Summer Peach-Rosemary Syrup

In August, I think of peaches. They are my most favorite summer fruit. Perhaps because peaches are so delicate, they seem like a gift. Since even passable peaches aren't available out of season I like to strike while the iron is hot. When I was at the market last Thursday, I couldn't leave without a quart of these beauties, especially given a few ideas I had in mind as to how to enjoy them.

Although I love to eat them out of hand, as with my sugar snap peas, I wanted to do something special. I've been making a lot of fruit and herbal syrups as of late and that seemed like a good way to capture the essence of these beautiful peaches.

A simple sugar syrup infused with the essence of summer peaches and rosemary from my garden seemed to be an amiable combination. The poached peaches and fragrant syrup would be heavenly over ice cream.

However, on this horribly hot afternoon, a Peach-Rosemary Wine Spritzer, after painting the boys' room, was a perfect way to beat the heat. Enjoying the breeze on our front porch and reading a special book it almost didn't seem like a 90 degree day.


Peach and Rosemary Spritzers

3/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 cup water
4 large ripe peaches, halved, pitted & sliced
4 sprigs rosemary

Bring the sugar and water to a boil in a saucepan, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Add the peaches and rosemary then bring to a simmer. Remove pan from the heat, cover and let cool. Throw away the rosemary and if desired, peel the peaches. Put the peaches and syrup into a covered container and refrigerate until very cold.

For spritzers:
4 cups chilled rose wine
1 liter chilled club soda
Sprigs of fresh rosemary

Place several peach slices and about 4 T. of syrup into a ice filled stemmed glass. Add approximately 4 oz. of wine and top with club soda. Garnish with fresh rosemary and serve immediately. This would, of course, be equally refreshing without the wine - even my kids thought it was delicious!

The Best Of Friends

The other day, I looked through the screen door to see Henry and his neighbor friend. They seemed to be taking a break from the landscaping game and were deep in conversation over a chalk drawing.

Our kids have been lucky to grow up in a neighborhood full of kids. Ok, most of them belong to me but there is usually always someone around to ride bikes, make chalk drawings, swing or just hang out on the porch. It's usually easy to gather a group for night games. Individually, there is someone for every age and better still, as a group, they (usually) all get along famously and look out for one another.

Of course, the kids have friends from school and family friends, but there is something unique about a neighbor friend. It's comforting to know that as they move towards middle school and high school, there are still those friends that in some ways, know them best.

Flea Market Finds

Sunday, at about 2 o'clock, Max and I remembered it was flea market weekend. We jumped in the car and beat a path to the fairgrounds. I love that Max loves flea markets as much as I do. When I was his age I always went with my mom and now I enjoy going with Max.

While our time was really limited, I think we were both happy with our loot. Continuing with my bowl obsession, I scored two cobalt blue, and a bright red in a shape I've never seen. While the last thing I need are more mixing bowls, I can't help myself when I find a deal. Their fun colors make me happy and I use them everyday.

I added another waist apron to my collection. Red gingham, perfect for my kitchen, with hand embroidery. Finding a great apron is always a thrill. I usually get a great deal, particularly considering the time a talented woman put into them. I wear them to save my clothes while cooking and just because they make me feel domestic.

Max has recently become talented with a yo-yo. Leave it to Max to love an old-school past time. He got a new one for his birthday but when he found this great orange Duncan, he had to have it. After brief trauma when the dowel broke, he and Doug have been working on repairing it. Soon he'll be back in action with an awesome new, old yo-yo! By the way, if you are interested in any Duncan yo-yo trivia, Max is your man.

Finally, I was captured by a stack of old photos. The latest theme I seem to be drawn to is the kitchen or just eating in general. (surprise!) I found a few great ones at an estate sale and it's fueled me to continue the hunt. Two ladies in a 50's kitchen behind a table laden with food and a young boy whipping something up in an old stand mixer are among my favorites. I have in my head that I'll use them in printed material for my fledgling cooking instruction business, nourish.

So, for $27 I got two hours of treasure hunting with Max and lots of cool stuff. How can I beat that?

Summer On A Plate

I love to cook. I cook a lot. I like to think I am a good cook. Every cook has their bad days, every cook makes an error in judgment. And occasionally every good cook make something that makes them feel like a rock star. With some simple ingredients, I felt like a rock star. Okay, rock star is a bit overstated, but I was really proud. Trying to decide what to cook for dinner a few days ago, I came across a recipe I that I've held onto for awhile. With a few minor adjustments, I had everything I needed to make a great corn tart to go along with some simple balsamic grilled chicken.
A press-in crust of butter, cornmeal and egg whipped up quickly. I finally just bought a hand mixer. My mom always had one but since I had a stand mixer, I never thought I needed one. A really, really, really good deal at Williams-Sonoma PLUS a mail-in-rebate, changed my mind. Now I don't know how I lived without it all these years.

