Now that we’ve eaten our way through berries and cherries, fixed this way and that, what say we take on peaches?
At my house, peach desserts are a top priority. And there are good and wonderful reasons for that, too — they’re called Wayne, Morgan, Murray, Keegan, Conner and Tanner. One guy favors a type of red-hots cinnamon or streusel-topped pie, one’s a cobbler man, another is convinced that Meg Nathan’s peach kuchen should always top the must-have list, and so on and so on.
Nobody would ever say no to a homemade batch of handcranked ice cream, either. Then there are the peach newcomers, warm from-the-grill specialties, yet to be tried around here, but I’m not about to give up hope.
For other cooks caught up in the annual treat-the-family peachathon, here are two possibilities. One’s spanky, sparkling new, the other’s a time-honored old classic. Both recipes come to us courtesy of David Venable, program host of QVC’s cooking and dining show, “In the Kitchen With David.”
David’s homemade peach ice cream
4egg yolks
1cup sugar
1cup whole milk
1cup heavy cream
1teaspoon vanilla extract
1teaspoon peach extract (can, substitute almond extract)
3ripe peaches, peeled and chopped
In a mixing bowl, combine the egg yolks and sugar and mix until fully incorporated. In a small saucepan, heat the milk until it starts to steam and the edges begin to bubble. Add the hot milk to the egg mixture and whip quickly until incorporated. Return the mixture to the saucepan, set the burner to low, and quickly stir until the mixture thickens enough to slightly coat the back of a spoon.
Remove the custard from the heat and let it cool for an hour. Transfer mixture to a metal bowl, cover and chill in the refrigerator for 6 hours.
Remove from refrigerator and stir in the heavy cream, both extracts and the chopped peaches, combining thoroughly but lightly. Add the mixture to your ice-cream canister and process according to ice-cream maker’s directions.
Grilled peaches in brown sugar-butter sauce over ice cream
4ripe peaches, washed, halved and pits removed
2tablespoons brown sugar
1tablespoon butter, melted
1teaspoon cinnamon
Few drops vanilla extract
Pinch salt
Vanilla ice cream
In a small bowl, mix the brown sugar, melted butter, vanilla extract and salt until well incorporated. Lay the peaches skin side up in a grill pan.
Grill over direct, medium heat until peaches begin to soften, approximately 6 to 10 minutes, depending on size of peaches, leaving the grill lid open.
Flip the peaches so the skin side is now down, and evenly sprinkle the brown sugar mixture over each peach. Continue grilling for an additional 6 to 10 minutes, until the juice begins to bubble around the edges of the skin, signaling that the peaches are done.
Place the peaches in bowls and top each with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
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