peaches and liquid and sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon. Bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes.  The cake part will rise to the top and turn golden brown and bubbly. Serve with a scoop of Vanilla Bean ice cream…and your soul will sing!!! (OK…I added that last part.)

And thus, is the story of my recent discovery of my passion for peaches. Just yesterday, I was running more errands than any sane woman should in a single day, and realized that not only had I forgotten to eat breakfast, but I had also forgotten to eat lunch. Nothing really sounded to good to me, until I ran into Smith’s Grocery and ended up passing the fresh peaches in the produce section. I immediately bagged a pound of them and checked out so that I could continue on my way. I hadn’t even started the car, before I had pealed the sticker from one of the juiciest looking peaches and taken a huge bite right out of it. I didn’t even wash it. I just might die from that. But what a way go.

Comments

[Lynn]

I LOVE peaches too! But taking a big ole' bite out of one?? Can't do it! However do you get past the fuzzy skin? lol.

Now a nectarine. That I can bite into. No fuzzy skin. Thanks for the recipe for the peach cobbler! Can't wait to try this. But will peel the skins off first. : )

Thanks Heather!