Fresh corn and eggs, basil from the garden, cracked black pepper blended with half and half (that I keep stockpiling for ice cream I never seem to get to ) make an easy custard.

The entire family loved it and ate every inch of a 9" tart. Looking at this picture makes my mouth water at the memory of how wonderful it tasted. If you ever make a recipe I post - make this one. I promise it won't disappoint. Summer on a plate!

Corn and Basil Tart

1/3 cup butter, softened
1/2 t. salt
3 eggs
2/3 cup yellow corn meal
1 cup half and half
1 1/2 cups fresh corn kernals
1/2 cup chiffonade of fresh basil
1/2 t. salt
1/2 t. freshly ground black pepper

For the crust: Beat the butter about 30 seconds on medium-high speed til light and fluffy. Add sugar and salt, beating til combined, then add 1 egg, beat to combine. Add the cornmeal, then as much of the flour as you can with the hand mixer. Any remaining flour can easily be blended in with a wooden spoon. Form the dough into a disc and refrigerate about 30 minutes.

Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees. Pat the dough onto the bottom and up the sides of a 9" removable bottom tart pan. Prick the bottom of the tart shell several times with a fork and bake about 10 minutes. Check for any bubbles in the crust, flatten if necessary and return to the oven for another 5 minutes.

While the crust is baking, whisk remaining eggs and 1/2 & 1/2 together. Stir in corn kernels, basil, 1/2 t. salt and black pepper. Pour into the hot pastry shell and return to the oven for 35-40 minutes or until just set (mine was perfect at 35 minutes).

Let stand for 10 minutes before removing the sides of the pan and serving.

I served this dish room temperature and it was delicious that way, too.

A Day In The Creek

Today was a perfect day to join some LivingWell friends for a little creek fun. Nets in hand, many kids and adventurous adults went in search of cool creek life.

Last year, Henry was unwilling to put his feet in the water and I carried him through the creek. After removing his socks he jumped right and snagged two crayfish. Yaaayy, Henry!

Heads down, we did our best to gather as many specimen as possible. After hours in the creek and a quick picnic lunch we had found many tiger frogs, a bullfrog tadpole, tiger frog tadpole, lots of crayfish, damsel fly larvae, a baby catfish and a baby bluegill. A diverse group of creatures with lots to teach.

After hands-off viewing and fond farewells, our catches were returned to their homes in the creek where they were found.

Cool water, hot sun, picnic lunch, the thrill of the hunt with a little education thrown in. What more could a mom want for her kids on an August afternoon?

The Burger Project - Pickles

In the June 2009 Gourmet, the article A Burger with (Homemade) Everything really inspired me. It seems to me the humble hamburger, a backyard barbecue staple has been taken advantage of over the years. So easy to elevate to something stellar, all too often a round of ground beef (often of questionable origin) thrown on the grill as a spur of the moment meal, or way to feed the masses. Mini "gourmet" burgers have been in the limelight as of late but I wanted to go back to the basics.

Enter the Ultimate Burger Project. I am beginning work on all that makes a burger great. Traditional toppings, crisp produce and soft fluffy buns all from my own garden, green market and kitchen. It seems like a nice way to round out the summer.

My first step was the pickles. A firm believer that dill pickles make a burger it seemed like a good place to start. The recipe I use is easy and tasty. I took a portion of my chunky cucs and thinly sliced them into perfect burger toppers.

Pickles from the market, garlic and dill from my garden topped with a quick hot brine, into the jars and sealed tightly.

The first of what will be many, many batches of pickles that may not make it to the first day of fall. My dill chips, however, are hidden away, waiting to grace the perfect burger on the traditional last weekend of summer.

Now...on to the ketchup!

My Busy Bees

Last week I checked on my girls to see what they were up to. I have resigned myself to the fact that the shingle will not be hung for the Yellow House Apiary until next year. As a fledgling beekeeper, I am not sure but feel it's been a tough year to start a new hive. The comb had to be drawn out of all the frames so there was tons of work for these industrious ladies to get the homestead ready. That, coupled with the kooky weather, many rainy and overcast days, has made it quite a challenge.

The most important thing is keeping them healthy and getting them through the winter. My hope is that they'll be able to stock the pantry well and we'll try again next year.

Perhaps besides a reminder of the virtues of hard work they are teaching me patience, too.