The little white peach sapling that I planted last fall shot up about 6 feet this spring, splashing out a crown of wavy, crescent-shaped leaves and slutty, hot pink blossoms like too much rouge on a little girl that got into her mother's makeup. When, in June, the spindly branches began to bow and creak under the weight of all that fruit, I naturally assumed I would be inundated with mealy, hard, sour peaches (I couldn't possibly luck into so much of a good thing). Over the past two weeks or so, though, this little tree proved her spot in my crowded garden was warranted.
These are small peaches, slightly smaller than a tennis ball, with ample red blush and pearly white flesh that is as sweet as the last days of summer. I am hogging them all to myself, freezing and canning, or just slopping them directly into my mouth over the sink. The ants and greedy neighbor ladies have taken notice, and I have been relegated to just picking all of them before they can steal my Precious (judiciously trimming away nibbles from birds and insects as needed). This morning I'll have succulent slices over thick, whole-milk yogurt with a sprinkle of granola and daydream about the myriad other ways to enjoy them.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Millions of Peaches
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29 comments:
I long for larger planter boxes...or a bigger yard, so my veggies will have some fruit friends. Some day.
Look at them peaches! Gorgeous. Now, I feel like making a peach pie.
oh, geez, what a lucky lady you are.
Those are gorgeous.
One year, some asshole picked my tree clean before I even got ONE. Learned my lesson then about picking early.
God damn it I am singing now.
Mmmmm - white peach and vanilla jam on thick toast with lots of butter.
Oh man! Jealous! I would totally befriend you if you were my neighbor. If I brought you cookies, do you think we could swap? Yum. Peaches.
Pie, cobbler, ice cream, sorbet, dried, iced tea infused with peaches, brandy, preserves,stuufed andbaked with marscarpone and almonds,etc....
Send me a case.
As one of the privileged few to have sampled your peaches, I can honestly say they are the best we've had all summer - - and we've been buying for weeks now at farmer's markets and new seasons. You have peachy terroir!
Lucky you! I too envy you folks with grand gardens! The analogy used in the first paragraph was just too funny!
YAY! This isn't supposed to happen so soon, is it? (My neighbor has a peach tree, and she ain't sharing. No pears for her!)
Congrats.
Well you lucky sonofa...
I have several fruit trees we planted last year but the cherries were the only producer this season.
Jerk.
Take one juicy peach, one neat glass (or bottle) of bourbon, add porch and slight breeze and you have the Best Night Ever.
I came here perfectly prepared to make peachy little jokes. But, now I'm not so sure. That prose was just perfect... and I'm only feeling remotely plucky.
Plus, Peef has me all distracted with all his talk of bourbon. Mean Peef to talk to a lovely Pregnant Lady like that!!!
On the other hand, that's a nifty idea with peaches and bourbon. I'd throw in a few pecans for good measure, though!
The war against ants, wasps and neighbours is neverending with juicy ripe peaches.
Amy - I used to grow my tomatoes in buckets. I've come such a long way!
Mags - Is that you, Miss Powers? The grass is always greener. :) (If it's a different Maggie, then "thanks!")
Syd - I had moments where I was sure I'd have to camp in my front yard with a shotgun, but luckily it didn't come to that.
Alicia - Catchy song, wasn't it? I see jam in my near future.
Christine - I could be bought with cookies, but they'd have to be snickerdoodles or those gooey chocolate crinkles. ;)
Courtney - Well aren't you full of ideas! Next year (when the tree isn't still a baby) I'll send some fruit.
Natasha - That's some high praise! I almost forgot that I gave you guys a bag. I was so nervous about whether they'd be good. :)
Peter, Darling - You should find an abandoned lot somewhere (do they have those in Sidney?) and plant a peach tree there. Guerilla gardening.
That's the Way the Cookiecrumb - To be fair, you can't really compare apples to oranges (er, peaches to pears), but I'd share if you were my neighbor.
Mrs. Brookie! - You should totally plant a peach tree. They don't take up that much space if you keep them trimmed like an orchard tree.
Peef - No, you have fetal alcohol syndrome (totally trying this next summer). :P
Lo - Bourbon and peaches go together like beans and cornbread. Maybe a compote for biscuits, or in a slump?
Valli - At least the wasps (and neighbors) respond to a stout blast from the garden hose. The ants burrow inside and hole up in there like the luckiest critters ever.
That is fantastic Heather. They look like beauties for sure.
Yum-Movin' to the Country gonna eat me a
lot of Peaches
You're lucky to have such loveley fruit of your own. I have been so disappointed in the peaches at the farm markets this year. I guess all of the rain we have had this summer made all of the produce less than wonderful.
Green with envy! On a related note, I ate the best peach of my life last week while out geoduck hunting: a Frog Hollow Farm organic peach that lived up to the hype. Peach growers say they can't do organic? BS. This was a thing of beauty. But eating your own, well that's another level altogether. Woot!
Poached Peaches:
Take whole peaches in all their fuzziness and blanch them for about 10 minutes in boiling water. Remove peaches and set aside to cool.
Take remaining peachy water and simmer with sugar, a couple cinnamon sticks, and a vanilla pod (splitting and scraping seeds into the syrup first, and tossing the empty pod in along with it). Cook down til its as viscous as you want it to be.
Take peels off the peaches and put the fruit into large mason jars. Pour syrup over peaches and refrigerate. Or eat right away.
I prefer them alongside a good ginger ice cream (Reed's is pretty damn good with all the nice little crystallized bits).
Oh! And nutmeg. I put nutmeg on everything.
It is simple, but with peaches this good, "simple" seems more like respectful here.
Our farmer's market is filled with luscious peaches -- I cannot get enough!
mmm, I long for a day when I can have a backyard with a peach tree! I've gotten some delicious peaches from my farm share this summer but only enough for a pie at a time...
Miss Prufrock, you have done well for yourself. Dare to eat as many as your innards will allow...
;-)
You're probably wearing the bottoms of your trousers rolled as well.
Spicy peach-habañero chutney with lime basil. Peaches and basil get BUSY.
Woah - that is a LOT of peaches. Wow. Enjoy!
I think you should make schnapps, BTW... ;-)
wow it si a fertile life over there in oregon. happy eating.
Mmmm white peaches are one of my favourite things about summer. Great descriptions too!
so so pretty.
Peaches peaches peaches - everywhere. Don't have them in my garden though. Made a delicious peach clafoutis, still dreaming about it, ready to make another.... www dot kitchenbutterfly dot com
Look at them peaches! Gorgeous. Now, I feel like making a peach pie.
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