Sweetening up Summertime

            What pops into your head when you think of peaches? Summertime? Of course! Peach pie, cobbler, or ice cream? Absolutely! Refreshing and juicy? No doubt about it!

Nevertheless, there’s more to the peach than its taste or versatility. Peaches are rich in beta-carotene and are a good source of vitamins A, B, and C. They have been touted to prevent anemia, fight stress, promote sleep, and help fight certain diseases like cancer. With all these accolades, is it any wonder that this fuzzy skinned fruit is so loved!

We can go on and on about the peach—after all, there are hundreds of varieties―but for the sake of time, we’ll pick two from our fruit basket category: freestone and clingstone. Clingstone peaches are typically picked and canned, great for jams and jellies. The freestone peach is great for eating and gets its name because the pit easily separates from the flesh. Another popular variety is the Donut Peach, named because of its shape. This nearly fuzz less peach is sweet and juicy.

            When selecting peaches, look for those with golden skins—pinkish white to red tinges. You may get some stares, but go ahead and give the peach a gentle squeeze to make sure it isn’t too hard. More importantly, check the coloring around the stems. Green means the fruit was picked too soon, so go for peaches that are creamy yellow. The inside can be white to golden yellow. A ripe peach will be soft to the touch. To ripen hard peaches, place them in a brown paper bag for a few days. If left at room temperature for a couple of days, peaches will intensify in flavor. Avoid peaches that have holes, as they may have an uninvited worm living inside.              

            The peach is so delicious that it’s been used in many different recipes. Apart from simply slicing and eating, the peach is delicious grilled, baked, or poached. It’s used in tarts and pies, topped on salads, blended in smoothies, or drizzled over ice cream. You can even make peach butter and salsa! The possibilities are endless! 

So go ahead! Pick a bushel of peaches and begin experimenting in your kitchen. Have a peach of a day, and let us know if you develop a new, exciting peach recipe.