Peachy Keen!

Peachy keen, indeed!!  Peaches everywhere!  If you love fresh peaches as I do, now is the time to get them.  At least in Ohio, the peach crop seems to be doing well.  The berry crop didn't do so well.  I think our record breaking rains really took its toll on the berries.  BUT, so far, it looks like the peaches didn't seem to mind. 

This is what I did yesterday with the peaches that I bought!

Peach Jam

Isn't that pretty!  I always love how the peach jam turns out and it is so easy to make!  The hard part is removing the skins and chopping up the peaches.

To remove the skin of the peach, just gently drop the peach in boiling water (be careful not to splash any of the water on your skin - it burns! trust me, I know!!).  After a few moments, pick up the peach with a pair of tongs and put it in ice cold water for a couple of minutes.  The skin should peel off fairly easily.  If it doesn't, repeat the above steps again. 

Here's the recipe . . .

Before I start the recipe, I always put my jars and lids in my hot water bath canner which is usually boiling by now to sterilize them.

Peach Jam -  makes 6 half pint jars

4 cups peeled, pitted and chopped peaches

2 T lemon juice

5 cups sugar

1 box fruit pectin (Sure Jell or something similar)

Place the chopped peaches and lemon juice in a large enough sauce pan.  Measure out exact amount of sugar in separate bowl.

Stir 1 box of fruit pectin into chopped peaches and add 1/2 teaspoon of butter to reduce foaming.

Bring to a full boil.  Add sugar quickly.  Stir to dissolve and return to a full boil.  Boil for exactly one minute.  Remove from heat, skim off any foam.

Fill the jars, secure tops and lids.  Process in hot water bath canner for 10 minutes.

After I made the jam, I still had plenty of peaches left (I bought a huge box of peaches) - major dilemma - what to do with all these peaches??  Hmmmm  Then it hit me . . . PEACH ICE CREAM - OH MY!   I knew there was a reason I bought the Ben and Jerry Ice Cream recipe book!!!

The recipe says you don't have to peel the peaches, but I know my finicky son, so I thought I better.  Here's the recipe - this is from the Ben and Jerry's Homemade Ice Cream and Dessert Book. 

2 cups chopped peaches (doesn't have to be peeled)

1 1/4 cups sugar

1 1/2 T lemon juice

2 large eggs

2 cups whipping cream

1 cup milk

Mix the peaches, 1/2 cup sugar and the lemon juice in a bowl.  Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours. 

After 2 hours, remove the bowl from the refrigerator.  Remove the peaches (place in another bowl) and drain the juice into another bowl.  Put the peaches back in the refrigerator.

Whisk the eggs in a mixing bowl until light and fluffy (never really knew what that meant - my eggs never look light and fluffy!!) - just whisk them for1 to 2 minutes.  Add the remaining 3/4 cup sugar a little at a time until it is completely blended.  Pour in the cream and milk and whisk to blend.  Add the peach juice and blend.

Transfer the mixture to your ice cream maker and follow the directions for operating the ice cream maker.

After the ice cream stiffens, add the peaches and process the ice cream for another 5 minutes. 

ENJOY!!!  This makes about a quart of ice cream.

My family gobbled this up.  I will probably have to make more today.