August is Peach Month, and is the perfect time to Below are just a few of the peach recipes using this decelebrate and enjoy the benefits and taste of these lectable fruit.
full-of-goodness fruits while they are at the peak
of perfection.
Peaches are native to China where they have been
cultivated for centuries. Not only have they been
mentioned in Chinese writings dating back to the 10th.
Century, BC, but they have also been the subject of many
Chinese folk tales, including having been consumed by
the Immortals for their mystic powers of giving long life.
The Persians are believed to have introduced the peach
to Europe from China and Spanish explorers took them
to the Americas in the 16th century.
For decades, East Texans have enjoyed peaches grown
in orchards from Nacogdoches to the hill country of
Central Texas. For more than 20 years, major food
chains and local East Texans have gobbled up McPeak
Orchards’ highly-prized Pittsburg peaches. Another
East Texas peach orchard is Efurd Orchards, Inc., also
in Pittsburg.
PEACH BREAKFAST CAKE
Ingredients:
1/2 c. (1/4 lb.) butter
1/2 c. sugar
1 grated orange peel or 1/4 teaspoon orange extract
Another noted peach producer is Cooper Farms, located 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
in Fairfield, in nearby Freestone County. Started in 1/4 cup amaretto liqueur
1978 by Tim Cooper, Cooper Farms is familiar to East 2 large eggs
Texans who have seen the orchard’s trucks parked along 1 cup all- purpose flour
Highway 59 in Livingston.
3 large (3 inch diameter or 1 3/4 lb.) peaches, peeled,
halved, and pitted
Whether you call them Fredericksburg Peaches, 1 teaspoon baking powder (stir into flour)
Stonewall Peaches, or Texas Hill Country Peaches, they Cinnamon sugar
are all delicious! Hill Country Fruit Council members Topping (recipe follows)
are conveniently located in the heart of Central Texas.
Whether you are looking for a pick your own orchard Directions:
or pre-picked and ready at the stand, one of council’s With a mixer or food processor, beat or whirl butter,
grower/members can accommodate you!
sugar, peel, and almond extract until blended. Add eggs,
1 at a time, mixing well. Add amaretto liqueur, then
Nutritionally, not only does a medium- sized peach add flour and beat until smoothly mixed. Batter will
provide one of your recommended 5-a-day, but be thick. Spread batter in a buttered and flour-dusted 8
medical studies have shown that their content of the inch square pan.
antioxidants Lutein and Zeaxanthin helps guard against
blindness caused by Age-related Macular Degeneration Arrange peach halves, cut side down, on batter. Bake
(AMD) which is now the biggest cause of irreversible in a 350 degree oven until cake is lightly browned and
blindness or partial loss of sight in the western world, just begins to pull from pan sides. Remove from oven
affecting millions of people over the age of 50.
and, quickly and neatly, spoon cream topping around
fruit. Bake 10 minutes longer. Cool on a rack at least 30
There are many ways to incorporate peaches into the minutes; serve warm or cool. If made ahead, cool,
diet in both savory and sweet dishes.
cover and let stand up to 3 hours at room temperature.
Sprinkle top lightly with cinnamon sugar.
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