Sunday, August 19, 2012

Peaches and Cream Pie




From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...I was probably 7 years old before I first tasted a fresh peach. I wasn't deprived, but there were no orchards on the South side of Chicago and gasoline rationing kept city folk from orchards on the outskirts of the city. Peaches were not carried by the small merchants who supplied food for the neighborhood, so, those who didn't have a tree growing in the backyard, had to wait for a Kroger or an A&P to open before such exotic fruit could be sampled from anything other than a can or jar. Those grocery chains didn't appear in our neighborhood until long after the war had ended and I suspect my lifelong love affair with peaches is based, at least in part, on that first bite and how hard it was to come by. I was reminded of that today. Local peaches, along with corn and tomatoes are ready for picking, so, Bob and I set aside some time this morning to visit our favorite farms and orchards. I love to pick peaches directly from the tree and that's how we happened on an Mennonite family intent on gathering fruit to preserve for the winter. The mother had her hands full. In addition to the baby on her hip, she was trying to keep track of her other seven and make sure only good fruit made it to their buckets. Usually in a family that large, the older children watch the younger and make sure they don't get into trouble or fall into harms way. Sometimes wires get crossed or youthful exuberance takes over and things don't go as planned. This gang was having a really good time and someone forgot to keep an eye on the two year old who, all on her own, had discovered fallen fruit, peaches to be exact. She gathered a pile and then plunked herself down and proceeded to take a bite out of each of the treasures she had collected. Eve could not have enjoyed the apple more than this little one enjoyed her peaches. I stayed with her while Bob went on to let her family know where she was. She was retrieved and gently admonished, but there was a moment went she had to be coaxed into leaving her stash of peaches. It was love at first bite and I understood completely. Most of us enjoy peaches, but they all seem to ripen at the same time and we never quite know what to do with them. I suspect all my Southern friends are familiar with this delicious recipe that was developed by Nathalie Dupree. If not, I'd like to offer it to you and all those "Damned Yankees" to try. It is a wonderful way to use peaches and the tart is not only simple, it is memorable. I know that all of you who try this will love it. Here's the recipe.

Peaches and Cream Pie...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite courtesy of Nathalie Dupree's New Southern Cooking

Ingredients:
Pastry for one 9-inch pie or tart shell
4 peaches, skinned and sliced
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup heavy cream

Directions:
1) Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Roll pastry dough to fit a 9-inch pie or tart pan. Fit crust into pan, crimp or trim edges and place pan on a baking sheet. Set aside.
2) Whisk flour and sugar together in a medium bowl. Sprinkle 1/3 of mixture over bottom of pastry shell. Add peaches and sprinkle with remaining flour-sugar mixture.
Pour heavy cream over filling. Gently stir peaches to cover them with cream.
3) Bake for 50-70 minutes, or until the middle is just set. You'll know it's not ready if you jiggle it, and the middle shakes. If the crust gets too brown, cover it with a ring of foil. Serve warm or allow to cool on a rack. Yield: 8 servings.







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26 comments :

Gloria Baker said...

Dear Mary this look awesome!

Alicia Foodycat said...

That's so simple! It looks so elegant.

Lynn said...

Well this Yankee would love to try this pie! Almost seems too easy. Also just saw some coffee kabobs in the 'you might also like' that looked amazing:@)

Katarina said...

This sounds so delicious!

Cindy@NorthofWiarton said...

We love fresh peaches at our house. Growing up the older couple next store had Peach Trees, as I used to climb the ladder to pick for them...good memories. Mary, I made a good purchase of some super huge muffin tins, and I am certain you had posted a recipe for such a use for them. Could you please send me in the right direction when you find a moment. Thank you and wonderful Sunday to you and the Silver Fox. x

Sam Hoffer / My Carolina Kitchen said...

What an adorable story about the little Amish girl. I bet she will never forget that day.

