Golden Treat and a Bag

Well you are probably very bored with my baking posts. I put them here to remind myself of how good they were when the cold months come and I have no fresh peaches. I almost - almost feel guilty about not being able to share so you can really know what is so good about these dishes.

I must add that Sadie May's photo is now on a very nice shopping bag that I ordered from Shutterfly. It was a free offer and I only paid postage and handling. It is very very nice - flexible, soft, large, and the photo came out well. I can't wait to give it to my daughter.

Please click on image to view larger

Red Havens

I mean RED HAVENS - Peaches are in!

These peaches are Red Havens - It is a freestone peach and I can remove the pit without taking half of the peach with it. They are not very fuzzy either for just eating.

Years ago I learned how to can these wonderful peaches by watching my grandmother and mother working together in a small kitchen. The jars then had rubber gaskets and a wire lid fastener. Many of them were green along with the clear ones. There was a lot of boiling going on in that kitchen! It sure was a wonderful treat to have during the winter but we had to beg for her to open one as they were considered a treasure. They were canned in halves.  Later in life I, too, canned peaches, made peach conserve, jam, juice, pies, and more. Today it's probably going to be cobbler - the easiest for me to make now.

"Painted" my Vegetables

To view painted effects please click on image

My beautiful cabbage has been consumed but her beauty remains. 

Today's tomato is saved to please my eye tomorrow.

Corn is still coming.

Eggplants are perfect!

It's just a way to remember summer when the snow is on the roof.

Sadie Mae

Our daughter has a new family member and she is adorable! She's a three year old Yorkie mix who belonged to a lady who could no longer care for her. She really liked the Mister better than me and was all over him! 

Unfortunately one of her other dogs died unexpectedly when she was at the NJ beach with her sisters and niece celebrating birthdays. The sad news was withheld until her return. This daughter has a wonderful way with animals and it is amazing how she communicates with them.

Meet Sadie Mae

Charlie still lives at home

Lexi is fondly remembered

click on image to view larger

Hot Day Cobbler

Yes, I baked this morning! The temperature was only 80° outside when I started at 8am. The three peaches weren't enough for my cobbler recipe so I sprinkled in some dried bing cherries that I was keeping for cookies. WOW! You will not believe how tasty this is! The next time I make a peach cobbler it will be all peaches because I will buy enough. Yes, the juices were dripping from my wrists as I cut them up. I had some frozen lemon juice from the last time I squeezed lemons and used it instead of the kind in the little yellow plastic lemon.

Peach Cobbler

INGREDIENTS

1/2 cup unsalted butter (I used salted 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 (as I only had 3, I added 1 cup of dried cherries)
1 tablespoon lemon juice
Ground cinnamon or nutmeg (optional) (I sprinkled both on top)

PREPARATION

Melt butter in a 13- x 9-inch baking dish.
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).
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.
Bake at 375° for 40 to 45 minutes or until golden brown. Serve cobbler warm or cool. 

please click on image to view larger

The dish I used will have to soak a long time after it is empty!

Just Peachy

We rode out to the produce market again to get more melons (to share with our daughter) and to check out the peaches. The website just put up a photo of peaches that  came in from Middleburg, PA.

We only bought three to try as we aren’t familiar with the Sentry variety. The ones we like arrive in August according to my photos of last year and we sure want some of them again!  We asked the farm manager if she knew what variety is ripe at the end of August and she thinks the ones we want are most likely John Boy. She told us that many different varieties are always brought in as they ripen so we are still unsure!

Three pictures of three peaches
because I couldn't choose which I liked best!

“Sentry: A medium-large to large, globose, 60% to 70% scarlet red over green-yellow ground color, semi-clingstone peach ripening July 10-15. Flesh is moderately firm with good flavor. Tree is vigorous, spreading, and moderately productive, with low susceptibility to bacterial spot. Fruit has a variable cropping record which makes the ripening season vary from year to year.

John Boy: A large, globose, 60% to 80% bright crimson red over a yellow-green groundcolor, yellow-fleshed, semi-freestone peach ripening July 28-31. The flesh is firm with good flavor. Tree is similar to Loring being very vigorous but more productive, with medium susceptibility to bacterial spot.”

