Sweet Summer Peaches

Growing up in Washington had it's advantages, the beautiful forests, the Puget Sound, Seattle... but one of my very favorite things would have to be a sweet tree ripened peach.

My parents owned a little grocery store which was only open in the summer time. We sold only fresh produce and locally made products. Every summer my sisters and I would be in charge of the fruit, at one time I could bag up a pound of cherries exactly to the ounce, I can still half a nectarine, apricot and/or peach with out having to use a knife. Along with my many fruit skills, I fell in love with fresh fruit, like many girls are in love with chocolate; I crave Raspberries, Strawberries, Blue Berries, Blackberries and yes Peaches.

Peach season is at the end of summer, it is short but wonderful at the same time.  When I was little (and up till I moved away for college) my dad would come home with a huge bag of peaches and some half & half.  He was always so excited he would say "Ashlee look what I got!  Want to have Peaches and Cream?".  We would make our little treat and talk about life, he had a way of making the littlest things so fun and memorable.

Peaches are best when they haven't been in cold storage, they stop sweetening when they are picked, so when you go to a store and the peach is blah, it's because it was picked too early and then in cold storage.  To be honest, Washington Peaches cannot be beat they are large and super flavorful. Just on Monday I was driving home from Seattle and I couldn't resist the urge to stop and buy a box of Peaches in Eastern Washington. 

 

Peaches and Cream

Peaches

Half and Half

2% Milk

If you want it a little sweeter:

Sweetened Whipped, Whipping Cream (not Cool Whip)

 

Directions: Peel and cut up your peaches, I have noticed that 1 large peach is enough for 1 person.  Then in a cup mix half & half with 2% milk and then top it off with a little sweetened whipped whipping cream.

 

My dad was a purest and would only use half and half.  I think it's best to mix the half and half with a little 2% milk.  If you want to you can add sugar, personally I don't think you need it but to each their own.

How to Enjoy Peaches all year round! 

I bought a box of peaches when I was traveling from Washington State to Utah, knowing I couldn't eat a box of peaches all by my self.  I ate what I could, peaches and cream everyday for a week and then I peeled cut up and froze the rest.  Now I have two bags of frozen peaches I can use for peach pie, peach smoothies, little snacks or what ever.

How I Freeze my Peaches:
Wash & peal peaches, slice and place on wax paper covered cookie sheet, then place in freezer.  When peaches are frozen put in zip lock freezer bag and store in freezer.

                Enjoy,



Gluten Free Fun

I was out to dinner with a friend and she said that she had recently found out that she had Celiac disease (which means no wheat products, aka anything with flour).  She said the thing she missed the most was baked goods, and I thought why not find a way to give her what she wants!

Gluten Free Cup Cakes with Almond Cream Cheese Frosting

 Recipe for Cup Cakes:

2 cups Gluten Free Flour or 1&1/2 cups regular flour

1 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1&1/2 sticks butter, room temperature

1 cup sugar

1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1/2 cup coconut milk

4 large egg whites

 

In medium sized bowl - combine flour, baking powder, salt

 

In Mixer Cream butter, sugar, vanilla and egg whites

 

Once mixed add milk and then flour mixture.

 

Bake at 350 for 20 minutes

 

Frosting:
Whipped Cream Cheese
Powdered Sugar
Heavy Whipping cream or coconut milk
Almond Extract
Strawberries

This friend isn't the first person I've known with Ciliacs I actually know a handful.  The first time was 4 years ago, my old room mate found out she had it.  She would bring home random food that would taste horrible and we just figured that we would never eat together.  She started the Gluten Free Expo in Utah (Which is now the largest in the country) and all of the sudden there were all of these new options and some were actually super yummy.


My favorite was a bakery in Salt Lake City and Kaysville, Utah called the Sweet Bake Shop.  There you can buy a gluten free flour substitute, which is actually better tasting than normal flour and their baked goods are really amazing.

Cooked Blackberry Pear Torte

Chances are you or someone you love has silica's so why not learn how to bake yummy treats that everyone can enjoy.

 

Gluten Free Pear, Blackberry Torte

Pre Cooked Blackberry Pear Torte, Gluten Free and Yummy

Crust
1&1/4 cup gluten free flour or 1 cup flour
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup or 1 stick butter (Room Temperature)

Combine flower, sugar and then cut in butter.  Press mixture on the bottom of greased spring form pan and cook at 425 for 10 minutes.

Filling
1/3 cup Sugar
8 oz Cream Cheese
1 Egg

Topping
Blackberries and or sliced up Pear (make sure pear is ripe)
Cream together sugar cream cheese and egg till smooth. 

Add creamed mixture to baked crust, add topping and cook at 350 for 25-30 minutes.

One of my very favorite treats.

This is such a yummy treat you are going to love it!

Fresh is Best!

In high school and college I would get dizzy spells all the time.  I didn't think much about it till I passed out a few times; in a cross country race, at work and a friends... I was at a BBQ when I got really dizzy and reached for my best friends arm, before knew it I woke up with a dozen people crowded around me.  I ended up hitting the back of my head and getting a concussion, at that point I started to be concerned. 

It just didn't make sense that someone who doesn't drink alcohol, eats healthy, works outs; should be passing out. I went to the doctor and he said it was a iron deficiency and that the best thing I could do was, eat meat a few times a week. I don't go crazy and eat it every meal but I make sure to fit a little bit in when I can.

Here is my Steak Salad from this week, I can't ever tell you how yummy it was!

This week I got a new basket from the food co-opt.  Every time I get a new basketI think "What new thing will I will make today???"

 

I looked in my fridge and saw Green Beans, Lettuce, Cucumbers and I had a lime (from the last basket).... So I went to the Store and bought a little Flat Iron Steak and a Tomato.
 

Less than a hour later I had whipped up this yummy steak salad with lime juice flavoring and coconut green beans on the side.

Coconut Steak Salad



 

Salad
Green leaf lettuce
Cucumbers
Avocado
Tomato
Freshly Grated Parmesan Cheese

Steak with Coconut Oil and Salt, yes coconut oil.  Just take a teaspoon full of coconut oil melt it on medium heat on a pan and add your salted steak.  I try to turn my steak as little as possible so the meat can keep it's flavor. 

The coconut oil will lightly flavor your meat and once you have it this way... you will want it again.

Since you have such a flavorful Salad already, you don't have to add much dressing. I just squeezed some lime juice on mine and thought it was perfect.

Side of Green Beans cooked with Coconut Oil and Salt

Fresh Salad with Steak = One Happy Girl