New Beginnings

New beginnings are always exciting!

I'm honored to be a part of Homemade Happens ... Occasionally, along with my good friend, Sharon. Sharon is a vibrant mother of three whose talents in the kitchen are amazing. Her energy and creativity will help breath life into this blog as we endeavor to show you that homecooking can be fun and easy. Great food from your own kitchen is the stuff great family memories are made of. But what if you're not in the mood to cook? We'll show you that even take-out can be made memorable.

Creating the comforts of home was never so easy and never so good!

The first recipe I want to share with you is from my peach cookbook, Peach 101: Recipes Your Mother Never Told You About. Having spent most of my life in peach country I might be biased but peaches are simply my favorite fruit! Nothing matches their flavor, and their versatility. That’s right -- versatility. Early this year, when I set out to compile my cookbook, I decided I wanted to show that there were many uses for peaches, above and beyond just sticking them in a pie or cobbler. Don’t get me wrong. Peach pies and cobblers are among my favorite desserts, however, peaches can also shine in delicious main dishes and side dishes, and even soups and salads!

In honor of the local harvest celebration -- Peach Days -- that's held in my hometown every September, I want to share two of my favorite recipes: Peach Syrup and Peaches ‘n Chips with Cinnamon Sauce. Peach Syrup is wonderful on pancakes and waffles and can be made from either fresh or canned peaches. Peaches ‘n Chips not only provides a delicious new use for fresh peaches but it’s fast, easy, and sure to please every member of the family!

Peach Syrup

1-½ cups sugar
½ cup water
3 cups fresh or canned peaches, pureed
1 tablespoon lemon juice

Combine sugar and water in a medium saucepan. Stirring constantly, bring to a boil over medium heat. Boil 1 minute. Add peach puree. Return to a low boil and boil for 5 additional minutes. Remove from heat. Add lemon juice. Store in the refrigerator in tightly sealed container for up to 3-5 days.

Peaches ‘n Chips with Cinnamon Sauce

1 sheet puff pastry dough
Fresh ripe peaches, peeled and sliced (canned peach slices can also be used but fresh is best!)
Vanilla Ice Cream

Preheat oven according to pastry dough package directions.

Lay out the pastry dough on an ungreased cookie sheet. With a pizza cutter, or small knife, cut the pastry dough into triangles the size of a tortilla chip. Separate the triangles, leaving about 1/8 inch between each one. Bake according to package directions or until puffed and golden brown. Serve warm with fresh sliced peaches and vanilla ice cream and top with cinnamon sauce for a yummy treat!

Cinnamon Sauce:

½ cup honey
¼ cup peach juice
1 cup powdered sugar
1 cup peach syrup
1 teaspoon cinnamon

I hope your family enjoys these two recipes as much as mine has! Next week, Sharon will be sharing her recipe for a wonderful all-new breakfast quiche. Stay "tuned" there's much more to come!

All the best,

Lori