Source: http://www.growingproduce.com/fruits/stone-fruit/your-pick-of-peach-varieties/

A peach cobbler is in our future!
First I manipulated one into a painting!

More! More!

Now I'm really feeling like a greedy braggart, BUT......IF I could, I would share - really!

The canteloupes were picked out of the field yesterday. We bought two and they cost $2.50 each. If I knew a way to store them there would have been ten bagsful to carry home. You can always tell fresh produce when you scrub them in the sink, and the little bit of dirt that remains when they were plucked from their bed, comes right off easily.  Here I go rambling again. The photos I took will tell the true story. We bought the very smallest cabbage that was on the table and it is really too large but I'll use every leaf, you can bet. I hope to make cole slaw and Halupki.

please click on image to view larger

Yes, I took this picture of my beautiful cabbage. Isn't she just GORGEOUS? and she's MINE...all MINE!

By the way, I wonder what species of critter will enjoy the rinds that are scattered up into the woods behind the cabin.....

Left Overs

Any way you look at it, the corn was wonderfully delicious! We roll each ear in a stick of butter. The Mister only decorates with salt, and I use both salt and pepper.  The cobs will be thrown up into the woods for the critters. Now to get more. It's a summertime marvelous meal for us. 

Just got a notice that cantaloupes ARE READY! ANOTHER TRIP TOMORROW!

From a Garden...

Down the road…at the produce stand I bought tomatoes, one large sweet onion, a quart of just picked green beans and the Mister got corn.  I have yet to get green peppers and saw that they were large and beautiful. I could make stuffed peppers; next trip. Maybe tomorrow?

There is nothing better than a tomato sandwich with warm and sweet real garden tomatoes, is there?

The sweet onion is for grilled burgers and the corn is for tonight’s supper. (He eats three, me two. We’ve cut back this year.)

And these green beans are BEAUTIFUL!  All sizes too. I just washed them, took off the heads - NEVER the TAILS! - blanched in boiling water for 3 minutes, then drenched in ice water and spread on parchment paper over cookie sheet for a 30 minute flash freeze. They are now packed in freezer bags according to size. They will be “WOW BEANS.”

Remember to click on image to view larger

I just remembered a question that a friend once asked me about leaving the tails ON. You only do this with tender new beans. It used to be that both ends had to go so you could remove the string. Not these!

Visit the Farm Market

Today's Visitor

He came from the beach front and I assume he had a drink and then was returning home (under our shed.) We rarely see him but know he lives here. I wonder if he has a girlfriend. This large "ground squirrel" was about 8 lbs. to my best guess.

It's a good thing for him that the Mister was watching the New Hampshire Sprint Cup race on TV. Saved until the next time.

By the way, beavers chuck wood not woodchucks!

Hot Hangout

It seems that the cool lake has been discovered by a teen clan. We don't know who they are but they don't know that they have chosen the geese's favorite spot to park too! Soon they will discover goose poop all over their stuff. It is so hot that we can't blame them for wanting a place to cool off. They all came prepared, even with a float and took a swim a bit ago. 

click on image to view larger

 On this side of the lake, after a good swim, our daughter is sunbathing!

I could get in the lake but definitely could not walk back out in the deep silt so I'll just have to take another shower!

AOK!

With the help of a wonderful neighbor, the Mister and I are comfortable again. 

This morning after taking me to laundromat, the Mister ran to Lowe’s (35 miles away) and bought a 12,000 btu Frigidaire air conditioner. The old GE was 16 years old and we hope this new one will last as long as we do! Humidity is awful here today. My brother bopped by as the Mister was returning with it and helped bring it into the cabin. The removal and installation were difficult because of the window not being “normal” and additional wood had to be added to make it fit correctly. They got it done and running before bedtime!  Our good neighbor and friend will take the old one home with him for the township pickup on Saturday. The tree limb was removed today as well. Never a dull moment!
(I was so happy to have This great friend and neighbor help to install it, I forgot to turn on the camera flash for the first photos.

click on image to feel the cool