Intro to Cooking: Peach Cobbler

Is there anything that can compare to a fresh peach on a summer afternoon? (Well, besides some delicious blueberries, of course.) The time span of the vernal fruit’s ripeness is quite narrow (compared to more resilient bananas or apples), but right now is peak season for the treat. And it’s more than just a delicious, furry fruit. The peach is a natural, supremely juicy source of fiber, vitamins A and C, potassium, and niacin, a B vitamin that aids digestion, amps HDL (“good”) cholesterol, and helps radiant skin shine through. So that “peachy glow” isn’t just a figure of speech!

By Sara C

How do you pick a perfect peach? Select ones that are extremely firm, dense for their size, and unblemished. And enjoy:

Easy Meals

1. The quintessential: serve room-temperature peach slices with a bowl of fresh cream.
2. Add 1 cup orange juice, peach slices (small), 1/2 cup raspberries, ice cubes, and 1/2 cup vanilla almond milk to a blender and swirl till smooth for a light, refreshing summer drink.
3. Use a slice–instead of a lime or lemon–as garnish for a martini, or drop one in your vodka tonic for a twist.

The Recipe: Peach Cobbler

Try this uber-simple recipe for a mouth-watering summer dessert. For healthy substitutions, I’d use whole-wheat or quinoa flour (accompanied by a teaspon of xanthan gum, for consistency) and skim milk.

Ingredients

1/2  cup  unsalted butter
1  cup  all-purpose flour
2  cups  sugar, divided
1  tablespoon  baking powder
Pinch of salt
1  cup  milk
4  cups  fresh peach slices
1  tablespoon  lemon juice
Ground cinnamon or nutmeg (optional)

Instructions

1. Melt butter in a 13- x 9-inch baking dish.

2. In a separate bowl, combine flour, 1 cup sugar, baking powder, and salt; add milk, stirring just until dry ingredients are moistened. Pour batter over butter (do not stir).

3. Bring remaining 1 cup sugar, peach slices, and lemon juice to a boil over high heat, stirring constantly; pour over batter (do not stir). Sprinkle with cinnamon, if desired.

4. Bake at 375° for 40 to 45 minutes or until golden brown. Serve cobbler warm or cool. Or just eat the whole thing yourself. Yum.