So nice to see someone remember Natalie Dupree. I watched her cooking shows on PBS way before the Food Channel was born. Have you read the delightful story about Natalie in Pat Conroy's cookbook? For any Natalie Dupree fan, it's a must read. Thanks for sharing her pie with us Mary. Have a wonderful Sunday.
Sam

Rambling Tart said...

Aww, what a perfect picture. :-) I can just see her munching her way through bruised fruit, feeling utter happiness. :-) This pie sounds so good. :-)

Martha said...

Ah, this is the Dutch Peach Pie of my childhood sans flour -- peaches, sugar and cream baked in a pastry crust with the peaches lined up just so and the tips of them being slightly "charred".

We cut it into 4ths and we each ate a 4th -- I couldn't think of cutting it any other way!

Thanks for the memories!

Le palais gourmand said...

J'ai justement des pêches, ce sera à tester. J'ai fais une recette similaire mais avec bleuets et c'était délicieux. Je te laisse le lien. Bonne journée :-)

http://lepalaisgourmand.blogspot.ca/2012/08/tarte-aux-bleuets-et-la-creme.html

Ana Regalado said...

Lovely post , Mary ! I wish I could have seen that little girl enjoying her peaches ! If you could throw some of that luscious peaches here ?! lol Anyway , that pie looks simply divine !

Unknown said...

That peach tart looks delicious! Great job!

I've been following your blog for a while now. I love all your recipes, sometimes I copy them and everybody likes them. Last year I was an exchange student in the US and now I'm trying to teach my family a little bit about American cuisine and your posts are an awesome suorce for inspiration! Thank you!

I decided to start a food blog too lately, take a look at it if you'd like!

Michela

We Are Not Martha said...

I love peach pie, but peaches and cream pie sounds even better!! :)

Sues

Shug said...

Your dishes always come out perfect!
I certainly admire that. another great slice..
shug

June said...

Lovely post Mary. I'm wishing we'd been there too, but it's likely the little 2 year old would have enjoyed some competition. LOL I love this pie and have often made it though sometimes substitute sour cream for the heavy cream. It is a keeper, isn't it?

Dining Alone said...

What a great story, thanks for sharing it and the recipe. Have a great week!

Whats Cookin Italian Style Cuisine said...

Mary its perfect timing for this one sounds amazing really!

T.W. Barritt at Culinary Types said...

I will save this recipe - this has been the year of my peach addiction. I can't get enough, and this tart is a beautiful showcase for the sweet peaches of summer.

Maureen, Milwaukee said...

My family has been making this pie for about 35 years - it's so good, we serve it in bowls so you don't lose a single peachy drop! My sister started covering the top with ground cinnamon as soon as it comes out of the oven, and that made it even more fantastic. Beautiful pics of the pie--

David said...

Mary, So simple and yet so luscious! Pair it with a cup of fresh roasted coffee and I'm one happy camper... Thanks for the recipe and Take Care, Big Daddy Dave

Susan..... said...

I remember nectarines growing up, not sure why our house was not a peach house. This looks divine Mary and just the thing to turn this house into a peach one.

Debbie said...

Mary when I saw this on your blog this morning I had to make it asap!!! Made it this afternoon and we had it for dessert tonight. It was delicious! And so easy. I have the rest in the fridge and am already thinking about the slice I will have tomorrow. I will probably also post this on my blog and will link it back to you. It is such a great recipe for this time of year! Thank you!

Kim said...

I love love peaches!!!!! And this tart looks amazing!!!

flying eagle woman said...

I always know I will see something delicious and attainable. THANK YOU MARY I so appreciate you!!!
Shawna

Joanne said...

I can't quite imagine a childhood without fresh peaches! I'm glad you eventually found your way to that first bite. This pie sounds delectable!

Bakericious said...

the color of the tart looks lovely, yum!

Le palais gourmand said...

Délicieux!!!

http://lepalaisgourmand.blogspot.ca/2012/09/tartes-aux-peches-et-la-creme.html

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