Southern Belle Magazine Digital #02 August 2013 | Page 17

Peachy Ke en C o o k i n g
by Karen Giordano I love to buy a basket of the first Chilton County peaches of summer at a roadside Farm Stand, so excited with questions of “what am I going to do with all of these beautiful peaches when I get home? Should I make preserves, a pie, a cobbler?” Usually, by the time I get them home and everyone has one or two, another trip to the farm stand must happen in order to have enough to make any recipe. Everyone in the family just can’t resist biting into a juicy peach. Just the smell of a southern grown peach brings back so many wonderful summertime memories. One of my fondest summertime memories is the first “dessert” that my Mama taught me to make - Peach Cobbler. This easy recipe, although not a traditional crust-topped cobbler, has been a dessert mainstay in Southern kitchen’s for many generations. Using pantry staples and fresh or canned peaches, this recipe is sure to become a favorite for your family, too. Another classic summertime recipe using our southern grown peaches is Homemade Peach Ice Cream. Adding fresh peaches to a basic vanilla ice cream recipe makes it a summertime treat worth making! To add a grown up twist, substitute the vanilla extract with Amaretto and spoon on top a generous helping of Amaretto Peaches. Yum! Need something on the lighter side? Try my husband’s recipe for Ginger Peach Salsa. This goes wonderfully with grilled or roasted pork. Take the time this summer to “stop and smell the peaches”at your local road-side farm stand and buy a basket or two! It’s a perfect time to make some sweet summer memories with your family. Happy Cooking! Karen Giordano and her husband Dana own and operate Kandies by Karen in Bay Minette, Alabama. Their family business specializes in custom cakes, full service catering, and gourmet candies. The business website is kandiesbykaren.com and can also be found on facebook.