beauties from last June
Ok, so, I’m skipping ahead a little bit in the produce rotation. But, I’m into images that entice – and those beauties from above do just that. Being in California last week just awakened all the urges to get the seasons going into full gear- and I’m hoping they do, and so…..
(What is it with music and me?) Wishin and hopin and thinkin and prayin – playing in my head right now ……thank you to Hal David and Burt Bacharach and then to first, Dionne Warwick and then to Dusty Springfield, circa 1963 and 64 – a classic for throwback Saturday (oh, that doesn’t work?) Oh well, I like it……. the tune is a good one…..
I know it’s not peach season, but I’m happy knowing that those wonderful, dedicated farmers in California are working on it for us for a couple of months from now!!! And, thinking of peaches, especially those white lovelies which we can purée up and mix with a little Prosecco well, they really stir my happy memories this morning. I know I’m getting carried away, but, whatever! Happiness is a Bellini at Harry’s Bar! End of story. It’s one of those simple iconic moments – I don’t know, being in the city of Venice makes every little thing feel magical.
photo courtesy Frog Hollow Farm – Yipee! (I don’t need to mention a big “thank you to those bees, do I?)
Up and at-em again today. Trying again to entice after yesterday’s abject failure with one of the targets – hmmmm oh well, most important thing is I’m not deterred -because the impulse to bake is greater than the ire from yesterday’s rejection! Rest assured, I found a happy recipient for my Sub-Tropical Dirt Bombs. Anyway, I”m just always happy when there’s output from the oven.
I’ve been a little gun-shy about buying “fresh” berries since I returned from California. Somehow, the offerings are feel, well, not the same as what I saw last week. It makes me wonder about the details of picking and shipping (and spraying). I looked, considered and, politely declined. I just have to take a little time to re-adjust, I guess. East coast Strawberries, local I mean, won’t be here for a long while – there is still snow on the ground in some spots here.
Every morning this past week, I’ve awakened and before I open my eyes, I think, I hope I’m still going to the Farmer’s Market today……. ugh. Well, I can go to Union Square this morning, but there won’t be any of those intense red beauties staring back at me, nor chats with the vendors and the best part – sampling the varieties and then buying both! Oh, what a difference a week makes.
Today, I actually resorted to the freezer, to my stash of peaches, because I am pushing it forward, way forward. I tried to make a little more intensely flavored scone this morning, complimenting with Ginger and Lemon and hybridizing it with the dirt bomb finish. Here’s what came out of the oven this morning:
GINGER, PEACH AND LEMON SCONES –
2 cups all purpose flour,
1/4 cup sugar,
1 tblsp baking powder,
1/2 tsp salt,
1 tsp freshly ground nutmeg
zest of one lemon
6 tblsp cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes,
1 tsp almond extract
2 large eggs
1/3 cup plain greek yogurt,
1/4 cup buttermilk
1 cup peaches, sliced and cut into small dice
1/4 cup crystalized ginger, minced
cinnamon sugar
Preheat oven to 400F. Place a piece of parchment paper onto a baking sheet. Set aside.
In bowl of food processor, whir together the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, nutmeg and lemon zest. Add the cubed butter and pulse about 10 times until mixture resembles coarse meal. Remove dry ingredients to a low, wide bowl. Make a well. In a small bowl, whisk together the eggs, yogurt, buttermilk and almond extract. Working with a dough scraper, gently combine the ingredients until they just come together. Add the peaches and ginger. Combine gently. Divide into 8 scones and roll in the cinnamon sugar. Bake for 20 minutes or until dry and crusty on top. Enjoy!
A nice Peach Bellini would accompany these quite nicely, wouldn’t it? Now, I’m really pushing it – but it won’t be long till those White Peach Lovelies come along —— Can’t wait, can you? (miss you, Harry’s – please don’t go out of business!)
image courtesy of Harry’s Bar, Venezia 🙁
does anyone really need an excuse?
Have a lovely day – only 2 more days of March! Hoorah! April’s gotta be better!
first crocuses or croci from earlier this week, on the south side in Basking Ridge